Kate's Fishless Cycle

[KateT]

Looks like I might be back on track. Am probably going to start 12 hour testing tomorrow.

Am going to order plants this week (just a carpet plant and some java fern to start off with) and let them settle in for a week, maybe two. Will then see about getting some fish. Have found one more local LFS so we're going to check it out this weekend, but if I don't like what I see then it will have to be an online jobby I think.

I want a school of tetra (cardinal) some dwarf chain loach (expensive but my heart is set on them) and some dwarf cockatoo cichlids. What numbers would you advise? I'm thinking about 10 tetras and 6 loaches - but not sure about the cichlids as to what I can have number-wise or sex-wise. Am also thinking about shrimp (carpet plant maintenance!)

 

[KittyKat]

You might want to do another water change in not too long..

What is the tank size? 3ft?
* 10 cardinals
* 6 loaches
* pair (1m, 1f) cichlids
.. would make a good start, you should be able to up the cardinals and loaches later, maybe adding another female cichlid too (depending on species).

 

[The Taffy Apple]

You might want to do another water change in not too long..

What is the tank size? 3ft?
* 10 cardinals
* 6 loaches
* pair (1m, 1f) cichlids
.. would make a good start, you should be able to up the cardinals and loaches later, maybe adding another female cichlid too (depending on species).

Apologies for the hi-jack, KittyKat, but my tank is 3ft long and i'm looking for a 'pairing' fish next. I was under the impression that Cichlids only liked a very mature tank and were rather difficult to look after..?

 

[waterdrop]

Cichlids are a very big group and there are examples that are quite tough and hardy and others (such as GBRs) that are well known for being sensitive! WD

 

[KittyKat]

You might want to do another water change in not too long..

What is the tank size? 3ft?
* 10 cardinals
* 6 loaches
* pair (1m, 1f) cichlids
.. would make a good start, you should be able to up the cardinals and loaches later, maybe adding another female cichlid too (depending on species).

Apologies for the hi-jack, KittyKat, but my tank is 3ft long and i'm looking for a 'pairing' fish next. I was under the impression that Cichlids only liked a very mature tank and were rather difficult to look after..?

It very much depends on the species, as waterdrop said. Most commonly available cichlids are no more difficult to look after than the average tetra, but there are many which will outgrow small tanks or can be feisty, for example, so require thinking about when stocking. A number of common ones also can not do without dithers.

Cichlids are a very big group and there are examples that are quite tough and hardy and others (such as GBRs) that are well known for being sensitive! WD

Just for the record: I used to keep wild caught rams and German bred ones (just got some new ones a couple of weeks ago after a break) and to be honest, they are hardy little fish, they just don't tollerate mistakes.

 

[KateT]

What is the tank size? 3ft?

It's 81cm, so about 2.6 feet (?)

 

[KittyKat]

What is the tank size? 3ft?

It's 81cm, so about 2.6 feet (?)

Then only a pair of dwarf SA cichlids. I can recommend Apistogramma cacatuoides and Apisto. aggasizii

 

[KateT]

What is the tank size? 3ft?

It's 81cm, so about 2.6 feet (?)

Then only a pair of dwarf SA cichlids. I can recommend Apistogramma cacatuoides and Apisto. aggasizii

Thanks KK. I like both of those apistos - are there any noticable differences personality-wise that might sway the decision?

 

[KittyKat]

Nope, the only difference is availability, and even that's not much of a difference nowadays.