Confused About Old-New Tank?!?

[cammy3000]

Was disappointed, Was totally my fault. He got trapped between the net and the glass. Think I hurt him. He was still alive but wasn't moving his back half so couldn't swim. Poor laal fella! My 5 year old got upset!
 
The tank is looking good! Will post some pics up later on. The boys seem very happy with all that space. They already braved the cave centre piece!! Need more ornaments now.
 
Levels are all fine. Relatively easy by all accounts, Thanks for all the help. You guys gave me a lot of confidence!
 
How many fish would be recommended? Any different types? Would a Siamese fighting fish attack the GAE?

 

[sawickib]

What fish do you have currently? and what is a GAE? sorry brainfart.

 

[attibones]

GAE may possibly be a golden algae eater, which, I hear, can be very aggressive and large.
 
OP, what is your current stock?

 

[sawickib]

Yea thats what i thought thanks attibones, so your going to want to stay away from slow moving bottom dwellers, because if you dont plan on getting rid of the GAE he will suck the slime-coat off them, leaving most fish more susceptible to diseases and infections. The betta/saimese fighting fish would do fine with the GAE but as stated can be aggressive towards tank mates. You could get a school of neon tetras, or fill the entire tank with them and get like 15 or so. I think GAE are safe for plants so you could get some low tech plants, java fern, java moss, or anubis, or all of them.

 

[attibones]

If the golden algae eater is the same species as Chinese algae eater, then OP should get rid of it because they do get to be around 8-11 inches, which is much too large for this tank.
Just checked, and this species is the same as CAE, just a color morph. Definitely rehome.

 

[cammy3000]

Sharkey is indeed a Golden Alegae Eater, He doesn't bother the other fish at the moment and is about 1.5" long so he is fairly young still. We got him when he was very small so seems to of adapted to the Black Neon Tetras as he swim in their shoal sometimes.
 
He doesn't seem to attack any of the fish and swims about happily. I am keeping an eye on him because I read that they can be aggressive. He doesn't seen to be at the moment though. Im happy with him.
 
My other fish are 3 neon tetras, 2 glowlight tetras (as I lost one 

), 6 Black Neon Tetras (3 of which are small as they are new), and Sharkey my Algae eater.
 
They were put into the new tank yesterday and seem to be fine. The levels are good and they seem to of adapted well with all the new space.
 
Tried to put a pic up last night. Didn't work!
 
Next on the list of things to add are air curtain, moonlight lamp, and was thinking of some low maintenance plants or even fake ones.
 
How many Tetras could I potentially put in? I want to increase the numbers so the ones I have can shoal together. They do at the moment but the 6 Black Neons are more together. 

 

[attibones]

The algae eater is notoriously for growing very aggressive as it matures. It still will be too large for your tank so kindly consider finding it a suitable home.

If you bring all your tetras up to a school of six or eight, you have some very lovely shoaling behavior.
Then I think you'd be stocked.

 

[cammy3000]

Well Sharkey has a new home. He pinned one of the smaller Black Neons in a corner this morning. He didn't attack his scales, just pinned him into a corner.
 
I phoned the LFS and they said they would take him. Kinda gutted really that it didn't work out. I liked my Golden Algae Eater!
 
They have some cracking fish though. Quite fancying a Siamese Fighting Fish. They have a red one and a blue one. Also like the Leopard Bards and Bleeding Heart Tetras.
 
How is the SFF? Are they aggressive? Will they live with Tetras? Also, what kind of loaching fish is NOT aggressive?
 
There are a couple of fake plants in there now that look good. Gonna get more. Its taking shape!!
 
New fish next weekend methinks. The tank went a little cloudy, so did a 50% water change and its cleared. The fish were at the top and gasping. The ammonia level was low so there cant of been enough oxygen in. They are back to normal this morning!
 
Had a little panic on last night!! Think its sorted now though.

 

[sawickib]

I wouldnt recommend SFF with tetras, they may be faster but theyll be getting attacked most likely for their bright colors, you can get like 5 or 8 kuhli loaches is what i would recommend for your tank.

 

[Ninjouzata]

I wouldnt recommend SFF with tetras, they may be faster but theyll be getting attacked most likely for their bright colors, you can get like 5 or 8 kuhli loaches is what i would recommend for your tank.

I'd actually think the tetras would nip the betta. It can go either waythough.
 
Cammy, do you have a test for nitrite as well? I'd make sure everything is settled in the tank for a few weeks before adding anything.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Can't edit my previous post I agree with Atti & have asked an experienced friend, once you bring up your schooling fish to appropriate numbers your tank will be pretty much stocked.

 

[cammy3000]

I am going to shoal up the other Tetras but thought one fancy fish would be OK. I have read various forums and tinternet pages and it seems hit and miss whether to keep a SFF with Tetras. Some say its fine, others not. Depends on the temperament of both types of fish I thought.
 
I have a Nitrite test and at the moment its spot on. The tank is clearing well and the boys are getting brave and venturing around the tank. They are not gasping or breathing at the top. They only did that once so put it down to lack of oxygen. Soon sorted that though!
 
So....I will have 5/6 Neon Tetras (currently 3), already have 6 Black Neons, 5/6 Glowlights (currently 2!). That will total 16/18. I would like a show fish that can live with the Tetras. Im going to have a moonlight lamp at some point soon too so want to have a fish that looks good in both day and night lights.
 
Do I need a 'tank cleaner'? Where would you guys go from here?

 

[Ninjouzata]

You don't need a tank cleaner. It's the fishkeepers job to keep the tank clean. If you're getting overrun with algae or something then usually there is an underlying cause and you can fix it.
If you want something like that though nerite snails are quite popular. They also come in a variety of colors. They do lay eggs but they won't hatch in freshwater.
 
Perhaps someone else can say if maybe something like a honey gourami would be okay to add, so long as you keep up on your water changes?
 
Would you be okay with re-homing one of those schools of fish possibly to make room?

 

[cammy3000]

Bit of an age to reply. Sorry! Only just saw your reply.
 
Well, took the plunge (as my water is good!) and got more fish. now got 6 of each Tetras being Neons, Black Neons and Glow Lights!
Also got a Gold Ring Butterfly.
 
Only got them today so will see how they go. They all seem happy and together in their schools.
 
I've still got the 28L tank so was thinking about putting a SFF in their but not sure if he'd like it on his own. One to consider I guess!
 
Still not sure if theirs enough room for a SFF to go in the big tank. Got plenty of time to consider it. Rainbow SFF look good!
 
Doing regular water changes and cleaning the tank regular. Didn't realise how much waseage there would be. Seems to get everywhere! Think i'm overfeeding them!
 
All seems OK thanks to the advice from this site. Many thanks! Answered a lot of questions I wouldn't of had a clue about! Trying to find things on the internet insnt easy! If you're looking for a cow you start with a horse!!!
 
Will post a couple of pic of my tank later. Its starting to look good! Will look better with a Moonlight lamp in!!
 
Checked up on Sharkey today too. He's well happy. Do miss him, but the other fish need looking after too! There is a algae eater in there that's about 9 inches long!!!!
 
Right....just done a water change so gonna check the boys!

 

[Ninjouzata]

By SFF do you mean a betta? If so 28L would be fine for one.
 
How much are you feeding? It's really easy to overfeed unfortunately since fish like to beg and will keep eating and eating.