Just getting started, about 2 weeks in on a fishless cycle.
Right now there's not much in there aside from bacteria, a little struggling Bolbitis baby leaf fern, a moss ball and some valisneria (jungle val) in one corner. Both seem to be dying off, but I'm hoping it's just an adjustment period from store tank to my tank. I've been adding about 2ml of fertilizer (a mix of macros and micros based on the guaranteed analysis of CSM+B). Easy enough to manage, as I work for a large fertilizer manufacturer, and have access to small quantities of soluble and granular ingredients.
Plant wise, to come is probably just some java moss and dwarf hairgrass. I don't want anything that will grow too tall, as the tank is viewable from both sides.
Fish wise, this will be a community shrimp tank. most of my advice is coming from my brother in law for the moment, and he will be giving be a handful of Red Cherry shrimp once my water chemistry stabilizes. I may add the shrimp first and allow them to breed a bit before adding fish, just to make sure they have a chance to establish a decent colony. Another option I'm considering is a hang on breeding tank where I can put the pregnant shrimp, to protect the survival rate a little. I'm not terribly concerned if a few of the neighbors start eating each other once in a while, because quite frankly, I'm establishing an eco system, and that's just part of how life works. I do hope to avoid anything that might result in an all out massacre.
Along with the shrimp, I plan to put at least 2 types of smaller, peaceful fish. I'm trying to decide if it will look better with 3 or 4 schools of 5-6 different fish, or two larger schools of 10-12 fish each.
On my short list right now is:
Cardinal Tetras
Zebra Danios
White Clouds
Clown Killifish
Harlequin Rasboras
Right now there's not much in there aside from bacteria, a little struggling Bolbitis baby leaf fern, a moss ball and some valisneria (jungle val) in one corner. Both seem to be dying off, but I'm hoping it's just an adjustment period from store tank to my tank. I've been adding about 2ml of fertilizer (a mix of macros and micros based on the guaranteed analysis of CSM+B). Easy enough to manage, as I work for a large fertilizer manufacturer, and have access to small quantities of soluble and granular ingredients.
Plant wise, to come is probably just some java moss and dwarf hairgrass. I don't want anything that will grow too tall, as the tank is viewable from both sides.
Fish wise, this will be a community shrimp tank. most of my advice is coming from my brother in law for the moment, and he will be giving be a handful of Red Cherry shrimp once my water chemistry stabilizes. I may add the shrimp first and allow them to breed a bit before adding fish, just to make sure they have a chance to establish a decent colony. Another option I'm considering is a hang on breeding tank where I can put the pregnant shrimp, to protect the survival rate a little. I'm not terribly concerned if a few of the neighbors start eating each other once in a while, because quite frankly, I'm establishing an eco system, and that's just part of how life works. I do hope to avoid anything that might result in an all out massacre.
Along with the shrimp, I plan to put at least 2 types of smaller, peaceful fish. I'm trying to decide if it will look better with 3 or 4 schools of 5-6 different fish, or two larger schools of 10-12 fish each.
On my short list right now is:
Cardinal Tetras
Zebra Danios
White Clouds
Clown Killifish
Harlequin Rasboras
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