Aqua One Nano 40

[Topdogbob]

Hi Guys
 
I am new to fish keeping and have just go a aqua one nano 40. What would be the best fish for this size tank 55L 12 gallon uk. Also how many fish and shrimp?

 

[mike455555]

whats the footprint of the tank?  and it all depends on what fish you want as to how many you can have 

 

[fluttermoth]

Hi, Topdogbob, to the forum
 
We have a great thread listing some suitable inhabitants for small tanks here; http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/416824-nano-fish/
 
Do scroll through the whole thread; there are many suggestions for fish that aren't in the first post
 
As you're newcomer, can I point you in the direction of our beginner's resource centre? The link is in my sig, and there's some great articles covering the basics that you might find handy. The ones on the nitrogen cycle and cycling your tank are of special importance when you're starting out

whats the footprint of the tank?  and it all depends on what fish you want as to how many you can have 

It's a 40cm cube
 
(I've got one myself; very nice type of small tank; it sits next to my bed; I keep emerald dwarf rasboras in mine, and I'm thinking of adding some pygmy cories)
 
If you stock with very tiny fish, you can have a dozen or so; shrimps have a very small bioload, so you don't need to count them.

 

[Topdogbob]

Hi 
Not sure what the footprint is its a cube 40x40x40. and was looking at getting cardinal tetra. silver tip tetra was just looking at small fish and shrimp.

 

[fluttermoth]

Both cardinals and silvertips would be a bit too big and active for this tank.
 
Stocking is not just about the size of the fish; you have to take their activity levels into consideration as well. 'Footprint', when we're talking about tanks, means the floor space; active fish would need a longer tank with a bigger 'footprint'

 
I've moved your thread, so you can get more advice than you would in the 'welcome' section, which is more for just saying hello

 

[Topdogbob]

Hi 
 
Emo kid
 
Thanks for all of your advice i really like the look of emerald dwarf rasboras nice. I was think of silver tip tetra and cardinals and now dwarf rasboras could i keep 5 of each and some shrimp? I did a fishless cycle using fish food and i got a master test kit i do small water changes with R O water and things are looking good hope to get some fish soon its been almost a month.

 

[fluttermoth]

I keep silvertips (although not cardinals) and I honestly think both species are too big and active for a 40cm cube.
 
Don't forget that these tiny fish are used to living in big groups for safety and so, even though you know they're safe from predators in your tank, your fish don't, so if you keep them in too small a shoal, they'll be very shy. 
 
There's also the fact that tanks with small shoals of different species tend to look 'messy'; fish don't school very tightly, unless they feel threatened, so they'll just be spread out around the tank. 
 
Obviously it's your decision, but I would go with one shoaling fish (but not silvertips or cardinals! Something smaller

)  and shrimps; it'll look a lot 'cleaner' and more eye catching. 

 

[Topdogbob]

Cool thanks for the advise will re think 

 

[fluttermoth]

No problem; it's what we're here for

 

[Topdogbob]

Do you think R O water is worth it or should I just use tap with tap safe?

 

[fluttermoth]

If your tap water is very, very hard, then it might be a good idea to use RO (or keep hardwater fish; there are some nice Lake Tanganykian cichlids that are very small), but for most tropical fish, you don't need to.
 
If you do use RO water, remember that it can't be used 'straight'; you need to 'remineralise' it, either by mixing it with tap water, or using a special mix from your fish shop; pure RO water is too pure for fish (and plants), they need some minerals in the water to survive.

 

[jwalser18]

tap with de chloriner will suffice for most fish. Welcome to the forum, fyi. And, possibly some neons? they're fairly small, and still quite colorful.