19g Community Tank Advice

[missmenace]

Hi.

I've taken the time to introduce myself here. Now I figure this forum is the best place to get my questions answered.

Please read my intro as, although well meant, half a dozen replies asking if I've cycled the tank won't answer my questions.

Basically I'm wondering what fish to add next. As mentioned I currently have 5 harlequin rasboras and 2 julii corys. The plan is to add a few more corys and 'something' else.

My wish list includes;
Cardinal Tetras- not yet though!
2 Blue Rams- also not yet.
A couple of Glass catfish; I'm thinking to add some interest to the top of the tank.
Maybe some Rosy Barbs; These aren't a definite as I think they may get too big and boisterous for the size of tank.
And a rank outsider; maybe a couple of Shrimp of some kind.

My question would be, what would you good people suggest would be the best order to add these fish in? I want to make sure that no one species get too dominant or demand too much territory.

I have 4 good sized plants (real) and two biggish bits of bogwood. The tank is arranged so there are plenty of places for the fish to hide in and explore.

Suggestions please. Oh, and the list isn't cast in stone, so if anyone has another species they are dying to suggest then feel free.

 

[onlinebug]

Welcome to the forum

Norfolk ah

Guppys are fun, the glass catfish looks cool but might grow to big for your tank so you may want to considder somthing else, you may want to also considder mollies as they are also great fish to have.

 

[missmenace]

I have a strange aversion to guppies. I think its their indiscriminate breeding.

I've previously kept Sailfin Mollies, which are lovely. But again too keen to breed and, I think, not really suited to my tank size. Basically, I think livebearers are off the list. I'm hoping to be the one in control of the tank population.

You may well be right about the Glass Catfish though. I hadn't got around to looking up their maximum size til then.

Can anyone suggest an alternative fish to occupy the top part of the tank? One that is more suited to the size of aquarium. Preferably not Gouramis though. They just don't grab me. Sorry.

 

[Larissa]

Marbled hatchetfish might be nice if your thinking of some floating plants. Also, they are jumpers so you need a good lid. They are a shoaling fish too so a group is neccessary.

 

[onlinebug]

I have a strange aversion to guppies. I think its their indiscriminate breeding.

I've previously kept Sailfin Mollies, which are lovely. But again too keen to breed and, I think, not really suited to my tank size. Basically, I think livebearers are off the list. I'm hoping to be the one in control of the tank population.

You may well be right about the Glass Catfish though. I hadn't got around to looking up their maximum size til then.

Can anyone suggest an alternative fish to occupy the top part of the tank? One that is more suited to the size of aquarium. Preferably not Gouramis though. They just don't grab me. Sorry.

Guppies can be purchased by species so they don't breed incase that changes your mind?

 

[missmenace]

Marbled hatchetfish might be nice if your thinking of some floating plants. Also, they are jumpers so you need a good lid. They are a shoaling fish too so a group is neccessary.

How big do they get and how big a shoal/school would they need?

I wouldn't mind getting some floating plants and I have a snug fitting lid and condensation plate so they would be quite secure. My powerhead creates a fair bit of water movement, which my harlequins love, would hatchetfish get on ok with that?

I may just have to give up on the idea of top-dwelling fish and concentrate on the list I already have.

onlinebug, sadly no. I think they are a bit too 'frilly' for my liking. I tend toward 'neat' fish, without all that long flowing tail business.

 

[Larissa]

You should check out the fish profiles on this site. I think there is one for the hatchetfish under characins (spelling? -sorry) It might give you some other ideas as well.
I'd probably keep 5 or 6 of them - they would be great tankmates for your rams too. - peacefull and encourage them to come out more.

http/www.fishforums.net/content/Characin...arbled-Hatchet/

 

[missmenace]

Thanks. I did go off and get some info about them. They do seem like lovely fish. I'm a bit scared of them trying to leap out when I feed the fish or do a waterchange though. I think my cats would rapidly dispose of any fish foolish enough to venture onto the floor. Also, I just read that they are prone to being a bit sickly which worries me a bit.

Ooh, I'm all of a dither now.

I may just add 4 more Corys for now and wait for inspiration. Although, I've also read that they can be 'sensitive' and I've never ever had any problems with any Corys that I've kept. Odd.

What do people think of Shrimp in tropical tanks? Do they have special requirements? Would they affect things if I needed to medicate the tank? How many would I need for them to be happy? Also, would I apply the same inch per gallon rule to them?

Oh dear. I've been lurking around here for a while now, not being brave enough to post. Now I have and I'm just creating more questions for myself. I may be getting overexcited at the prospect of more fish. This is the point at which I say, stop, breathe and have another look once I've thought things through.

Women and shiny things eh?

 

[Davo86]

Hi.

I've taken the time to introduce myself here. Now I figure this forum is the best place to get my questions answered.

Please read my intro as, although well meant, half a dozen replies asking if I've cycled the tank won't answer my questions.

Basically I'm wondering what fish to add next. As mentioned I currently have 5 harlequin rasboras and 2 julii corys. The plan is to add a few more corys and 'something' else.

My wish list includes;
Cardinal Tetras- not yet though!
2 Blue Rams- also not yet.
A couple of Glass catfish; I'm thinking to add some interest to the top of the tank.
Maybe some Rosy Barbs; These aren't a definite as I think they may get too big and boisterous for the size of tank.
And a rank outsider; maybe a couple of Shrimp of some kind.

My question would be, what would you good people suggest would be the best order to add these fish in? I want to make sure that no one species get too dominant or demand too much territory.

hello missmenace

i'm not sure that Glass Cats or Rosy barbs would be suitable for your tank i'm afraid, Glass Cats need a very mature tank and if your looking for for top dwellers then i don't think they will fit your requirements, Also the rosy barbs can get to around 5" and can become a bit dominating in a smaller tank.

An alternative for the top level could be marbled Hatchetfish, these stay right at the waters surface so would fit that requirement,
As for the barbs you could go with Cherry Barbs, Again they stay much smaller and you could easily go for a shoal of around 6

IMO the blue Rams should be the last addition to your tank, this will allow all of the smaller species to get settled.

5 harlequin rasboras
2 julii corys.

3 Hatchetfish and/or 2 julii corys and/or 5 cherry barbs

5 Cardinals 4 Shrimp

2 Blue Rams

 

[onlinebug]

What do people think of Shrimp in tropical tanks?

Yeah, however they may eat the algae but they still produce waste

Do they have special requirements?

Not that i'm aware of, aslong as they have alot of algae to eat (put them in a mature tank)

Would they affect things if I needed to medicate the tank??

Put the fish or the shrimp into a hospital tank when medicating as some medications are deadly to invertabrates

How many would I need for them to be happy??

2 or 3 not really sure about schooling?

Also, would I apply the same inch per gallon rule to them??

Yes, this applys for everything which produces waste and takes up swimming space.

Oh dear. I've been lurking around here for a while now, not being brave enough to post. Now I have and I'm just creating more questions for myself. I may be getting overexcited at the prospect of more fish. This is the point at which I say, stop, breathe and have another look once I've thought things through.

Women and shiny things eh?

We all have questions Don't be afraid to ask !

 

[missmenace]

Thanks Davo, thats given me some sensible structure to go on. My mind was flying away with me and I found myself unable to make a decision.

I'm going to go easy and just get a few more corys for now while I think about the next group of shoaling fish.

As for the Rams, I thought that was probably the case. I'll consider them the crowning jewel in my tank and my final reward to myself for being sensible.

 

[rabbut]

Shrimp are great cratures, but cannot be kept with larger fish as they will see them as food They are also sensitive to copper based meds (waterlife protozin for example) which can make treating for whitespot difficult. I belive the interpet anti-whitespot plus no 6 is Ok. Some fungus and finrot meds also don't agree with them (interpets for example, but I belive API Melafix is again OK). Best thing to do is read the label, and if still in doubt, ask on here for help There are almost always alternative meds that would work with them though.

HTH
Rabbut

 

[missmenace]

Been doing some more reading up. (Obsessive, moi?) And although I knew that Cardinals prefer 'soft' water I hadn't fully computed what that meant.

Now I live in a hard water area. Even with some big chunks of bogwood in my tank, which I understand helps to lower PH, my PH readings are still about 7.5. Is this a problem? Am I doomed to failure if I try and keep Cardinals?

(This is a question for sometime in the next couple of months, I'm not risking putting any in a new setup)

 

[Davo86]

if you can find tank bred species then they will be much easier to acclimatise to your tank, Also if your LFS is fairly nearby and you know that they use tap water in their systems, just monitor the cardinals that they have in store for a few weeks and see how they acclimatise to their tanks, if they seem ok, then they should be ok in your tank

 

[rabbut]

As Daivo says, tank breads should be fine. If cardinals sell in your LFS, as they do in the one I work at, you won't get a few weeks to monitor them. A few days after they come out of quaranteen, they are almost all sold.

All the best
Rabbut