Short back story. My angel fish and farlowella catfish started spawning so I wanted to grow out the fry. I started researching how to do this and set up a standard 10 gallon fry tank. Then the angels ate the second batch of eggs and this morning I discovered that the farlowella eggs are gone. They were about to hatch so I assume they hatched and the fry were eaten. I think I want to give up on the idea of breeding.
In my research I came across microfish and I’m fascinated. I have the tank setup with a cycled sponge filter so I am going to try to set up a nano tank. But I have questions. Here are the tank parameters ( there are currently no fish and won’t be till I’m sure the tank is properly cycled and planted for the fish I want)
10 gallons (38 liters)
20” Lx10”Wx12”T (50cm Lx25cm Wx30cm T)
pH 6.8 (I would like this lower, closer to 5 but I’m not sure how to do this. That’s question 1) when I test the water going in on water changes it tests at 7.4 and the main tank even after a 50 % change always tests at 6.4.
KH is 34ppm
GH is 51ppm
The light is a small LED light left over from a prefab tank that I broke down when I upgraded a couple months ago. I want the lighting to be subdued because the fish I want need that.
Filter is a sponge filter that was cycled in my main tank for two weeks. I will test that theory before adding any fish.
Heat is currently set at 78 F (26 C). That can easily be lowered. Not sure what the wattage is of the heater. It came with a 55 gallon store bought aquarium kit. It’s doing the job but I am willing to buy a smaller heater if I need to. Question 2
Substrate is a neutral white sand. Right now there is 5lbs (2.3 kg) of it but willing to put more in if needed. Question 3
Currently there is a small potted sword plant, several rocks including a moss covered rock from my pond, a small piece of driftwood added yesterday, and oak leaves that haven’t sunk to the bottom yet. I would like to add anubais to the driftwood and frogbit from my main tank. I wanted the driftwood to stain the water because I want a black water tank for the fish I want but the water is still too clear. Is the piece not big enough or has there not been enough time? That’s question 4.
I’ve been researching fish and these are the fish I am interested in. They are all available at my favorite aquarium store. Tell me which I could get and which I should avoid and other species you think will work. I do not want guppies, endlers, killifish or a betta. All data comes from seriouslyfish.com.
Habrosus dwarf Cory (corydoras habrosus): This one is the only South American fish on the list. Ideal parameters are 68-78F (20-26C) pH 5.5-7.5 36-179ppm for hardness.
The following species all come from Southeast Asia.
Chili Rasbora (Boraras rasbora): 68-82F (20-28C) pH 4.0-7.0 18-179ppm in hardness
Dwarf maculata rasbora (Borarus maculatus): This species I am very interested in hence the reason I want to lower my pH. 68-82F (20-28C) pH 4.0-6.5 18-90ppm hardness
Neon blue rasbora (Sundadanio axelrodi): probably the most challenging species on my list. 73-78F (23-26C) 0-85pmm in hardness.
Asian stone catfish (Hara jardoni): 64-75F (18-24C) pH5.6-7.6 136-255ppm in hardness. I realize this one may not work due to its hardness requirements and that’s ok. I put it on the list because I want a bottom dweller from Asia and this is the only one I found. Hoping someone else knows of a good fit.
All of these fish need schools of at least ten ( more is better). Except the Asia stone catfish but I would like five IF he could actually work. I would like at least one midwater swimmer and one bottom bweller but I would REALLY like two different species of midwater if the tank is big enough for two schools of ten microfish. I would like this to be a Asian biotope but I’m not sure you can consider it that if the plants are not from the region. With that in mind I would like some kind of shrimp that would do well in this water. I don’t think bamboo shrimp would work because the current wouldn’t be strong enough and it’s two big to be considered micro anyway. Are there tiny shrimp from Asia in the hobby? The aquarium store has several different species but I have not researched them yet. Also any snails from the region. I know assasins are but I don’t think they would do well in this soft water though I could be wrong. They proliferate in my main tank.
I know this is loooong and if you have read to this point I appreciate that alone lol. Any advise is appreciated. This is the tank as it currently is. I know I need more plants (any suggestions on those are helpful) and I am going to put a black background before I put any fish in. Thank you
In my research I came across microfish and I’m fascinated. I have the tank setup with a cycled sponge filter so I am going to try to set up a nano tank. But I have questions. Here are the tank parameters ( there are currently no fish and won’t be till I’m sure the tank is properly cycled and planted for the fish I want)
10 gallons (38 liters)
20” Lx10”Wx12”T (50cm Lx25cm Wx30cm T)
pH 6.8 (I would like this lower, closer to 5 but I’m not sure how to do this. That’s question 1) when I test the water going in on water changes it tests at 7.4 and the main tank even after a 50 % change always tests at 6.4.
KH is 34ppm
GH is 51ppm
The light is a small LED light left over from a prefab tank that I broke down when I upgraded a couple months ago. I want the lighting to be subdued because the fish I want need that.
Filter is a sponge filter that was cycled in my main tank for two weeks. I will test that theory before adding any fish.
Heat is currently set at 78 F (26 C). That can easily be lowered. Not sure what the wattage is of the heater. It came with a 55 gallon store bought aquarium kit. It’s doing the job but I am willing to buy a smaller heater if I need to. Question 2
Substrate is a neutral white sand. Right now there is 5lbs (2.3 kg) of it but willing to put more in if needed. Question 3
Currently there is a small potted sword plant, several rocks including a moss covered rock from my pond, a small piece of driftwood added yesterday, and oak leaves that haven’t sunk to the bottom yet. I would like to add anubais to the driftwood and frogbit from my main tank. I wanted the driftwood to stain the water because I want a black water tank for the fish I want but the water is still too clear. Is the piece not big enough or has there not been enough time? That’s question 4.
I’ve been researching fish and these are the fish I am interested in. They are all available at my favorite aquarium store. Tell me which I could get and which I should avoid and other species you think will work. I do not want guppies, endlers, killifish or a betta. All data comes from seriouslyfish.com.
Habrosus dwarf Cory (corydoras habrosus): This one is the only South American fish on the list. Ideal parameters are 68-78F (20-26C) pH 5.5-7.5 36-179ppm for hardness.
The following species all come from Southeast Asia.
Chili Rasbora (Boraras rasbora): 68-82F (20-28C) pH 4.0-7.0 18-179ppm in hardness
Dwarf maculata rasbora (Borarus maculatus): This species I am very interested in hence the reason I want to lower my pH. 68-82F (20-28C) pH 4.0-6.5 18-90ppm hardness
Neon blue rasbora (Sundadanio axelrodi): probably the most challenging species on my list. 73-78F (23-26C) 0-85pmm in hardness.
Asian stone catfish (Hara jardoni): 64-75F (18-24C) pH5.6-7.6 136-255ppm in hardness. I realize this one may not work due to its hardness requirements and that’s ok. I put it on the list because I want a bottom dweller from Asia and this is the only one I found. Hoping someone else knows of a good fit.
All of these fish need schools of at least ten ( more is better). Except the Asia stone catfish but I would like five IF he could actually work. I would like at least one midwater swimmer and one bottom bweller but I would REALLY like two different species of midwater if the tank is big enough for two schools of ten microfish. I would like this to be a Asian biotope but I’m not sure you can consider it that if the plants are not from the region. With that in mind I would like some kind of shrimp that would do well in this water. I don’t think bamboo shrimp would work because the current wouldn’t be strong enough and it’s two big to be considered micro anyway. Are there tiny shrimp from Asia in the hobby? The aquarium store has several different species but I have not researched them yet. Also any snails from the region. I know assasins are but I don’t think they would do well in this soft water though I could be wrong. They proliferate in my main tank.
I know this is loooong and if you have read to this point I appreciate that alone lol. Any advise is appreciated. This is the tank as it currently is. I know I need more plants (any suggestions on those are helpful) and I am going to put a black background before I put any fish in. Thank you