Choosing Fish, Please Help :)

[natistotel]

Hello everyone,
 
I am pretty new in this hobby and I have some doubts about my new aquarium. It is Juwel Rio 125
 
Originally I planned on having 2 oranda gold fish, maybe an apple snail here and there and few plants. But I started looking fish on the internet and I'm kind of doubting Oranda fish now.
 
I will try to scape it somewhat like this http/up358.siz.co.il/up2/2z2jjmkvhjml.jpg 
 
besides oranda, I like Angelfish, Ramirez, Jack Dempsey (or any cichlid actually).. I don't want guppy fish, molly..
 
The idea is to have a fish or two let's say that would be bigger than the rest of fish and then there could be a school of smaller fish, bottom feader fish , snails etc.
 
It would be ideal if fish could live with betta but not necessarily (I know most of the fish I named cannot live together with betta, but I am not sure if they can with each other and how many of them)
 
I am sure most of you have big experience with fish and any help with my tank would be appreciated

 

[Munroco]

You should forget about orandas if you are thinking of keeping tropicals as their needs are different. Fish like you mentioned are lovely fish but maybe not something an inexperienced fishkeeper should be taking on.
 
The question you are going to be asked most on here is if your tank is cycled and ready to home fish, and what are your water parameters? This is important to know before deciding which fish you can keep that will be happy in your tank.
 
While a lot of people prefer to keep bettas as single fish, there are fish that will live quite happily with bettas. Let us know about your set up and it will be easier to help you.

 

[Ninjouzata]

As above, it'd really help to know if your water is hard or soft and if the tank is cycled. If you havn't cycled it yet you may want to read HERE

 

[natistotel]

Thank you for your help
 
I know I cannot mix orandas with tropical fish, if it were orandas i'd have just the two of them.
 
But I think I am closer to my decision. I want a pair of blue rams m/f, and two schools of tetras - white and I'd find another on the way,  maybe ember? I thought about 5 of each = 10 total. Few, maybe five, too corydoras aeneus, few apple snails.
 
Could I keep shrimps, betta or 1 angelfish with fish above, maybe? (Not all of them, but I've heard different opinions about combination betta-angel, of ram - shrimp) 
 
Tank is still cycling, but it will be ready in a week or so.It will be 3/4 planted let's say (I hope all plants will grow nicely hehe), I'll add some hiding places - coconut probably.
 
Considering that it will have a lot of plants, and my pump is eccoflow 500 - 500l/h, do I need oxygen pump, too?

 

[FreshwaterAdvice]

Cycling the tank is important but whether or not your water is hard or soft does not matter much in my opinion. I have found that fish (with the exception of cichlids) don't really care about the pH or hardness of the water they are in as long as you keep it constant. I have seen much worse happen with people trying to change their water parameters and having those parameters fluctuate.
 
A pair of blue rams along with two schools of tetra would look good. Keep in mind that tetras and corydoras are schooling fish meaning you should have at least 6 of each (12 tetras or 6 corys). A school of corys is one of the most interesting things to watch. Angelfish are also schooling fish which means that they will likely make your tank to crowded. Angelfish also eat anything that fits in their mouth (small shrimp etc.). 
 
Either way good luck I would stick with the rams and tetras and add the shrimps and maybe the betta but definitely not the angelfish. 

 

[Ch4rlie]

Cycling the tank is important but whether or not your water is hard or soft does not matter much in my opinion. I have found that fish (with the exception of cichlids) don't really care about the pH or hardness of the water they are in as long as you keep it constant. I have seen much worse happen with people trying to change their water parameters and having those parameters fluctuate.

 
I have to disagree with this statement.
 
The water hardness is very important for fish species, if fish are kept in the wrong water hardness for any length of time, they will suffer and lifespans will drastically shorten due to the osmoregulation (constant pressure of water / fluids, this affect fish organs).
 
Water hardness is one of the most important areas of fishkeeping, and is often overlooked or poorly understood by many keepers unfortunately.
 
This is why we ask members what their water paramenters are, including water hardness, this is so we can advise which fish will thrive in their specific water parameters.
 
If your statement was correct, then we could mix and match any fish species together regardless of water hardness, say, crystal shrimps, coradoras, with pencilfish, and rainbowfish with some discus fish, all have differing water hardness levels, and kept in my water pH of 8.0 with hardness of 215 ppm, i can assure you, only the rainbowfish would thrive and the other 3 species and the shrimps would suffer and live short lives.
 
You CAN acclimitise fish to different pH levels, but if over their extreme limits then, again, they will suffer. I know of a breeder who had wild altums which came from waters of 4.5 and over several months eventually adjusted them to pH level of 6.0.
This is no mean feat and is an accmplishment, as if these fish were put directly into his normal water of 6.0 they probably would have died on the same day.
 
However, you are quite correct in saying the stability of water is vital, as fluctuating water parameters will have a worse effect on the fish than simply being in the wrong pH.
 
And also the fact that trying to change the water parameters rather than trying to find fish species to suit your water parameters is much harder work and more often than not, ends predictably. It is impossible to adjust pH without affecting the other two gH and kH, and so on and so forth with kH and gH.
 

Either way good luck I would stick with the rams and tetras and add the shrimps and maybe the betta but definitely not the angelfish. 

 
Agreed about the anglefish not being totally suitable, angels may snack on ember tetras or any small fish that fits in its mouth, including the shrimps.
 
Would not add a betta to community tank set up to be honest, there are exceptions to the rule sometimes but bettas are territorial and can be aggressive to any tankmates, best to be safe than sorry and simply keep betta in a tank of its own, btw betta may eat the shrimps as well.
 
Rams and tetras may be ok, depending on which species.

 

[Byron]

I agree with Ch4rlie.  There is a real misunderstanding in this hobby about the impact of water attributes on fish, be it the hardness, pH, temperature or additives.  If you want healthy fish that will have a normal lifespan, you need to be aware of the fish's requirements and provide them.
 
Turning to your fish suggestions in post #4, natistotel, aside from the water aspect...a 125 litre aquarium will not be sufficient for angelfish.  Plus, there is a real risk that tiny fish like Ember Tetras would be food for an angelfish.  Betta are not really community fish; yes, sometimes it works, but this is the exception and not the norm, and it is best to assume one's fish will be healthy and normal rather than hope for the opposite.  There are many species of fish that will work without risks.
 
Rams are suitable fish, but these are warmer water than many tropicals.  Most corys (there are a very few exceptions) would not last long at the warm temperatures needed by rams.  Many tetra are similar.
 
Many fish such as corys and tetras are shoaling fish.  This means they need a group, and while six is usually the minimum number suggested, it is always preferable to have more.  The fish will be better, less stressed and thus healthier, with more of their species.  Some species need even more for other reasons, so that has to be considered when selecting species, keeping in mind the tank size.
 
Byron.