Fish Selection?

[hadjici2]

I am now ready to go to the pet store and get my new fish but I would like your opinion first. I have a small problem of algae, where a green thin cover of algae in growing over my gravel. My tank is planted and I do no dosing of any kind of fertilisers. So I thought to buy the following:

1. 3 corrydoras to feedle about with the gravel so as not to let the algae grow.
2. 3 xiphophorus....2 female 1 male
3. 5 Rasboras Harlequins
4. A shole of some other kind of small fish eg tetras
5. Some kind of algae eating fish eg 1 flying fox
6. A snail or two

I am aiming for hardy peacefull fish that will not fight for territory or chase each other ..... just live peacefully and contrubute to the community balance of the tank....eg have a purpose i nthe tank (eat vegetable matter, alage, bottom dwellers, swim at the surface/middle/bottom)....you know...balanced

 

[riverman444]

Need to know how big the tank is, mate?

 

[hadjici2]

-35 gallons

-planted with some hardy plants since the tank was neglected for a long time and these are the plants that survived and believe me, there was no light

-I dose no fertilisers

-external filter which is more that enough for the tank size

-two white light fluorescent lamps, 25 watts each

-one pink fluorescent lamp, 25 watts

-around 10 cm of gravel

-heater

-medium-hard water

I would like fish that tolerate high temperatures due to the weather in my country

 

[riverman444]

Hmm.....tank sounds fine. You will have fun with Harlequins. I have a school of 9 and they all have different personalities. Corys would be a good choice. Maybe a small school of neons too. They look good mixing with Harlequins.

I would not recommend snails. Trust me.

Try a few ottos for algae.

 

[Qays]

Harlequins prefer acidic water all the way down too 6.2 so i wouldnt recommend them for your tank vas it has hard water

 

[HendrixTheOscar]

Try a plec, helped my algae tremendously

 

[hadjici2]

Harlequins prefer acidic water all the way down too 6.2 so i wouldnt recommend them for your tank vas it has hard water

could ypu recommend small hardy fish similar to harlequins?

Try a plec, helped my algae tremendously

a small pleco would help clean my gravel?

 

[James007]

What about some danios. They are quite hardy and great fun to watch. They are also quite peaceful.

A plec will suck the algae off just about anything that isn't moving!!

Also get some amano shrimp - a great clean up crew that won't contribute to your tank capacity.

 

[HendrixTheOscar]

A plec will suck the algae off just about anything that isn't moving!!

Plec's are ace, fact!

 

[hadjici2]

A plec will suck the algae off just about anything that isn't moving!!

Plec's are ace, fact!

could you be more specific on plecos? I know there are a few species wright?

 

[riverman444]

Harlequins prefer acidic water all the way down too 6.2 so i wouldnt recommend them for your tank vas it has hard water

I've had a large school for over 6 months in 7.2 Never lost a one and they are all fat, bright, and healthy.

What's your Ph Hadjici?

 

[ajbettle]

your not gonna add them all at same time r u??

 

[hadjici2]

the pH is around 7.5 - 8

No I will add a few at a time....but my tank is already established

 

[adam98150]

To answer your question on pleco's, a bristlenose would be great. They only grow to 15cm, unlike a common pleco which can grow quite large.

 

[hadjici2]

To answer your question on pleco's, a bristlenose would be great. They only grow to 15cm, unlike a common pleco which can grow quite large.

i don't think i will be able to get my hands on a bristelnose...only common plecos (Hypostomus plecostomus)....when he grows large I can easily take him back at the LFS and replace him....so is a Hypostomus plecostomus good enough or should I get a flying fox which is also available here?
How many should I get?
How will I distinguish an oto from a flying fox?

Why not a couple of big yellow snails as well?