A Tricky Question I Am Confusing Everybody With!

[Rorie]

I previously posted asking about this, but i have been reading a lot and realise i still dont have an answer!

360L tank
heavily planted
High flow rate (around 15x turn over)
PH around 6.2
Pleanty of bottom feeders
Cardinal tetras

Now, your challenge is to find me a centre piece fish of fishes which will be middle to top dwelling P)
Previous ideas and suggestions are shown below along with reasons why they just wont work! So far non of the LFS can come up with suitable ideas!

Discus - too high flow rate
Angels - will eat my cardinals
Rainbows - PH too low
Keyholes - PH too low

So, ideas?!

 

[weezawoo]

What are you looking for in a fish? Big, colourful, interesting? Things like bolivian rams are nice, some apistos could work but I don't know much about them.
All depends also if you want a group of big fish or maybe a pair?
Some say if angels are tiny when introduced they shouldn't eat the tetras when bigger!

Or gouramis could be a possibility

 

[interpet123]

What are you looking for in a fish? Big, colourful, interesting? Things like bolivian rams are nice, some apistos could work but I don't know much about them.
All depends also if you want a group of big fish or maybe a pair?
Some say if angels are tiny when introduced they shouldn't eat the tetras when bigger!

Or gouramis could be a possibility

maybe 1 or 2 silver dollars!? Dont know much about them though have a look ..... http/www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/CharaciformPIX/Metynnis%20hysauchenAQJuvs.jpg
They do get to about 6 or 7 inches long

 

[micko]

2 red honey gouramis. Stunning colour.

 

[Rorie]

Yeh, ideally i would want big bright and colourful, like discus i guess!

I forgot to add (so just added it to my original post) that i would like it/them to be middle to top dwelling. My tank is going to be bottom heavy, and i have 4 rams there already!

I like the rams, but they are just not eye catching as they are bottom dwellers!

gouramis don't excite me to much i'm afraid - i have had a few in my other tanks and they are kind of small.... a bigger version maybe? I guess i am looking for a fish that would be at least 3/4 inches

maybe 1 or 2 silver dollars!? Dont know much about them though have a look ..... http/www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/CharaciformPIX/Metynnis%20hysauchenAQJuvs.jpg
They do get to about 6 or 7 inches long

I guess my worry with this would be the size...would they not eat my cardinals?

Although i do not find their colour to be anything of interest, i think i am maybe swaying towards a simple colour, as i have a black background, so a large white/silver fish could look cool

 

[amy1994]

I have seen angelfish with smaller fish and not eat them, but you wouldn't want to risk it

How about some big shoaling fish like glass catfish etc...there are many to choose from

 

[weezawoo]

I have dwarf gouramis, lovely red one and it is maybe 2inches. nice size.
Kribs are quite nice, I like the albinos

 

[Rorie]

albino what? Sharks?

I'd rather have my cardinals in their shoal (50 of them) and them a pair of fish, or maybe up to six if they are larger and like to shoal.

I hear Kribs can turn very aggressive when they breed and can take over a while tank?!

 

[Tizer]

Kribs behave much the same as Rams and yes, my breeding pair demand a lot of space in my 240 litre (4 foot).

I cant think of any mid/top dwelling fish that would be eye catching. The other option would to be a massive school of something in there instead. 25 x Serpae Tetras or something. Lots of colour, no agression from them in such a big group. Im sure your tank could easily handle it. Lots more intersting than a pair of X. imo

 

[micko]

Silver dollars fully grown are huge, I seen some at around 10 inches and need to be in groups of 6+. They would eat your cardinals for sure.

 

[amy1994]

Isn't there a way you could just slow the water flow down so that you could have discus, as they are beautiful fish

 

[StandbySetting]

Blue Rams and Corydoras capable of taking the higher temperatures they require such as sterbai, you'll want the temperature around 28-32oC, other than that, your water stats are fine and your tank would be perfect for them.

What bottom feeders do you currently have?

 

[Rorie]

Just spoken to a friend who has almost guaranteed me that if i take out my 6000l/h power head, then my CO2 will still get around my tank. If that is the case, then Discus will be getting added haha. If not, then i think some of the suggestions above may come into play.

Bottom feeders just now are my Rams, corys and thinking about some shrimp!

 

[amy1994]

Just for some help incase you do decide for discus, heres a great site

http/www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/index_cat49.php

 

[KittyKat]

What gives you the idea that the pH is too low for keyholes? I have only ever had them breed successfully at that.

Angels could be fine, if you get young ones and have them grow up with cardinals.