54L Hard Water And High Ph

[FishOut-O-Water]

Hello TFF. I bought a 54L starter set-up just under a month ago.  It came with a hood/lamp, an internal filter and heater.  The filter is an Eheim from their "Pickup" series.  I don't know any of the technical specifics of the lamp but it did come with a metallic-like reflector installed right into the hood that seem like it will help with making use of the available light.
I have been cycling the tank according to the TFF instructions and just added the ammonia dose #5(one of the full 3ppm doses) this morning.  Cycling has been going along great.  Here are my water parameters I think will have the most affect on potential residents:
 
pH     8-8.5
KH     15
GH     24.
 
My pH and hardness are quite high.  They may have dropped a little since I only tested them when I was early into the build.  I have since purchased a more sensitive pH test kit but haven't used it. yet.  I figured I should just wait until this cycling business is done with to do these particular tests as a final check before I go get fish.  I
 
I have a couple ceramic decorations, 3 live plants, and a bunch of plastic plants.  I really like the look of a densely planted tank so hopefully over time I can replace my plastic plants one by one with real ones.  The selection at the places I have checked so far are pretty limited and pricey.
 
I can't wait to check the ammonia and nitrite levels tomorrow.  The way things are going I am crossing my fingers cycling will be complete withing the next couple days so I can put some fish in by next weekend.
 
I have kept mostly livebearers in the past but I don't know what I'm going to go with this time.  I think I would like to try something other than the usual guppies- or not.  I just want something that will be happy in my water conditions and tank size, other than that I really don't have a preference.  My wife on the other hand prefers something with bright colors..  any suggestions???
 
p.s.:  I will try to borrow the wife's smartphone to get some pictures up by the end of the day.

 

[the_lock_man]

With a high pH and KH, livebearers are a good option, as they are suited to parameters.
 
However, most fish these days are farm-produced, so most species that you'll find in the LFSs are easily enough kept in the "wrong" pH. There are a few exceptions to that but they would not be suitable for a 54l anyway.
 
We've got a section on nano tanks further down the forum - if you read through some of the threads in there, it may give you some ideas. A couple to start you off. Celestial Pearl Danios and Chilli Rasboras. Oh and Peacock Gudgeons (aka Peacock Gobies).

 

[FishOut-O-Water]

Thanks for the advice.  I didn't think to check the nano forums.  I guess 54L would be considered "nano" compared to most other setups.

 

[the_lock_man]

Well, it isn't really, nano is generally 10gallons or less, which is about 40l, but the fish that can go in them are much the same.

 

[daizeUK]

There are some small breeds of rainbowfish which would do well in a hard water planted setup.  In particular Forktail Blue-eyes (Pseudomugil furcatus) are happy in extremely hard water, although there are other smaller species of Blue-eye that could probably cope too.  They like to be kept in groups so these would work best in a shoal of 8 with no other fish.
 
Cherry barbs could be another good hard-water option.

 

[FishOut-O-Water]

Here are a couple of pictures for now.  Next time I will make sure there is no glare from the window and I'll make sure the water level is higher.  If you have kids or you happen to enjoy watching cartoons yourself you might recognize the Easter Island-looking relic. The stand is supposed have another little shelf on the right side that mysteriously disappeared while I was off at work.  My my 3-year old son claims he didn't have anything to do with it but I have my suspicions.  I'm not quite sure what I was thinking when I put the brown towel on there but it seems to work.
 
 

 

[FishOut-O-Water]

Well I did it.  As of yesterday my filter is able to handle at least 3ppm of ammonia and the resulting nitrate within 24 hours.  Once I got the confirmation I went ahead and tested the hardness and pH.  Hardness remained the same since my last test and my new more sensitive pH test is reading about 7.7.
 
I wasted no time in doing about a 75% water change.  I used some hot water off the stove to get the temp to 25 degrees and set the heater down just a little.
 
At about the same minute that the water change was done I herded in the family into the car and took a trip to the LFS.  We had a looksie at the fishes for a bit and talked about which ones to adopt.  Unfortunately my wife decided that all the ones that I considered were not nearly brightly colored enough. On the other hand my son was exited about whole prospect whether we got a minnow or a tadpole. I then asked an employee for some advice regarding what would best suit our water and tank size.  Only one of the species I was eyeing got shot down so I guess I did pretty well...   
 
We went home with:
 
5 neons
3 male guppies
2 Otos
 
I was kind of surprised that the neons were recommended to me but the lady who helped me said they thrive in their 16 gh water and should be just fine in my 24.  I'm glad that my pH calmed down a bit since cycling also.  What I have heard about Germans (I am from the U.S.) is that they are serious about keeping pets.  I have been told stories of people calling the cops on their neighbors because dogs were not walked at least twice a day.  Hopefully that all means I can trust the advice I got from the kind lady.
 
Parameters 24 hours after introduction of residents:
 
pH 7.7
ammonia undetectable
nitrite undetectable.
 
So far all the little guys in there seem happy.  I tried to get my boy to give them names but he gave me some maybe Korean sounding names he apparently learned from the show Omi Zoomi he likes to watch.  Next time I will have a camera and pen+paper so there's a chance of the crazy names being remembered.
 
Advice on my situation is very welcome.  I've kept fish before but have never been this deliberate to keep them happy and healthy.  I have an empty 100L tank on stand-by but it needs substrate and since there is no water the filter is obviously not cycled.  The reason I'm playing around with a 54L is because I didn't come across this (free) 100L until about a week after I set up the 54L.  I'm not 100% I will stay at my current residence after the lease is up so I am hesitant to set up the 100L.  I read somewhere that corys are happier on sand than on gravel.  Is the same true of Otos?
 
pictures to come..

 

[the_lock_man]

Yay!

 

[paradiddle]

African cichlids! those water conditions are BEGGING for some mbuna!

 

[daizeUK]

African cichlids! those water conditions are BEGGING for some mbuna!

 
But not in a 54L

 

[paradiddle]

didnt read that bit
possibly 3 demasoni! beautiful dwarf mbuna

 

[FishOut-O-Water]

As much as I would like to dive into the world of cichlids I don't think it's going to happen in this tank.  I do however have a 100L tank on standby that I already know holds water so who knows what will happen with that...  
 
Anywho... The community looks to be happy so far.  There is one shaded spot that always seems to have a neon hiding out but I can't be sure if it is always the same one or they are taking turns. The guppies are the life of the party and I hope the pigs aren't so dominant that they starve out the others.
 
 I had a good bit of algae growing on the plants and decorations during cycling that the 2 otos made short work of.  After doing a bit of research (I know, I should have done that before purchasing the fellows) I got a little concerned about my otos because apparently a common problem with otos is that they often die soon after introduction due to starvation.  During most of cycling I limited light to 6 hours to minimize algae growth so hopefully increasing to 10 hours will make enough grow to sustain them.  I'm currently experimenting with JBL nova fect tablets.  The guppies are pigs about any food they find but the otos aren't pouncing on it as enthusiastically, although they do suck down the bits that happen to float by their way.  I picked up some zucchini at the grocery today that the otos will hopefully take.
 
The neons appear healthy but the fact that there always seems to be one having an alone party in the dark corner somewhat worries me.  The solo one looks the same as the rest and when someone comes to bother him he playfully bothers back.  I really have no idea if it is always the same neon that likes to hide or if it just happens to be a nice refuge that only has space for just one at a time.
 
I really have no worries about the guppies but if anyone can offer advice on the neons or especially on the otos it would be great.   
 
some pictures!!
 

 

[yinyangpete]

Have you found the missing shelf?

 

[FishOut-O-Water]

I didn't find the shelf...  my son did and handed it to me asking, "is this your wood, daddy?"  
 
I have some unfortunate news.  One of the guppies has sadly died.  I found him one morning struggling for life floating pointing up.  I moved him into another container but by the time I thought to check the temperature of his water it had dropped almost 5 degrees Celsius.  I put him into a bag and placed the bag into the main tank with an air-stone.  I had to take the family out to run an errand and by the time we got back the fellow was dead.  I think the shock from the temperature drop may have done him in.  All the remaining residents appear healthy.  I suspect that I may have been feeding too much so I have cut their rations.  Water perimeters were 0 ammonia and nitrite and 10 nitrate when I last tested, a couple days after the loss.  I guess he may have just been a weak individual or was already near the end of his lifespan.  I've been so worried about the otos because everything I read warns that they are a challenging species to keep.  It really caught me off guard for a guppy to be the first one to kick the bucket.
 
The neons look quite alright but they usually don't all come out into the upon unless it is feeding time.  I am wondering if maybe I should get a couple more to make the whole group braver or if my hard water is the cause of two individual's shyness.  Maybe if I started gradually introducing pitcher filtered water or distilled water during weekly changes it would make them happier? 
 
Since I have already had to watch one fish die I think I might refrain from adding anymore specimens and instead focus on planting.  The current lamp is a 15watt t8 that says "sylvania standard".  I'm considering adding another bulb but haven't decided if I'll go for another t8 or go for the t5.  I want the t5 but I don't know if i can get a high output one that will fit in a 60 cm tank with the sockets.  Also, does anyone know a good source for water proof sockets for either lamp? The ballast is easy to find but I'm not sure where to go for waterproof sockets that will ship to Germany or APO.

 

[FishMonkey]

I'd get at least 1 more neon to make it up to 6, they prefer schools of 6 to feel safe.
 
I had 4 previously and they were pretty shy, as soon as i added the extra few (took my stock of them up to 7) they all started schooling together immediately, amazing to watch!
 
Can't help with the lighting questions i'm afriad though.