What would you do ?

[Jadzir]

Looking to see what different ideas people come up with for my tank.
Tank on order but COVID/ brexit etc. is slowing it down .
Tank.
L= 150cm
D= 38cm
H= 60cm
300 litre.
Ph is 8 with soft water.

Going to have a sand substrate with wood used for structure and a variety of plants.
Would like to have small fish in larger numbers.
What would you choose?

 

[UnknownFishies]

I personally like smaller fish. Some platys and mollies might work. Rainbow fish might also be an option.

 

[Wills]

Ph is 8 with soft water? Do you have any numbers for your water hardness? Could you add anything that helps lower your ph? Some other people might be able to help with this?

Ph aside in a 300 ltr soft water tank I'd be looking at South Americans or South Asian fish. Maybe do something a bit different like some Ctenopoma, Congo Tetras, Black Ruby Barbs, African Brown Knife Fish, Butterfly Fish, Skunk Loaches. Would be quite a cool tank and lots going on.

Wills

 

[Byron]

I concur, we first need the actual GH. Livbearers must have water on the hard side, regardless of pH. Your water authority may have this data, you just need to know the GH of the source water you will be using.

Co-incidentally, my largest tank before I moved was one near-identical in size. It held almost 200 fish, primarily characins, cories (some 60) and my Bolivian Ram--who clearly considered the entire tank "his territory." Fun to watch him controlling the tetras!

 

[Sgooosh]

a LOT of dwarf rainbows and some swordtails (neon or wild preferably)
cories if you lower ph a bit, it will still be fine for the other guys

 

[itiwhetu]

If it is pH 8 but soft. This is a situation that if you heavily plant the tank, with a peat base the pH will lower itself to the mid 6's. Then you can add any tetras you like but also say a pair of Discus. I would suggest you check your parameters first tho.

 

[Jadzir]

Can’t remember the GH off hand but have posted it on another thread. Too soft for some species.
Have kept larger fish in the past so would like smaller fish this time.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Plenty of research to do !

 

[Essjay]

The hardness is in this thread, post #18

Water report - brain overload !

Decided to get a water report from my local supplier. So much information on there. Think I have picked out the relevant parts. Ph 8 Hardness german 4dh Hardness total 71mg/l Looking at this it rules out some of the fish I was planning on. Still want a community tank of small fish with bottom...

www.fishforums.net

The post contains the image of the water quality report which lists hardness as 4.0 dH (71 ppm)


And Jadzir reports his pH as

Out of tap 8.38
Overnight 8.33

 

[Jadzir]

Thanks for the ideas so far.
Essjay thanks for putting in the link for my water report. As a side line I am a her ?

 

[Essjay]

As a side line I am a her

So am I Unless the user name shows we are either male or female, most people assume everyone is male

 

[Byron]

Now the GH is sorted out and the water is soft/very soft (4 dGH) you do not want any fish requiring harder water, fish like livebearers, some of the rainbowfish, and a few others. That leaves most of the species from South America, SE Asia. Tetras, rasboras, danios, barbs, gourami, dwarf cichlids, catfish (cories, plecos, etc)...almost endless options.

 

[Freshyfishy]

goldfish for starters hardy (the big fat ones with large hammerhead shark-like faces) to describe.

 

[Sgooosh]

goldfish for starters hardy (the big fat ones with large hammerhead shark-like faces) to describe.

i do not think those would fit with what op wants, i think op wants smaller fish?, plus they are very hard to take are of as they poop so much. Many plants are not suitable with them either, they will gobble the plants

 

[Jadzir]

Really want to go for a few species in large groups hence looking at the little ones this time.
Will definitely keep Corys as I adore them - any colour and any size.
Maybe a large group of say ember tetras for the middle of the tank.
Can’t decide on a top level species. Have had a look at a few but haven’t found a must have one yet.
Also thinking of adding some shrimp into the mix.
Great to get everyone’s ideas and advice ?

 

[Sgooosh]

Really want to go for a few species in large groups hence looking at the little ones this time.
Will definitely keep Corys as I adore them - any colour and any size.
Maybe a large group of say ember tetras for the middle of the tank.
Can’t decide on a top level species. Have had a look at a few but haven’t found a must have one yet.
Also thinking of adding some shrimp into the mix.
Great to get everyone’s ideas and advice ?

hatchetfish? i dont know anything about them tho