Hopfrog
New Member
Hello all,
I am new to the hobby and am currently cycling a planted 40G breeder. I will attach a photo, but I have it planted with some DHG, crypts, java fern, buce, ludwigia, rotala, hygrophila, and some vallisneria. What I am going for is a freshwater tropical community, and I have some ideas already but was hoping for some feedback. After a lot of reading and research, this is what I am interested in trying from most certain to least certain:
1. 1 group of bottom dwellers - I have become quite partial to cory cats so I would like to have a group of 6-7 of either julii or sterbai corys as I really enjoy the markings. I am pretty set on them at this point.
2. For centerpiece fish I would like to do pearl gouramis, maybe a group of 3. I was thinking about dwarf gouramis but I am a bit hesitant after reading that they can have some aggression issues. Plus I really enjoy the look of the pearls.
3. For another kind of centerpiece fish I would like to do a couple of Bolivian Rams. I like the coloring of the GBR but I have read they can be a bit tricky for a beginner. The Bolivians look nice as well and seem to be easier to keep than the Germans.
4. For schooling/shoaling fish I am a bit more uncertain. I was thinking I could do two possibly. I really like the idea of Cherry Barbs as I love the coloring and I have read that they are pretty solid community fish and are not aggressive like some other barbs can be. For the second group I know I want to do a tetra, but here is where I am quite uncertain. There are so many different varieties to choose from, and I am torn on whether I would like to do a smaller tetra or one of the slightly larger varieties. I know that avoiding some of the nano varieties is a good idea, but I am not sure whether I would like to go for something like cardinals or black neons, or if I want to go with something larger like diamonds or congos. I love the look of congos but I worry that they could be a bit advanced for me at this point.
5. And finally, I was thinking about possibly having a small group of male-only livebearers like guppies, but I am not as set on this.
I would love to have any feedback on these ideas.
I am new to the hobby and am currently cycling a planted 40G breeder. I will attach a photo, but I have it planted with some DHG, crypts, java fern, buce, ludwigia, rotala, hygrophila, and some vallisneria. What I am going for is a freshwater tropical community, and I have some ideas already but was hoping for some feedback. After a lot of reading and research, this is what I am interested in trying from most certain to least certain:
1. 1 group of bottom dwellers - I have become quite partial to cory cats so I would like to have a group of 6-7 of either julii or sterbai corys as I really enjoy the markings. I am pretty set on them at this point.
2. For centerpiece fish I would like to do pearl gouramis, maybe a group of 3. I was thinking about dwarf gouramis but I am a bit hesitant after reading that they can have some aggression issues. Plus I really enjoy the look of the pearls.
3. For another kind of centerpiece fish I would like to do a couple of Bolivian Rams. I like the coloring of the GBR but I have read they can be a bit tricky for a beginner. The Bolivians look nice as well and seem to be easier to keep than the Germans.
4. For schooling/shoaling fish I am a bit more uncertain. I was thinking I could do two possibly. I really like the idea of Cherry Barbs as I love the coloring and I have read that they are pretty solid community fish and are not aggressive like some other barbs can be. For the second group I know I want to do a tetra, but here is where I am quite uncertain. There are so many different varieties to choose from, and I am torn on whether I would like to do a smaller tetra or one of the slightly larger varieties. I know that avoiding some of the nano varieties is a good idea, but I am not sure whether I would like to go for something like cardinals or black neons, or if I want to go with something larger like diamonds or congos. I love the look of congos but I worry that they could be a bit advanced for me at this point.
5. And finally, I was thinking about possibly having a small group of male-only livebearers like guppies, but I am not as set on this.
I would love to have any feedback on these ideas.
