12g Nano Cube - What to Do ?

[dwatson]

Well I am not exactly a beginner, but I far from an expert on fish. I currently have an eclipse system 5 and have upgraded to the nano cube. I choose the nano cube because I wanted a small footprint glass aquarium and was unhappy with how super easy it was to scratch the eclipse (which is a fantastic tank albiet the scratches). One reason for the nano is that it gives me the flexbility to go fresh or salt. I was initially leaning towards salt, but between the cost and difficulty of keeping a small salt reef I felt more comfortable with fresh which I find easy to maintain and operate. My question is how to maximize the nano as a fresh aquarium. One reason for salt was the great variety of colorful fish and invertabrates, however I have read recently that there are a number of cool invertabrates that one can add to even a fresh tank. I could use some suggestions on interesting and colorful fish and invertabrates and maybe even some thoughts on how to create a really interesting environment. My fresh fish I have had thus far have been dull in looks and a bit boring. I think salt reefs are beautiful and create a 'powerful' look to an aquarium, what can I do to achieve the same 'powerful' look with fresh ?

Thanks so much,
Daniel

 

[jrd77]

Bettas add good color and when its the only Betta in the tank, things should be okay...

Gouroumi's are also pretty and colorful....

12g is hard b/c you are imited on the numbers of fish. If you want more fish, you could always go with s few cute tetras or maybe some mollys or platys.

 

[sylvia]

If you are looking for color in a small tank gouramies are the way to go. The natural color of dwarf gourami males and neon blue dwarf males are very bright and attractive. If you can find them, females are beautiful silver too. It's true that 12 gallons is somewhat limmiting but with the right species you can have a stunning tank.

My suggestion would be 2 dwarf gouramies, 2 MALE platies or guppies (you don't want them breeding in a small tank and you don't want to have to have a trio due to limmited space), 2 otos or khulie loaches and 6 harlequin rasboras or cardinal tetras or black phantom tetras.

Other options are killies which are small and colorful.
Or possibly some shell-dwelling cichlids.

Another suggestion could be a bolivian ram (or blue/gold ram if you preffer), a swordtail and 3-4 cherry or checker barbs.

 

[modernhamlet]

As jrd77 said, 12g isn't going to allow for a lot of fish.

However, if you really want to play to the strengths of the nano cube, take advantage of its higher wattage lighting and create a lush planted aquascape. The nano cube was made for aquascaping.

Besides, fish living in a healthy planted environment are more likely to feel comfortable and display their best colors. In a 12g well-planted community some good fish options might include:

Caridina japonica (amano shrimp)
Otocinclus affinis
Rasbora heteromorpha
Rasbora maculata
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Nannostomus marginatus
many more...

Check out the small tanks at the AGA's 2004 Aquascaping contest for more ideas.