Bala Shark Tank

[Tizer]

the gravel isn't making any difference, if it is, i'd eat my face. 
 
Tannins in the water from bogwood will clear up with your weekly water changes. Its a big old lump and if its not been presoaked for very long, it might leach for months. Could put some carbon in one of the filter trays to extract it if you wanted. Personally, i would just live with it for a while, saves bother and does zero harm to the fish.

 

[Lunar Jetman]

I think you have a lovely looking tank and I applaud the thought that has gone into what you're doing.
 
For what it's worth, my opinion is that many people are quick to jump to tell you to get a bigger tank for "large" fish. In your situation your fish are perfectly fine in your tank and will probably have several years before you even need to think about getting something bigger if at all.
 
I think sometimes people forget that fish have the "potential" to be a particular size, just like humans have the potential to grow to 7ft plus. You don't go out and buy clothes that would fit a 7ft man do you? I have a shoal of Buenos Aires Tetras that I bought about 6 months ago. Some are 3 inches from tip to tail but there are a couple that are only 2 inches.
 
I think as long as you are fully aware of what you are doing and what fish you are keeping then everything will be fine!

 

[TarkMalbot]

the gravel isn't making any difference, if it is, i'd eat my face. 
 
Tannins in the water from bogwood will clear up with your weekly water changes. Its a big old lump and if its not been presoaked for very long, it might leach for months. Could put some carbon in one of the filter trays to extract it if you wanted. Personally, i would just live with it for a while, saves bother and does zero harm to the fish.

 
Ok thanks.  I read that using gravel from a mature tank would help with the bacteria as they live in the gravel and filter media.  Either way I am sure it wont do any harm.
 

I think you have a lovely looking tank and I applaud the thought that has gone into what you're doing.
 
For what it's worth, my opinion is that many people are quick to jump to tell you to get a bigger tank for "large" fish. In your situation your fish are perfectly fine in your tank and will probably have several years before you even need to think about getting something bigger if at all.
 
I think sometimes people forget that fish have the "potential" to be a particular size, just like humans have the potential to grow to 7ft plus. You don't go out and buy clothes that would fit a 7ft man do you? I have a shoal of Buenos Aires Tetras that I bought about 6 months ago. Some are 3 inches from tip to tail but there are a couple that are only 2 inches.
 
I think as long as you are fully aware of what you are doing and what fish you are keeping then everything will be fine!

 
Thanks very much.

 

[Mikey1]

 
I think sometimes people forget that fish have the "potential" to be a particular size, just like humans have the potential to grow to 7ft plus. You don't go out and buy clothes that would fit a 7ft man do you?

 
 
not really a fair comparison....the difference is fish growth can be "stunted/stalled" if their environment is not big enough....this will permanently stop thier growth

 

[TarkMalbot]

Ammonia is still zero after 7 days with 5 Bala, 7 Glass Catfish, 2 Kribs,1 Bristlenose & a daft Tiger Barb who thinks he is a Bala Shark (lived with the other for 5 years).
 
Is this looking good or am I heading for a big spike??
 
I tested the Nitrite to be 0.2ppm and Nitrate to be 5ppm.

 

[Tizer]

i'd say its looking good, probably be testing every other day or less for a few weeks.
 
nitrite is more deadly than ammonia, so a possibly water change could be in order.

 

[TarkMalbot]

Another week and still no signs of Ammonia and water changes are keeping everything under control.  I am thinking of getting a Female BN to go with my current male as I read they should be kept as pairs.  Is this the best for them or should I get something else (thinking a mixed bunch of 6 Corydoras or Siamese Algae Eater and a pair of Pearl Gourani).
 
Going to get a few more plants and some more hiding places too if I am to get some more quiet fish.
 
Any advice still welcome.

 

[Tizer]

If you get corys , get the same species, don't mix them up, they don't do very well and are far less playful, often shying away more. But get 6-10 of the same and they will be out and about lots and very happy! A tank your size, 10 would be a good number. SAE's are quite cool, i had a pair and they never left each others sides, i'd probably get a minimum of 4. As for the BNs, difficult, i have a male and female, they fight over who gets to chow down on the vegetables that go into the tank, but nothing nasty. If algae is a real problem, reduce the lighting.

 

[TarkMalbot]

My main issue at the moment is that the tank is only 2 weeks old so there is NO algae at all so having to feed extra for the BN to have something in the substrate to eat but am cautious this isn't a good idea to overfeed with a new tank.  Would my BN be happy on his own and then have 10 Cory and 2 Gouramis?  I would put the Gouramis in as a pair and then think about Corys in a few months time when the tank is more mature and there may be more food for them. 
 
I am concerned that I have an adopted Tiger Barb in there but I am pretty sure it thinks its a Bala Shark and doesn't bother anything and never did in the old tank either.  I would like to get rid of it to someone who could give it a good home as I feel sorry for it.
 
As for lighting I have 2 x T5 34" Tubes but I think they gave me the wrong ones.  Should I not have 46" in my 50" tank??

 

[Tizer]

well, the longer the better, for looks anyway, less shadows in the tank, i have 4 x 54Watt tubes in mine, at 46".