Thinking about dimensions for a new tank

[Andrew H]

Hi all, I’m looking at a 35” x 11.5” x 11.5” aquarium, which a very long 21 gallon. My plan was to put 3 or 4 borellii females I have growing out in my large tank (prevent any more spawning) plus a few dithers, lots of plants etc. I’d like to have it be open top with some emersed wood and plants, but if fish jumping to their death is likely I will not. Just wanted to get some feedback on the dimensions given it’s more stretched than a standard 20 gallon long.

 

[Apistoguy52]

Hi all, I’m looking at a 35” x 11.5” x 11.5” aquarium, which a very long 21 gallon. My plan was to put 3 or 4 borellii females I have growing out in my large tank (prevent any more spawning) plus a few dithers, lots of plants etc. I’d like to have it be open top with some emersed wood and plants, but if fish jumping to their death is likely I will not. Just wanted to get some feedback on the dimensions given it’s more stretched than a standard 20 gallon long.

I like it. Very similar to my 30 longs that only get filled up 75% (36x12.5x12.5h effective). Only time I’ve ever had apistogramma jumpers was in conjunction with a very shallow tank and a matten/jet lifter

 

[Andrew H]

I like it. Very similar to my 30 longs that only get filled up 75% (36x12.5x12.5h effective). Only time I’ve ever had apistogramma jumpers was in conjunction with a very shallow tank and a matten/jet lifter

Great to hear. One more Q - I know sand is the preferred substrate and I also hear that darker substrate is a better canvas for apistos. What do people use here? I’ve been using pool filter sand but it’s very light beige.

 

[rasmusW]

I think there is a lot of people here using poolfilter sand.
You can always add leaflitter to cover the lighter colors.

-r

 

[Apistoguy52]

Great to hear. One more Q - I know sand is the preferred substrate and I also hear that darker substrate is a better canvas for apistos. What do people use here? I’ve been using pool filter sand but it’s very light beige.

Pool filter sand for me too.

 

[Ben Rhau]

Hey Andrew, I've used black sand before, but have since stopped using it. The one that used to be sold by Caribsea was discontinued due to toxicity, and I haven't been able to find a commercially available one that isn't suboptimal for one reason or another.

That said, I wouldn't worry too much about light coloring on the sand. In natural settings, the sand is white or beige.

1. As noted above, if the entire substrate is covered by leaf litter (which is typical and recommended) the bottom of the tank will appear dark.
2. Black sand didn't significantly change the coloration in my experience. First of all, a lot of the footprint of the tank was taken up by structure. But also, if a fish tries to blend with a black background, it will darken (not brighten). It will be more like the tone of the substrate in either case. I've seen video of bolivian rams who showed a lot more color on black substrate, but I didn't see that in my apistos.

I now use Caribsea sand, because they sell varieties that are 0.25 - 1mm grain size. Pool filter sand is supposed to be that fine, but when I bought it (HTH brand) the grain size was a lot bigger than that.

Re: jumping
Haven't had apistos jump (since they're bottom dwellers) but it could happen if you have chasing. If you have floating plants and bring the water level down a few inches (which would look attractive with parts of your scape jutting up) it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[anewbie]

Hey Andrew, I've used black sand before, but have since stopped using it. The one that used to be sold by Caribsea was discontinued due to toxicity, and I haven't been able to find a commercially available one that isn't suboptimal for one reason or another.

That said, I wouldn't worry too much about light coloring on the sand. In natural settings, the sand is white or beige.

1. As noted above, if the entire substrate is covered by leaf litter (which is typical and recommended) the bottom of the tank will appear dark.
2. Black sand didn't significantly change the coloration in my experience. First of all, a lot of the footprint of the tank was taken up by structure. But also, if a fish tries to blend with a black background, it will darken (not brighten). It will be more like the tone of the substrate in either case. I've seen video of bolivian rams who showed a lot more color on black substrate, but I didn't see that in my apistos.

I now use Caribsea sand, because they sell varieties that are 0.25 - 1mm grain size. Pool filter sand is supposed to be that fine, but when I bought it (HTH brand) the grain size was a lot bigger than that.

Re: jumping
Haven't had apistos jump (since they're bottom dwellers) but it could happen if you have chasing. If you have floating plants and bring the water level down a few inches (which would look attractive with parts of your scape jutting up) it shouldn't be a problem.

The black sand i use is estes stoney river - perhaps @Ben Rhau found a negative with it but i haven't noticed any issues yet. I use it with my loach aquarium. I hope it isn't toxic because it would be a pia to remove (10ftx4ft); i've used this stuff for about 5 years and haven't noticed any real negaitves. Unlike caribsea it doesn't seem to generate anerobic pockets when deep (doesn't seem to pack tight) and it is fairly fine and plants grow well in it (this is my 10 gallon not the 550):

For tan i use hth pool filter sand; for white i havent' found anything fine that i would recommend. moonlight (caribsea) packs very easily and generates anerobic pockets if deeper than an inch; torpedo beach and crystal river are a bit less fine and usable but if you want that ultra fine hth pool filter doesnt' seem to pack yet (but only used it for 4 months).

I will never use that moonlight stuff again - i had a tank go bad after 3 months with 2 inch deep substrate while the black stoney river i've gone 4 years without any known issues. Maybe it is stoxic and i just don't know it yet

 

[Andrew H]

Hey Andrew, I've used black sand before, but have since stopped using it. The one that used to be sold by Caribsea was discontinued due to toxicity, and I haven't been able to find a commercially available one that isn't suboptimal for one reason or another.

That said, I wouldn't worry too much about light coloring on the sand. In natural settings, the sand is white or beige.

1. As noted above, if the entire substrate is covered by leaf litter (which is typical and recommended) the bottom of the tank will appear dark.
2. Black sand didn't significantly change the coloration in my experience. First of all, a lot of the footprint of the tank was taken up by structure. But also, if a fish tries to blend with a black background, it will darken (not brighten). It will be more like the tone of the substrate in either case. I've seen video of bolivian rams who showed a lot more color on black substrate, but I didn't see that in my apistos.

I now use Caribsea sand, because they sell varieties that are 0.25 - 1mm grain size. Pool filter sand is supposed to be that fine, but when I bought it (HTH brand) the grain size was a lot bigger than that.

Re: jumping
Haven't had apistos jump (since they're bottom dwellers) but it could happen if you have chasing. If you have floating plants and bring the water level down a few inches (which would look attractive with parts of your scape jutting up) it shouldn't be a problem.

Nice, thanks ben. Maybe I’ll get some premium sand given it’s a smaller tank. Is there any advantage to the finer grain size though?

 

[Ben Rhau]

Check out these posts:

Sand size and type

Hi all! I bought a 120x40x30 cm tank to improve my Apisto maintenance. I have few questions for you. 1. Is a silica/quartz sand of 0.4-0.5 mm (pool filter sand)? 2. Is it better if I chose a natural sand, but bigger size (1-2mm)? 3. Is the color of the sand matter for the fish? I currently...

apistogramma.com

Clay like substrate

Hi all! I have just re-read the describtion for the d37-gillspot, that Tom put up some time ago. In it, it says that the habitat had a “clay like” substrate, which made me think of how to mimic that in a tank? I have read of people using red clay to help plant growth (mixed with peat), but...

www.apistogramma.com

Is this a male or female?

I picked up a pair of triple reds about 3 weeks ago, and I'm having trouble identifying the sex of this one.

www.apistogramma.com

The sand doesn't need to be deep at all, so I just do a couple cm and don't worry about anaerobic pockets at all.

 

[rasmusW]

since i took up the hobby again in 2018-ish. I have more or less used fine riversand.

-r

 

[MacZ]

Also fine sand for my dwarf cichlids.

 

[anewbie]

Check out these posts:

Sand size and type

Hi all! I bought a 120x40x30 cm tank to improve my Apisto maintenance. I have few questions for you. 1. Is a silica/quartz sand of 0.4-0.5 mm (pool filter sand)? 2. Is it better if I chose a natural sand, but bigger size (1-2mm)? 3. Is the color of the sand matter for the fish? I currently...

apistogramma.com

Clay like substrate

Hi all! I have just re-read the describtion for the d37-gillspot, that Tom put up some time ago. In it, it says that the habitat had a “clay like” substrate, which made me think of how to mimic that in a tank? I have read of people using red clay to help plant growth (mixed with peat), but...

www.apistogramma.com

Is this a male or female?

I picked up a pair of triple reds about 3 weeks ago, and I'm having trouble identifying the sex of this one.

www.apistogramma.com

The sand doesn't need to be deep at all, so I just do a couple cm and don't worry about anaerobic pockets at all.

Depends; while not consistent with a pure biotope i tend to prefer dense planting and that requires a deeper substrate for the roots to take hold. Most pictures i've seen have lots of plants on the side but not actually in the area where the fishes are found - so i guess it sort of depends what you want...

 

[Andrew H]

Depends; while not consistent with a pure biotope i tend to prefer dense planting and that requires a deeper substrate for the roots to take hold. Most pictures i've seen have lots of plants on the side but not actually in the area where the fishes are found - so i guess it sort of depends what you want...

Agree - my plants don’t do well if the sand is too shallow.