Hi

[FanOFish]

Looking at buying a set-up this weekend so I look forward to learning and sharing prior to actually buying a fish.
My big first decision is a nice community tank or a chiclid tank

 

[platypus]

Hi FoF,

for deciding to do some research prior to going ahead and getting a tank! You'll find loads of great advice on here - have a look in the beginners forum at the articles written for newbies. The one on fishless cycling here is absolutely crucial.

Good luck!

 

[FanOFish]

I have been reading about Cycling your tank both with hearty fish and the fishless methods...

Just out of curiosity, what is a hearty fish type?

 

[Alien Anna]

I have been reading about Cycling your tank both with hearty fish and the fishless methods...

Just out of curiosity, what is a hearty fish type?

Hi and Welcome,
a "hearty fish" is something like danios, who are supposedly hardy enough to cope with cycling. However, there are many members of this forum who lost every single danio in the attempt.

I strongly recommend fishless cycling - it doesn't involve any cruelty to fish.

 

[platypus]

Well, if you go to a LFS (local fish shop) you may well find they are happy to sell you so-called 'hardy' fish when your tank has been established for a week or even a few days. These include things like zebra danios, white cloud mountain minnows, platies, and some types of tetra. HOWEVER any fish that has to sit in your tank while it is cycling will not be a happy fishy, and may well end up being sickly, prone to disease, and having its life foreshortened from the experience!

These fish are often good to start off with once your tank has cycled however as they have a good reputation as 'beginner' fish.

 

[platypus]

Forgot to say too - welcome!

 

[FanOFish]

Thanks for all the advice. I think I will indead go the fishless route. I went window shopping today and have decided on a 30 gallon hex shaped tank for a dark corner in the living room. It comes with the gravel, filter, and light for the top so i think all i need is a heater.

Here is my initial wish list after four visits to different stores...although not all at once i know.

small school of neon tetras
3 clown loaches
a pair of dwarf gromies
a couple plecas
a black ghost fish
and maybe a small angel fish or two

For those in the know...does this sound like a happy community or is there trouble brewing?

Thanks

 

[Debo]

Hi there,
I am new to this forum too. I was going to go the 35 gallon hex route and thank goodness someone recognized that I was going to be a fish geek. I ended up getting a 60 gallon hex tank for not much morre than I would have paid for the 35 hex. Shop around and ask them to match or beat a price. I found the local people appreciate someone doing business locally. All you have to do is ask for a better price. I am in retail so I had no problem making them an offer since I have people beating me up on price everyday!!!
The 60 affords many more fish and it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL.
I LOVE IT.
............................and my fishies too!!!!

Deb

 

[Alien Anna]

Here is my initial wish list after four visits to different stores...although not all at once i know.

small school of neon tetras
3 clown loaches
a pair of dwarf gromies
a couple plecas
a black ghost fish
and maybe a small angel fish or two

For those in the know...does this sound like a happy community or is there trouble brewing?

Thanks

Oh dear... well at least this is only a fantasy aquarium. I suspect if you did it in real life you'd end up with one extremely fat black ghost fish (not sure what one is, but if its a kind of knife fish, that's what I'd expect).

Clown loaches are too big for a 30 gal rectangular tank, let alone a hex. If the hex tank is deeper than average it has less surface area (and consequently less oxygen) than a similar volume tank in a more conventional shape. It also has less swimming space and clowns are very active fish. However, at least you've realised they are schooling fish and have suggested 3. As they are slow-growing, you could get them with the intention of moving them on into a bigger tank later.

If you want plecos, don't go for Common Plecos, unless you are planning a swimming-pool sized tanks. Common plecs grow to up to 30" long and are incredibly polluting of your tank. However, you can get a diminutive clown plec (4") or bristle-nosed plec (3-5") or a pair of either.

Either go for gouramis or angelfish, not both. There would be too much competition. If you want big gouramis, the pearl gouramis are good, a decent size (4-5") and very brightly coloured once they are well fed. Angelfish in the wild live on a diet of neons, so be aware of that slight incompatibility (from the neons' POV).

Many knife fish, if that's what it is, are predators and not suited to a community aquarium. However, I'll admit considerable ignorance of this species.

 

[William]

Hi fano welcome to the forum, our star Alien Anna has it pretty much covered so I'll leave that and just say hi

Also welcome to debo, trust me you're not going to regret going for the larger tank it will also soon fill up with fish!!!

 

[Alien Anna]

Hi fano welcome to the forum, our star Alien Anna has it pretty much covered so I'll leave that and just say hi

Did I get it right on the black ghost fish, or are you going to tell me it's an inch long tetra?

 

[Debo]

Hi,
I have a 60 gallon hex tank. Current House Guests are:

5 neons
4 cherry barbs
2 swordtails
2 green corys
2 jilli corys
2 otto algae eaters
7 tiger barbs
1 red tail shark
2 white clouds-one escaped Saturday!!!

All are very small fish. The biggest of all of them are the swords.
My question is: Can I put my two clown loaches, also tiny in this tabk as well. Will this tank be too crowded eventually once they are all grown? Someone said in a previous post that clowns are active-not my lazy little guys. All they do is sleep, hang out, eat, and hang vertically in between the side corner of the tank and the bubble bars. They are really cute. When I go to bed at night I shut the lights off and out on this interior blue grren lazer light inside the tank. Thans when they come alive. They seem to love it-or maybe it's driving them crazy?
Thanks.
Deb

 

[Guest_FanOFish]

Wow great feedback which is just what i wanted because at this point it is I haven't even bought the tank. Which brings up the question do i want the hex tank? I chose that because of space ( i can't fit a 60 gal. ) but probably could get a more traditional 30 but just liked the look better of the hex.

The clown loach i was looking at were small...how quick do they grow. I was wondering about mixing gouramis and angels but if angels eat tetras my mind is made up because a school of neons is a must.

As far as the black ghost....i never saw one before and asked the guy in the store. He said they are not at all agressive and would be fine in a community tank....hmmmmmm they didn't look fast enough to catch anything.

Basically other than the neons I'm looking for a few good fish..flashy is good. I'm putting black behind the tank and getting a lot of the wood sculptures for inside to grow a few plants on.

At least i think that's what i want

 

[star_tenshi]

Hello,

Welcome to FishForum.net. I'm a Newbie here too but the people here are really nice and they give you lotsa help with your tank. And you've got a beautiful selection of fish if i might say, especially with a hex. Good luck with it!

 

[platypus]

You can find out more about clown loaches here.

Yes they do get big (about 6 - 8" in captivity), but please don't let this put you off getting this adorable species! They are the life and soul of my tank and I am so happy that I chose them!