Which Tropical Fish? Can Filter+Air Be Turned Off?

[lukyjay]

Thanks to Metka in the chat, I think I might be looking at a Cory Catfish  http/www.thesmileyfish.com/?p=60

 

[Essjay]

 a Cory Catfish

 
 
You need six cories of the same species, not just one. With just 65 litres, you should look at one of the dwarf species (pygmaeus, habrosus or hastatus) or perhaps panda cories though they are larger.
After the tank has been fishless cycled of course.

 

[attibones]

Thanks to Metka in the chat, I think I might be looking at a Cory Catfish  http/www.thesmileyfish.com/?p=60

Cories need a group to be happy. They require at least three or four but show better personalities at six or higher. They also prefer sand to gravel.

 

[the_lock_man]

I have to agree with Essjay over Attibones, 6 is a minimum. In the wild, their shoals are hundreds, maybe thousands, strong.

It is generally accepted that 6 is the level at which they lose count and assume they are in a "wild" sized shoal, and therefore not stressed.

 

[lukyjay]

Okay, so which cat fish are not aggressive? Google has told me that the dwarf species recommended are aggressive fish.

 

[TallTree01]

All cories wil only eat fish fry but as a beginner you probably won't breed yet. in a 60 liter id do this:
7 dwarf cories
1 honey gourami
4 guppies
Of course there are many more ways to go. If you're tank looks like that pic it'd be great! Especially with my suggested fish! Be sure to post more pics and FISHLESS cycle.

Here's how to fishless cycle:
http/www.wikihow.com/Do-a-Fishless-Cycle

 

[Essjay]

Okay, so which cat fish are not aggressive? Google has told me that the dwarf species recommended are aggressive fish.

 
Where have you read that? Cories in general are just about the most inoffensive fish you'll ever come across and the dwarfs are no exception. My pygmy cories have never even looked at another fish with aggression. The problem with dwarf cories, if it can be said to be a problem, is because they are so inoffensive, they can't be kept with aggressive fish which will pick on them. As TallTree says, they will eat fry but that isn't aggression, it's normal feeding bahaviour.

 

[lukyjay]

There is so many fish to choose from, I think my best bet would be to go to the fish shop, have a look at what the have and ask you guys what you think. I hope I have time to go down tomorrow and make a list. I need to buy Ammonia to fishless cycle correct? What's so bad about buying one of those API bottles to quick start your tank so you don't need to fishless cycle? I was under the impression that they add bacteria to the tank for you?
 
Also can I add plants to my tank before/during a fishless cycle or do I have to wait for the cycle to complete? It's going to tank a month to do a fishless cycle right? Would love to avoid it or make it shorter if I can
 

Okay, so which cat fish are not aggressive? Google has told me that the dwarf species recommended are aggressive fish.

 
Where have you read that? Cories in general are just about the most inoffensive fish you'll ever come across and the dwarfs are no exception. My pygmy cories have never even looked at another fish with aggression. The problem with dwarf cories, if it can be said to be a problem, is because they are so inoffensive, they can't be kept with aggressive fish which will pick on them. As TallTree says, they will eat fry but that isn't aggression, it's normal feeding bahaviour.

Oh okay, maybe I was reading about the wrong fish then

 

[Lunar Jetman]

Oh okay, maybe I was reading about the wrong fish then

I think you were. Any corys you can get hold of will be fine for your tank.

 

[lukyjay]

Cool, thanks Jetman
 
I have an idea by the way. Fishless cycling is to create the bacteria in the filter correct? I have a cannister filter, as does my brother for his 300~ litre tank. Is it possible I can give him a handful of my new biological filter media (which is the cylinder things right?) and take a handful of his old? Will that damage his tank? Will my tank then have a much faster cycle?

 

[Essjay]

Using a bit of mature media will speed the cycle up considerably. But you'll still need to finish the cycle with ammonia. You can take up to a third of the media out of a tank, but your brother should keep an an eye on his ammonia and nitrite for several days afterwards just in case. Treat the mature media like you would a fish - transport it in a bag of tankwater, put it in your filter as soon as possible and don't let it dry out.

 

[lukyjay]

The biggest problem with cycling is that I cannot find ammonia anywhere. Asked at pet stores, fish stores, hardware stores and chemists. The fish store said they have a quick start thing that'll create the same bacteria for me much faster.

 

[TallTree01]

Post up the brand and then some people ( not me I know nothing ) could help. Taking some from your bros is an awesome idea. There's always the fish food method. This involves making the fish food rot and make ammonia to cycle. Never tried it but in theory it should work.

 

[Essjay]

The problem with most of these starters is they don't work.
 
Which country are you in? Members from that country might be able to point you to a shop that sells ammonia.

 

[the_lock_man]

Post up the brand and then some people ( not me I know nothing ) could help. Taking some from your bros is an awesome idea. There's always the fish food method. This involves making the fish food rot and make ammonia to cycle. Never tried it but in theory it should work.

 
Yes it does work, BUT, it's impossible to control the amount of ammonia being released. The advantage of using bottled ammonia is that you know how much ammonia is being processed, so you know that you have more than enough bacteria when you're done.
 
By using fish food, yes you will build up your bacteria, but you don't know whether they will be sufficient to support the fish you are considering outting in. If you put too many fish in at one time, you are back to daily water changes until the bacs catch up.
 
Luky, try looking on Amazon for the Kleenof Household Ammonia.