Fish That Look Good From The Top

[Install]

Hi all.

Probably not your standard question, but I'm thinking of making an indoor pond (no, please don't expect it to be as big as many external ponds), but perhaps it's better to think of it as a small indoor tank that's on the floor

Anyway - what fish would look good when viewed from the top? I was thinking of fancy goldies since they are almost designed for that purpose, but of course tropical ideas would be fantastic.

Thanks

 

[PrairieSunflower]

You must not have kids!

Just curious... how are you going to keep stuff from falling in there?

 

[Install]

There won't be anything that could fall in there. And I don't, no.

 

[fluttermoth]

I think fancy goldies would be your best choice. As you say, they've been bred to look good from that angle.

Our tropical fish, however, mostly still have their naturally evolved colours and, as birds are one of the major predators of wild fish, they're nearly all olive brown/black/dark grey when viewed from above; even really otherwise bright fish, like neon tetras and rams.

Maybe something like an albino tiger oscar, if it'll be big enough? You do have to think about condensation, if you're going to heat it, though; a big pond like that could cause a lot of damp problems.

 

[Install]

Ooh no it's not that big, not for an oscar at least. And yes, I didn't really think it possible tbh (admittedly what got my started thinking about this was either puffer fish, or indeed something like an african butterfly fish (if I'm thinking about the right one...)), and after that I was stumped!

 

[fluttermoth]

Butterfly fish do have an interesting shape and do stay near the surface, but again they're brown; I think they'd also prefer to lurk amongst leaves, rather than out in the open.

 

[Install]

Well indeed, I suppose they would fit into the category of extreme surface dwellers. I'd provide them with lurking cover of course, but in any case I don't there are all that many fish that fit my 'wants'. Fancies it ought well be then. No wires then either.

 

[fluttermoth]

They'll still need a filter.

 

[Install]

Perhaps. However I intend not to involve one, I'm going to change the water excessively to counter this. And I do mean excessively. Obviously I'm not silly enough to say no if it really is needed though.

 

[fluttermoth]

I don't think you should keep any fish without a filter. Even if you did daily large water changes, the ammonia would still build up in between, and goldies are bulky, messy fish.

 

[Install]

All that is true. I need to dig up an old pfk article (I think it was) about someone who breeds fancies and uses the no filter method... he did have huge daily water changes. Or at least relatively huge in terms of %ge of water changed.

 

[fluttermoth]

It certainly could be done, but running a filter would be a lot easier!

 

[Install]

Pshaw, I'm not in this for easy.

I have another tank that I shall be setting up soon actually, though that will involve all the mod cons. Stocking is going to be a pain though =/

 

[CezzaXV]

I'd still go for a filter. Even if you're willing to put in the work, why would you go through that? Your fish would be happier too. I'm not saying it's not possible to take away the ammonia risk if you put the work in, but it's a massive amount of effort on your part to eliminate the risk completely and it means you're stuffed if you ever have to be away from home even for a couple of days.

If you're having this pond built in, you can always work a way to hide the cables to it under the flooring. It's easy to hide a filter away too, or maybe you could work the output into a waterfall or a fountain.

 

[Install]

Tbh, I'll probably end up with a filter.