New 53L hex tank - stocking suggestions?

[Zeiphex]

Hi all!
Last week I was in my LFS and someone had brought in an old hex tank with a canopy, which they said I could have for R50. It seems to be pretty well made, though I can see that someone cracked the bottom panel but repaired it with silicone over the crack. Tested it and it holds water just fine, so it looks like I won't have to replace the bottom panel. I'm planning on setting it up when I move house (not looking forward to that with my 280L tank >.> ), but I have no idea what to put in it. Does anyone have suggestions? I was thinking perhaps a planted tank with neon tetras/cardinals and cories, but I'm not sure and would love suggestions. Thanks!

[azurekoi]

I have allways liked doing Bamboo scapes in hex tanks... anchor them between a rock pile and tie some java Fern to the nodes of the bamboo... Simple,easy scape and a small CFL in the hood will provide enough light for the Ferns...

With fish choice,one thing to consider is the relative small size of surface area these tanks have - so dont go for big(relative to the tank) fish - a small school of Tetras will work a charm... or a small colony of Red wag Platies/Brick red swords...

[Zeiphex]

@azurekoi (http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/member.php?u=1190) - That sounds pretty! Do you have any pictures I could use for reference? What would you recommend as far as filtration goes? I was thinking that I'll just go for an internal canister filter, but I'm a bit of a newbie with this kind of thing so I'm not sure if it would be the best choice, or even a good choice at all.

EDIT: Initially I was thinking of having Ram Cichlids, but it looks like at 3 inches they will get too big for the tank. I do love cichlids though - would there be any kind of dwarf cichlid suitable for this tank?

[azurekoi]

You can see the Bamboo effect in my thread:" A River run's through it" - just use the search function...

Rather than a internal power filter - see if you can modify the canopy to take a HOB(Hang on Back) filter...less clutter in the tank,would look much nicer than a bulky power filter. Has added benifit that the little waterfall return,oxygenates REAL well.

[Zeiphex]

Well, there's a chunk cut already out of the side of the canopy that would accommodate a HOB filter perfectly, so I guess I'll go with that :)

[f-fish]

- drift wood - some sort of moss and loads of guppies (well that is how most of my tanks start life) ... yes HOB is perfect. Altum has some nice trio's hitting CT soon I hope !!!

[Zeiphex]

Could do guppies I guess. They're pretty, but I find that they lack personality. Maybe I'll do neons/cardinals, cories, and a betta...

[f-fish]

They're pretty, but I find that they lack personality then you are over feeding them - hehe ... could be a nice betta mansion.

[Zeiphex]

Oh, you must be referring to their habit of nibbing everything because they don't have stomachs and are never as a result, full for very long :P I've kept them before and when I say they lack personality I mean that they tend to lack individual personalities.

[tracyp]

Welll... I hate to say this, but as much as I agree that guppies tend to lack individual personalities, I CAN'T say I've ever met a neon with one either! LOL! So my vote goes to a really beaut betta boy, some cories (cuties:love:) and maybe a few celestial pearl danios? - or white clouds? my 2c...

[Zeiphex]

tracyp - Haha, no, neither have I XD I just think neons/cardinals look very attractive in a school.