Tetra tank ideas

[Byron]

First caution to mention is...when you go looking through the local fish shops, do not impulse buy based on what the staff may tell you. Always get the name of the fish, the scientific name if possible (I always ask to see their invoice as the scientific name is often used on these but stores use common names or make one up to sell the fish), and research it online at Seriously Fish or ask here on the forum. Store staff are notoriously uninformed of most fish and they are there to sell them. Fish have specific requirements according to the species, and unless we can provide these reasonably close the fish will not be healthy or "happy." Having to get rid of problem fish, even to the point of euthanizing them to save your other fish, is not encouraging. Research.

The background is plain black construction paper, and there is no better. The back wall is not noticeable, it expands the space, and fish and plants do look better. It also calms the fish themselves, same as a darker substrate will. Wood and dried leaves can help here, along with floating plants to shade the light. Those 21 green neons were washed out in the bare store tank, but within an hour in my tank they brightened up.

 

[Byron]

Byron: what is the name of that floating plant? I have trouble growing floating plants. Is that one easy to survive when floating?

That is Brazilian Pennywort, Hydrocotyle leucocephala. I frequently recommend this as a floating plant though it is obviously a stem plant, because it does do very well left floating. If you can keep it un-tangled, the leaves tend to grow as floating on the surface, but in this case I neglected it in the other tank and it became a tangled mess so I moved some over to this tank when I set it up in June after my move and left it. It has grown another 1/4 since that photo was taken, and I have pushed some of the ends down around the branches and it created a nice effect.

Colin mentioned aspects of floating plants. I would just add that the light is important--being at the surface intensity is usually not an issue, but spectrum is. My lighting is 6500K with a combo 6500K and 5500K in my dual tube tank. Liquid fertilizer (a comprehensive one like Flourish Comprehensive Supplement) is usually necessary because floating plants are rapid growing, and this means more nutrients. Just make sure it is a complete fertilizer.

 

[Sylvan]

That's why I'm going to look round the shops early on so I can see what they have in and then make a decision on what I actually want.

 

[Byron]

That's why I'm going to look round the shops early on so I can see what they have in and then make a decision on what I actually want.

Don't be quick to buy fish to have something in the tank. This is a trap we all fall into initially anyway. Sort out the fish you would like, and if some are not available locally, check online. Some fish are only available seasonally due to collecting regulations so you might have to wait for the right fish. But once you have other fish in the tank, you are limiting future choices. When I had my fish room in the house and some large as well as smaller tanks, acquiring fish that I later needed to move wasn't a problem as Ihad plenty of suitable tanks. Now I am in a townhouse with a much smaller dedicated fish room, I am careful what I consider buying.

 

[Sylvan]

I went to the first of the further away shops today. They're more of a pleco specialist shop which was very interesting to look at all the variety but had enough of other species to be worth a trip for a look. I quite like the look of Borarus Brigittae which they had in and Pseudomugil luminatus from first look without doing too much research into them just yet. The fish quality looked good apart from the Bettas, if I was after another one I would go back to the shop I got my current one from. There's another shop I want to go look at next week that's supposed to be rather large so very interested to see what they stock.

 

[Sylvan]

My mum fell in love with the tank of electric blue Jack Dempseys they had until I pointed out to her they'll be way too big for the tank.

 

[Byron]

I went to the first of the further away shops today. They're more of a pleco specialist shop which was very interesting to look at all the variety but had enough of other species to be worth a trip for a look. I quite like the look of Borarus Brigittae which they had in and Pseudomugil luminatus from first look without doing too much research into them just yet. The fish quality looked good apart from the Bettas, if I was after another one I would go back to the shop I got my current one from. There's another shop I want to go look at next week that's supposed to be rather large so very interested to see what they stock.

Boraras brigittae is one good choice here. A group of at least 11-12. These small "nano" type shoaling species always fare better with a larger group. This species needs floating plants and likes a fairly thick planted tank.

Pseudomugil luminatus is a small rainbowfish. Data here:
http://rainbowfish.angfaqld.org.au/luminatus.htm
https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/pseudomugil-sp-red-neon/

As noted this species needs a quiet tank, but that applies to the Boraras brigittae too. No active fish that might out-compete them for food. Or cause them to get jittery and become frightened.

 

[Sylvan]

So I think I've narrowed it down to what I want. I'm thinking definitely Boraras brigittae, the Kubotai and shrimp but I was also wondering about celestial pearl danios. From what I've been reading they should work as well but would like second opinions.

 

[Byron]

So I think I've narrowed it down to what I want. I'm thinking definitely Boraras brigittae, the Kubotai and shrimp but I was also wondering about celestial pearl danios. From what I've been reading they should work as well but would like second opinions.

Should be fine, just have large enough groups. The CPD for example should be in the 15-20 range, and the other two species 12-15 each.

 

[Sylvan]

Excellent thank you. Very much looking forward to getting some fish in that tank.

 

[seangee]

As noted this species needs a quiet tank, but that applies to the Boraras brigittae too. No active fish that might out-compete them for food. Or cause them to get jittery and become frightened.

That applies to CPD too.

So I think I've narrowed it down to what I want. I'm thinking definitely Boraras brigittae, the Kubotai and shrimp but I was also wondering about celestial pearl danios. From what I've been reading they should work as well but would like second opinions.

Flow may be factor here depending on what else you stock and you current filter setup. CPD are naturally found in still water and Microdavario Kubotai in flowing water. Not sure about Boraras brigittae but I have been looking at the requirements for Kubotai as I would like to get some.