An Update On My Tank, What Should I Do Next?

[Georgia87]

I've been awol from the site for a while, so I thought I'd give an update on my tank.

I've had a lot of fish die, which is through no fault of my own, I stupidly cleaned all my filter media (in tank water) at the same time, then read that I should only do one set at a time.

So I've been doing a few water changes lately to try and sort things out, sadly lost my 5yr old bristle nosed plec today which im kinda peeved about. Poor thing

We bought a couple of khuli loaches today, and are getting more in a few weeks, my catfish are all doing well, although I lost 2 gourami's, and only have 1 zebra danio, and 1 cherry barb left.

Trying to decide what fish to get next, dont know if I want to get another plec.. I like them, but the one I had was like a toxic waste bin, just a trail of yukkiness where ever it went lol

Ideas on fish to add?

Also I hate the way my plants are taking over one side, im tempted to take it out and start again.

Recomendations please

 

[Sophie]

Well firstly I don't see how washing all your filter media in tank water would kill the bacteria? I do this once a month and never had any problems.. Now if you washed it in tap water that'd be a different story.
 
But as for the fish, I'd make sure the school numbers are correct for example, the Danios/Corys/Minnows etc.
Better still, rehome the Danios as they don't really belong in tropical temperatures, neither do the Mountain Minnows. They are far better suited to temperate temperatures - keeping temperate/coldwater fish in tropical temperatures rapidly increases their metabolic rate, drastically shortening their life span (or so I've read into). The "Butterfly Plec" which is actually better known as a Hillstream Loach doesn't suit the tank environment either. They ideally need a much higher turnover and temperate temperatures also (don't quote me on the last one).
The Corydoras would be better in a group of 6+.

Not sure on whether different Cory species shoal either.. So maybe just having 6 of one specie would be far better. Would need confirmation from a more knowledgeable member on that one.

 

[Georgia87]

I need to update my signature, the fish I have now are:

3 gourami's
6 corydora's who all get on really well and swim around together.
1 zebra danio
1 cherry barb
( the two above weren't on their own originally but their tank mates died, so I wont be getting anymore)
2 khuli loach (will be adding 3 or 4 more in a few weeks)

 

[Sophie]

I need to update my signature, the fish I have now are:

3 gourami's
6 corydora's who all get on really well and swim around together.
1 zebra danio
1 cherry barb
( the two above weren't on their own originally but their tank mates died, so I wont be getting anymore)
2 khuli loach (will be adding 3 or 4 more in a few weeks)

 
I see, I see - well perhaps rehome then, then you could start a fresh maybe with a nice shoal of mid swimming fish? Would go really nicely underneath the top swimming Gourami.
Something that shoals quite tightly, I find Rummynose quite appealing. All depends on what selection your LFS has? Perhaps a type of tetra? Not like Neon or Cardinal, but possibly Black Skirts? How about Harlequins? The list is endless - would be easier if you had something in mind, then could find similar depending on your tastes!
What type of Gourami do you have? I know the Honey Gourami are quite peaceful, and the Opaline too, but I saw a Gold in your picture? Not sure if these can be problematic, I certainly haven't researched much into their behaviour but heard they can be aggressive - again would need confirmation.
 
 
Are you 100% the deaths were caused by this media washing? I'd be concerned it wasn't down to something else - especially if considering adding new.

 

[Georgia87]

The only thing I have done differently is wash all media. Everything else is, as it was.

I dont plan on rehoming any of my fish as they seem happy as they are.

All my gourami's get along fine, sometimes my gold gets picked on but its only usually if there all going for the same bit of food.

I like harliquins, and I also like tiger barbs, I would also like to get some shrimp at some point, but I want to make sure my tanks 100% before I add any of them.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Agreed with Sophie that you should re-home the stragglers, especially if you don't plan on getting any more, and of course the danio having different temperature requirements.

 

[Sophie]

Tiger Barbs would more than likely be too hectic and aggressive towards the Gourami - without working it out properly I doubt there would be sufficient room for the Barbs full grown and in a decent shoal size either. Especially with how large the Gourami get.

 

[Georgia87]

My gourami are the biggest there going to get... I've had them for ages.

I now have 1 danio, the cherry barb died over night. The only thing I've been doing differently is water changes, I just dont get it.