Blood Parrot or Sorority OR???? Decisions Decisions

[SnuggleBug’sMama]

Hi everyone, I’m trying to decide what direction to take my new tank setup. I have a 30 gallon standard with some live plants already (and I’ll be adding more), and an Aquaclear 70 filter. My plan is to use fake plants to fill in gaps while the current live plants get established and I add more. It’s been cycled, so ready to go and I’m trying to decide what to put in it. It has a few cherry shrimp for starters. I know I want a trio of albino BNs (I know some say they fight and others say they get along. Years ago, I had a long fin trio in a 15 gallon and they all got along just fine. ), and corrys (thinking Panda or Juliis). After that it gets a bit fuzzy... I’d like a semi active to active tank, or one with a nice splash of color, hence the Blood Parrot??? I also thought maybe doing a female Betta sorority. I’ll add them bit by bit so as not to overwhelm the balance. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[HoldenOn]

Hi everyone, I’m trying to decide what direction to take my new tank setup. I have a 30 gallon standard with some live plants already (and I’ll be adding more), and an Aquaclear 70 filter. My plan is to use fake plants to fill in gaps while the current live plants get established and I add more. It’s been cycled, so ready to go and I’m trying to decide what to put in it. It has a few cherry shrimp for starters. I know I want a trio of albino BNs (I know some say they fight and others say they get along. Years ago, I had a long fin trio in a 15 gallon and they all got along just fine. ), and corrys (thinking Panda or Juliis). After that it gets a bit fuzzy... I’d like a semi active to active tank, or one with a nice splash of color, hence the Blood Parrot??? I also thought maybe doing a female Betta sorority. I’ll add them bit by bit so as not to overwhelm the balance. Any suggestions? Thanks!

You won't have space for a Blood Red parrot. If you got cories you could get rams. I don't advocate multiple bettas in a tank, but someone else might.

 

[SnuggleBug’sMama]

You won't have space for a Blood Red parrot. If you got cories you could get rams. I don't advocate multiple bettas in a tank, but someone else might.

I was kind of thinking the same in regards to the sorority. I did not know on the Blood Parrot though. I’ve been using the AQAdvisior tank calculator and it seemed to think tank size was fine, so glad I asked!

 

[HoldenOn]

I was kind of thinking the same in regards to the sorority. I did not know on the Blood Parrot though. I’ve been using the AQAdvisior tank calculator and it seemed to think tank size was fine, so glad I asked!

Yea AqAdvisor isn't like a 100% accurate prediction. They are just a bit too big, its growth will eventually stunt and they produce an amazing amount of waste. You could change a lot of your stocking and get a EBA if you need that super colorful pop.

 

[SnuggleBug’sMama]

You could change a lot of your stocking and get a EBA if you need that super colorful pop.

What is an EBA? What stocking would I change around?

 

[HoldenOn]

What is an EBA? What stocking would I change around?

EBA is Electric Blue Acara, @Wills could give you recommended stocking and water parameters.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Community tank is my vote.

(As @HoldenOn said, AquaAdvisor isn’t accurate)

 

[Wills]

Hello welcome to the forum The best place to start is to work out what kind of water you have and then stock within those paramaters. Getting fish into water they will thrive in will save you a ton of potential problems later on.

Do you have a ph test? And are you able to find out your Kh and Gh - you can get liquid tests for these or find them on your water suppliers website

When you say the tank has been cycled, can you let us know what you have done so far? If there are no fish in the tank right now how are you keeping the filter alive?

Wills

 

[SnuggleBug’sMama]

Hello welcome to the forum The best place to start is to work out what kind of water you have and then stock within those paramaters. Getting fish into water they will thrive in will save you a ton of potential problems later on.

Do you have a ph test? And are you able to find out your Kh and Gh - you can get liquid tests for these or find them on your water suppliers website

When you say the tank has been cycled, can you let us know what you have done so far? If there are no fish in the tank right now how are you keeping the filter alive?

Wills

Thanks Wills! I am picking up my tank this evening, so just trying to plan ahead, envision what I’m going for, and research before putting it all together. The gal I’m getting it from had other fish in there, live plants, and the Cherry Shrimp. We are going to keep the filter media wet and all substrate/plants covered while transporting (just across town). I’ll get it set up at home and my lone goldfish can help balance everything out after the move and re-set-up for a week of so. I still need to get the test kit (I’ve always used the strips in the past), but I will be monitoring the water.

 

[Wills]

Thanks Wills! I am picking up my tank this evening, so just trying to plan ahead, envision what I’m going for, and research before putting it all together. The gal I’m getting it from had other fish in there, live plants, and the Cherry Shrimp. We are going to keep the filter media wet and all substrate/plants covered while transporting (just across town). I’ll get it set up at home and my lone goldfish can help balance everything out after the move and re-set-up for a week of so. I still need to get the test kit (I’ve always used the strips in the past), but I will be monitoring the water.

No problem - the strip tests might give us an indication of what kind of water you have - eg soft vs hard, low vs high ph etc?

Wills

 

[SnuggleBug’sMama]

No problem - the strip tests might give us an indication of what kind of water you have - eg soft vs hard, low vs high ph etc?

Wills

Okay, I will update what my water is after I grab the strips this afternoon. I’m on city water, but I already know it runs hard. For my goldfish and houseplants, I always use aquarium water conditioner in filtered water.

 

[Metalhead88]

I'd also vote for the community.

My Blood Parrot is about a year old, is pushing 8 inches, and is showing now signs of slowing down on the growth. They are tall, thick, and messy. Awesome fish though.

 

[SnuggleBug’sMama]

Okay for those voting community, what would you put in? I’m a bit burned out on Mollies, Platties, Guppies, etc since we always had a ton growing up.

For those suggesting Rams or EBAs, would you put other species in there or just the EBAs or Rams (plus corrys and the BNs)?
Thanks!

 

[HoldenOn]

Okay for those voting community, what would you put in? I’m a bit burned out on Mollies, Platties, Guppies, etc since we always had a ton growing up.

For those suggesting Rams or EBAs, would you put other species in there or just the EBAs or Rams (plus corrys and the BNs)?
Thanks!

You wouldn't be able to get cories if you get the EBA.

 

[SnuggleBug’sMama]

You wouldn't be able to get cories if you get the EBA.

Okay good to know. The only one I’m really wanting to keep for sure in there is the BNs. Are EBAs solo or do they do better in a group (I’ve heard Rams like a few buddies, but each cichlid species is different).