RaD has joined...

Ok, I went the new tank and equipment route. I bought a new 3ft tank with all the accessories and some silica sand for substrate. Now I have to get the water right and in the mean time, decide on fish. This is where you all can help me please?

I would like:

Bottom Dwellers:
Corydoras (school)
Pleco (if its feasible in a tank this size)
Clown Loaches (3 or 4)

Middle Dwellers:
Tiger Barbs (school)
Angels (2 or 3)
Gouramis (havent decided on quantities or types yet)

Top Dwellers:
no ideas

Please help...

although I'll obviously put a few plants in, I'm more a fan of structures, ie: wood, rocks, etc...

 

Your tank is too small for a pleco, so I would suggest sticking to your school of cory's. Clown loaches grow to 30cm each so personally, in a tank this size, I wouldn't suggest them either I'm afraid.

Don't get Tiger Barbs with angels or gouramis - they're very likely to nip at the trailing fins of these fish. What about a small school of say rummy-nose tetras or some of the other larger tetras?

 

i agree with veegal, also perhaps some rainbow fish maybe

 

Oh bugger. Even a Bristlenose will be too big, I read they grow to 15cm?

Ok, so tiger barbs and clown loaches are out.

Ideally, I'd like 2 species of fish in each "Zone" of the tank. 2 on the bottom, 2 in the middle, and 2 on the top.
I'll go research some tetras now...


Speedz, what are rainbow fish? Scientific name?

 

There are lots of species of rainbowfish:
http://members.optushome.com.au/rainbowfishes/Melano.htm

The Threadfin Rainbowfish([SIZE=-1]Iriatherina werneri)[/SIZE] looks kinda nice.

 

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/rainbowfish/

i hope this helps, some species grow really big so just check up before you purchase one

 

Rummynose Tetras [check]
Corydoras [check]

Rainbowfish have caught my fancy now, what is the availability like on the different species in SA?

 

I was reading up on Biotype themed set-ups and stumbled accross this info:

Amazonian biotype:

Black Tetras
Pristellas
Head and tail light tetras
Lemon tetras
Neon Tetras
Flame tetras
Blood characin ( too quarrelsome and notorious fin nipper )
Rummy nose tetras
Angels ( Pterophyllum )
Apistogramma cichilds
Corydoras Catfish
Plecostomus ( small exotic ones )
Raphael catfishes

source: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/aquarium/msg1112195720199.html

I'm quite keen to get about 6 corys, 2-3 angels, a shoal of black neons, a shoal of rummy-nose neons. They do say that a small exotic pleco (read: bristlenose) would be fine too.

Veegal, you were against the idea of a pleco though, so if you're adamant that it is a bad idea, then I wont get one.

Otherwise what numbers could I put in the shoals? I don't want to overcrowd but I do want to be able to see distinct shoals too.

Suggestions and advice please...

 

i've seen these only, but in durbs. Not sure about jhb

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile120.html

 

Hey RaD, Pleco's are poop-factories besides being rather large. Why not look at the Otocinclus instead. They range in size from about 2.5 - 5.5cm. They are peaceful and like being kept in groups and because of their size you would easily be able to do so in your size tank.

Be careful regarding which tetras you get - get the larger types else you may loose some when your angels grow up

 

Otocinclus look really cool. I'm sold. Only problem is, where do I find them in JHB?

Veegal, when you say to avoid smaller tetras which in particular should I avoid?
Or... which ones from my list would be good? As I said I'm keen for rummys and black neons.

 

I know quite a few people seem to be searching for the Oto's - not sure where to get them in Jo'ies but I'm sure if someone knows they'll post here.

Rummy-nose tetras are cool with Angels, the black neons should also be okay. Avoid the neon tetras and basically anything about that size or smaller. They may be fine whilst the Angel is still small but as soon as they can fit into their mouths it'll most likely be a different story. I have read that some people claim that if the fish are raised together they will not eat the neons, but any new neons would be eaten - personally, I am not willing to test that theory

 

Cool. I've just filled up the tank after cleaning the silica but the water is still a bit murky. I'm sure the dust will have settled by morning and I can gently suck up the offending dust that would hopefully settle on the top of the substrate. Once that's do I add the de-chlorination drops and then start testing pH. I've bee told 1 week o wait before adding plants and two weeks for fish. Does that sound right? Also, during this time, should I be running the filtration system?

 

Run your filter asap - this is where most of the 'good bacteria' will be growing which is what you want. I plant when I set the tank up, so no harm doing that. No need to be stressed too much about the pH at this stage, rather keep a lookout on your ammonia and nitrite levels for now.

 

Cool. I will put the filter on when I get home. The dust hasnt settled as much as I had hoped but time will tell, if it hasnt settled by this afternoon I might have to rewash the substrate

How do I test the amonia and nitrate levels? Do you have kits like you have for testing the pH?

 

Yip, you get test kits for testing the levels. Don't stress too much about getting the water water totally clean yet, add the filter and within a few days it'll probably be clear.

 

I bought some otos from VIP pets in Cresta about 3 months ago. Their Northgate branch is much bigger and has greater variety.

The other LFS that I visit regularly is the one at the Hillfox Power centre, but I don't recall ever seeing any otos there.

And then, if you want variety, phish is a wholesaler based in the South of JHB and do sell to the public...at not so wholesale prices, but then you do get the variety. Visiting this place is like a kid visiting a candy store.

 

Thanks for the info guys.

Filter is running at full blast. Heater is on. I've added some plants, they look like Vallisneria but I'll have to look them up.

The test kit, all-in-one pH, nitrate and amonia, cost me nigh on R500. I almost popped a guppy!

 

Eish RaD that's steep - is it the strip tester?

 

Nope, it is a test vial kit.

NO2 ~ 0.3mg/l
NH3 ~ 0.5mg/l

Busy researching what this actually means now...