New Tank Opinion/ Rec & Question

[underthesea1]

Yes I actually have more amano shrimp (loads actually).

I think maybe this would be better then

or

 

[Essjay]

Those sound better Cherry barbs are bigger than the blue eyes, so the same numbers take up more of the stocking allowance.

 

[underthesea1]

Celestial pearl danios are another favorite of mine, and looking at them I reckon they could tolerate my water hardness?

 

[Essjay]

The related Celestichthys erythromicron can tolerate a higher GH than celestial pearl danio.

Celestichthys erythromicron (Microrasbora erythromicron, Danio erythromicron) — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

Celestichthys margaritatus – Celestial Pearl ‘Danio’ (Danio margaritatus) — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

(The two species should not be kept together as they can hybridise)

 

[underthesea1]

Ah yes, they are very pretty indeed! I like the look of those a lot. And much better suited to hard water.

Now to choose which aquarium. I think my top three contenders are:

Superfish Home 110 - would need to buy a heater to go with it, not sure which one is the correct size.

Juwel Rio 125 - similar price

AquaNano 80 - possibly my favorite but a tad more expensive.

Will have a think a decide then look to set the tank up, think I will be going with a difference scape for this one too as mine is just overgrown with plants!

 

[MaloK]

I find the aquaone nano looking very nice with a spacious filter compartment, that seems to be the better deal.

 

[underthesea1]

Yes it's nice isn't it - also, what about gobbies? Are any of those suitable for me? I have a feeling not but you all seem so well informed!

 

[Essjay]

Bumblebee goby Brachgobius doriae is the obvious one, but just to confuse the unwary buyer I'm pretty sure there are other similar fish with the same common name which are brackish (ie need salt water but not as salty as marine water). However it needs live food, often refusing to eat dried food such as flakes or pellets.

 

[underthesea1]

Yes it all looks a bit confusing.

Okay will probably stick with the above stocking ideas! Thank you Essjay x

 

[underthesea1]

One last to throw into the mix - Congo tetra - on seriously fish I think they should be fine with hardness, only question was whether they'd fin nip the guppy?

 

[Essjay]

Congo tetras need a much bigger tank than the ones you've been looking at I'm afraid - 120 cm or 4 feet long

 

[Lcc86]

You could try softening your water with RO. It's a bit of a faff but I am in the southeast too and only keep nano tanks so there aren't really any hard water fish I can have. Your cories would appreciate the softer water too. Even if you added 50% RO water it would help bring your hardness down a fair bit (although if you do go down this route make sure you make the change gradually, don't go straight in with 50% RO). As you're in London there would probably be a Spotless Water or similar location nearby you could use.

 

[angiemike6]

I am going now to confuse most things that have been said previously. Firstly I have a Juwel Vision 180 litre tank which I think is fantastic. So easy to keep it and the filter media clean. The filter, pump and heater are all kept together in the one box at the right hand side at the back. You mention the Juwel Rio which appears to have a similar filter box, so I would recommend the Juwel. With regard to hardness my tap water is very hard at 18 dH. My pH is 7.8. I have two Bolivan Rams and 6 Albino Corys whidh all thrive. I also have 4 black tetra's whose water parameters should really be between 4-8 dH, but again are doing well. My tank is a 3 foot long tank but I also have 6 Congo Tetras which I have had now for about 3 years. They seem perfectly happy in my size of tank. I have 4 clown loaches where if you read up on them need softer and more acidic water than mine, but they all seem healthy and I have had them now for 15 years. My point is that fish can adapt, and you should not necessarily discount them because someone says your water is not suitable. More important is the quality of the water and how you maintain it. I do 40% water changes every week, and only feed the fish 3 times in a week. The fact that I do not regularly lose fish and most of them are 10 years plus in age, surely means I am doing something right.

 

[Fishkeeper123]

I am going now to confuse most things that have been said previously. Firstly I have a Juwel Vision 180 litre tank which I think is fantastic. So easy to keep it and the filter media clean. The filter, pump and heater are all kept together in the one box at the right hand side at the back. You mention the Juwel Rio which appears to have a similar filter box, so I would recommend the Juwel. With regard to hardness my tap water is very hard at 18 dH. My pH is 7.8. I have two Bolivan Rams and 6 Albino Corys whidh all thrive. I also have 4 black tetra's whose water parameters should really be between 4-8 dH, but again are doing well. My tank is a 3 foot long tank but I also have 6 Congo Tetras which I have had now for about 3 years. They seem perfectly happy in my size of tank. I have 4 clown loaches where if you read up on them need softer and more acidic water than mine, but they all seem healthy and I have had them now for 15 years. My point is that fish can adapt, and you should not necessarily discount them because someone says your water is not suitable. More important is the quality of the water and how you maintain it. I do 40% water changes every week, and only feed the fish 3 times in a week. The fact that I do not regularly lose fish and most of them are 10 years plus in age, surely means I am doing something right.

Sorry it’s not the point but clown loaches need a bigger tank than 180l. Are they fully grown or have they had stunted growth? Do you plan on keeping them or do you have a bigger tank you are going to move them to?

 

[angiemike6]

Hi Fishkeeper. I only have the one tank, and do not have any plans for getting a new one. i have had these 4 clown loaches since they were small 15 years ago. Two of them are probably about 7 inches in length, and the other two about 5 inches. They seem happy and contented, and I assume they are not under stress as their orange and black stripes are very colourful and vibrant. They would surely lose their colour somewhat if they were stressed. They are also 15 years of age.