How Do I Introduce An Apisto To My Existing Tank - Wot Do I Need To Do

[Sammy1911]

Hi I am new to keeping tropical fish, I did inherite a tank some years ago with mature established fish - this time I'm starting from scratch and have really found the advise on this site to be one of the best for help and honest opinions (please be gentle with me tho lol). I really want your help so I can make a success of introducing the apistos and making my tank the right environment for them to be happy. The tank I have has been up and running for three months now I did have a problem with fish dying (as you may remember from my earlier posts) but found it was definately a bully mollie which was killing them off (all sorted now!). Things I believe need to be noted are, PH 7.5 GH 16d ammonia and NO3 are both 0, I don't want to be messing around with changing my water chemistry and as I live in the Midlands the water is notouriously hard so I believe from my research that the cockatoo apisto is general more suited to this environment - is this correct? I was looking at the aggassissi but don't beleive this is a hardy enough option for me?

My tank is a cleair 60 gallon dombed front L100*h55*d46 (cm's) my filter is a HDOM SP-1500 and I have 2x 30w day/blue night lights. I can't figure out how to reduce the size of my photo so I have attached a link so you can take a look...

http/s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc316/sammy1911evan/Fish%20Tank/

At the moment I have the following stock:
18 neon tetras (keeping!)
2 pearl danios (love 'em and looking to add another 4)
3 platys (trying to rehome - I live in Birmingham UK offering free to good home!?)
3 mollies (trying to rehome - as above lol, sorry to be cheeky but gotta ask lol)


My wish list:
1 siamese alae eater (or 4x zebra oto?)
1 betta
2 cockatoo apisto's (a must!!!)

As you can see from the piccy (hopefully!) I have two pieces of bog wood position so that fish can swim underneath and a single plant pot with soley live plants around the edge of the tank (toying with the idea of adding some fake ones tho?).

All ideas wanted and are most welcome, I know you know guys know your stuff when it comes to this kinda thing

 

[karin]

I've found the cockatoo apisto to be very hardy. I have a pair and they lived in a 60 gallon but have been moved to my 30 gallon tank. I have a Ph of 8 and they have done fine for a year. They live with neons, no problems and one angelfish. They don't like the angel much but there are no problems either. They do fine with corys and plecos. The one concern I have with the above is the betta. You have probably read that these are not really an ideal community member. My concern is that the extensive beautiful and bright finnage of the cockatoo apisto male could easily taunt and tempt a betta into war. I don't think the betta is a good idea.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Forget the betta it will defo have a go at the bright fins as they mature. The appisto like a ph around 6.5 but if you intruduce them nice and slow they will adapt and be fine