Got a new tank.

[kimbowee]

Ok, so I picked up a 30gal with all the fixin's at a garage sale a couple of weeks ago for $15. It took about 2 1/2 weeks to cycle. Today I added 3 blue Dwarf Gourami's & 3 Marbled Hatchetfish & an Upside-down Catfish. Next week I want to add 2 more hatchetfish when the store has more in.
I like colorful and no livebearers in this tank. I already have a 20 gal with livebearers.

Has anyone ever had Electric Yellow labidochromis? They look pretty cool & pretty coloring. I have done some research and they are supposedly peaceful cichlids. The lfs had some in with Honey gourami's for the past week & I didn't see any fight wounds. I have never owned cichlids before tho.

If not these, any other ideas? I don't really like barbs or danio's & since a newer tank I think I should wait awhile before even thinking about Tetra's.

Any idea is appreciated! Thanks bunches!

 

[simonbrown403]

whats your water parameters.

 

[kimbowee]

whats your water parameters.

[snapback]900975[/snapback]​

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40
pH 7.4
temp 78 degrees

 

[fish_keeper2]

i dont know much about yellow labs or any african cichlids for that matter but i think it would be best to keep the labs in a AC tank only rather than a cummonity. they also(if im not mistaken)require higher ph then you have.

hatchets are schooling i belive. in that case i would go for a total of around 7 or more(cant be exact on it as i dont know much about these guys)

as for suggestions: the only thing colorfull i can think of his other gouramis. all the colorfull fish i know of are either livebearers, tetras, and barbs.

other possible tank mates: corries, ottos, shrimp, snails, ADF, more gouramis...these guys can be agressive so im not sure if there should be any more in the tank. ummmmm thats all i got for now.

 

[kimbowee]

Well thanks for all of the replies. I asked also on the African Cichlid section & its a no go for the yellow labs. When my turtle moves out tot the pond area we are building in the spring I will have my 55 gal back.

I will be getting some more hatchetfish next week. I took all of the fish the LFS had. He was supposed to have some more in today but I like to look at them for a couple days before I buy & make sure they aren't ill. They are a schooling species. I guess I will have to do a little more research on other species for this tank. I do like tetras but this is a new tank & I have heard that they do better in a tank that has been established at least 6 months.

I do like the ADF's. Hmmm...... ideas.

Thanks for the advice. I will see what kind of trouble I can get into.

 

[Barracuda518]

You will definately need a clean up crew. I would go with some cories. They are also a schooling fish that like each others company and are very active. I have 6 in my tank and they are always moving around, especially at night. Remember hatchet fish must have lots of top water space to swim and they like to jump, so make sure you have all the holes covered up. Like Fish Keeper said, be careful with gouramis, as they can get very aggressive and territorial. Also, some tetras are fin nippers, so watch out for those to, especially if you have any slow moving fish with long fins. All tetra are also a schooling species...

good luck B)