Looking At Getting An Aquarium

[colleen0309]

So the male Angels don't mind the tetra? Could I ask what type of tetra they are? I only plan on having the one main tank so I can't really remove fish, unless the LFS wants them. I also wanted some red cherry shrimp, but it seems the Angels would make a meal of them #41#### Angels, can't you just get along! Haha.

So currently thinking for stocklist:
At least two Angelfish, prefer black.
5 or so bottom feeding catfish. Thinking bristle nose, bronze, or even Otocinclus, as I've read these are pretty friendly community fish.
10 to start with neon or cardinal tetra. Eventually build a bigger school up.
I'd really like some Harlequin Rasbora, 5 or so to school up with the tetra, maybe more in the future.
1 or 2 Whiptail catfish down the track a bit. Very unique fish to look at, and apparently they like to hide and are nocturnal!
And I was considering a Glass Catfish, or three. My mate (with the above tank) had only one and all it did was hide behind a rock and sometimes nip his neons. I'm unsure how these will fit in with my tank though, maybe a school of three will keep together and not be so shy.
As for plan for introduction into the tank, obviously the Angelfish and Whiptail would be last, giving the smaller fish time to find any hiding spots, and even grow a little. Probably start with the bottom feeders and tetra, then introduce the Rasbora. Then maybe the whiptail and glass catfish at the time time so that the catfish don't think they're boss and eat everything.

Obviously the tank will be setup with substrate and rocks to begin with, let it clear up for a while, then begin a fishless cycle. After a week or two introduce the plants (hopefully some Nitrate will be present by then) and give those time to get their roots in. Then why my cycle is complete (roughly 2 months maybe?), then execute my stocking plan. That will still give me time to continue researching!

As you can see by my avatar, I prefer the black angels also. I keep black neon tetras, emperor tetras, and black phantom tetras with my angels and I don't have a problem with them getting along. As for the glass cats, they are not so shy when they have friends. When I had just 1 it hid all the time. When I had 7, they were out all of the time. Good luck with your tank. I can't wait for pics of your tank and angels.

 

[Thomasino]

I think I've had a change of heart! Leaning towards the Leo A600 Nano tank for my first tank. My mate just bought one, its about 30L I think, which is roughly 8 gallon. Partly because its cheaper and easier to maintain, being my first tank, and party because the old man isn't heaps keen on me having a large tank of water upstairs (however he does want one downstairs somewhere).

As for plans, I'll have it in my room somewhere, desk or ontop of my bookcase. I'll have some fine black gravel, hopefully drift wood and I would like some marble rocks. I plan to make it a decently planted tank, so moss is a must, with whatever else plant takes my fancy online/at my LFS. I want to start without some red cherry shrimp and a Betta. I've always been unsure of these as I thought they were no good to keep with other fish, as it turns out they're fine with quite a few. I suppose it was the fact that the LFS kept them in cups of water that made me think that haha. I would like a shoaling fish and a algae eater/catfish but unsure if I will be over stocking the tank. I might let the shrimp take the role of algae eaters, or have one or two otto's or BN catfish. I would love neons or cardinals for the schooling fish, but they're slightly played out. Its either neons/cardinals, or Harlequin Rasbora, probably 8 of them to keep the tank at a reasonably stocked level.

What does everyone think of this plan?

Also, this might seem like a silly question, but as for a CO2 question, can you use the little soda canisters you can buy at the supermarket? This type:

Obviously will need some sort of regulation/diffusing system, but they're cheap and readily available. Unsure on how long they'll last though.

 

[willowstwin]

I LOVE that tank!! you're going to be looking at very few fish with a tank that small though I only have 6 neon tetras and a red dwarf gourami in my tank and that's 48litres. I daren't add any more, even though at times you'd think that there was nothing in the tank. Can't you go a little bigger? say 60 litre? or even a 48/50 litre?

 

[Thomasino]

I'm not sure how big they do, and I don't want to go too big as it kind of defeats the purpose, but I will see whats available. My LFS is having a moving sale this weekend (kind of bitter sweet, they're currently only 3 blocks away form me, and are moving to a 10-15 minute drive away, but the new shop should be good). I showed them the tank and he said he'll hopefully get it in by the sale! Will try to stock up on a few other bits too, but they will be having an opening sale too.

I'm worried about overstocking the tank. If I want a Betta I'm not sure I will have room for any neon tetra. I want the shrimp to be established before anything else is introduced, but I'm thinking with 2 bristle nose catfish or otocinclus, and the neons and Betta, it will get a little cramped. I may have to either ditch the neons or the Betta idea.

Any advice?

 

[Tizer]

get a bigger tank, that one wont last 5 minutes before you decide you want something bigger so you can actually have some interesting fish in it.

If you can make room for that you can make room for something suitable. Trust me, im a doctor.

 

[ATK!!!]

I think I've had a change of heart! Leaning towards the Leo A600 Nano tank for my first tank. My mate just bought one, its about 30L I think, which is roughly 8 gallon. Partly because its cheaper and easier to maintain

Also, this might seem like a silly question, but as for a CO2 question, can you use the little soda canisters you can buy at the supermarket? This type:

Obviously will need some sort of regulation/diffusing system, but they're cheap and readily available. Unsure on how long they'll last though.

The samller the tank that you get, the harder it will be to keep your water parameters in check. Try and get the biggest tank you can. 60-90l would be a much better size. Also, those canisters wont last more than a couple of days. Using a 2kg fire extinguisher would be much better and is likely to last around a year on a smaller tank. Also they are very cheap to refill!

 

[Flame Heart]

I know I'm new and all too, but I just wanted to add something. I've had experience with Octinolus (or however you may spell it) before, and I think they are great little guys. Ours did die off a little quickly, so be careful of that. And they stay sitting for a while, and like to eat the algae on the glass, which is nice. Good luck!

 

[Thomasino]

Thanks for the replies guys, will take it all into consideration and see what I can come up with at the LFS.

 

[Thomasino]

If anyone's interested, I finally bought one!

Will be updating this thread http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/372145-juwel-rekord-800/