I Think I'm Ill

[fenwoman]

I suffer from racing heart, churning in my tummy. I frantically search the 'net, flip back and forth on ebay pages. I break out in cold sweats, make lists, check and recheck the lists, cross stuff out, add things on and deplete my bank account.

Yes folks, all the symptoms of an impending tank set up. I've bought a 4 foot tank off ebay, and just won a nice stand for it with enough room underneath to put my other 4 foot tank. I am making lists of things I need, things I want, plants to buy, fish to stock the community tank with. I look at fish forums and websites all day long to check and double check I know what I need. Then even when I've got them both set up, filled, planted etc, I still have to wait weeks before I can introduce the fish. Crikey, this is worse than being pregnant.

I plan on 2 oscars and a catfish in the bottom tank and the community tank above with a nice display in. Apart from knowing that I want bettas and a couple of yoyo loach, I haven't yet made a firm decision on what else. What I don't wants is it to be 'bitty'. I don't want to keep a couple of every species. I want a large shoal of something, possible a species of tetra, a few shrimps and that's as far as I've got. What are your favourites for a community tank?

 

[unspoken930]

you say "bettas" and "bettas" would only work if they are female... otherwise you can only have one male, (if this is going in one of your 4ft tanks) and it cant be housed with female bettas, or brightly colored fish.

Other then that, tetras and rasboras make great shoals and getting only a few types in big numbers with maybe one or two single fish to be a main vocal point would be nice. I also reccomend planting the tank instead of plastic plants/ no plants becuase I think it creates a more natural enviroment, granted the fish dont destroy things.

Good luck

 

[fenwoman]

you say "bettas" and "bettas" would only work if they are female... otherwise you can only have one male, (if this is going in one of your 4ft tanks) and it cant be housed with female bettas, or brightly colored fish.

Other then that, tetras and rasboras make great shoals and getting only a few types in big numbers with maybe one or two single fish to be a main vocal point would be nice. I also reccomend planting the tank instead of plastic plants/ no plants becuase I think it creates a more natural enviroment, granted the fish dont destroy things.

Good luck

Yes I know about bettas. I am going back to fish after a break of 20 years. I plan on 3 females to one male. I hate, loath and despise plastic plants. There are some good deals about on fresh plants. If I couldn't get fresh plants I would probably go for silk ones. There will also be bog wood, rocks and the like to create a natural look.

 

[unspoken930]

You know that the male will still attack/kill the females because theyre not ready to breed all the time, this is from what I understand, but I would ask the betta forum on here about that.

And good for you with the plants Im with you about the plain plastic ones, and I dont really even like the silk, but if thats the only choice youve got, then go for it.

 

[cleekdaFish]

rummy noses r 1 of the best schooling fish out there. They can even schoolwid only 3...very tite nit group

 

[fenwoman]

You know that the male will still attack/kill the females because theyre not ready to breed all the time, this is from what I understand, but I would ask the betta forum on here about that.

And good for you with the plants Im with you about the plain plastic ones, and I dont really even like the silk, but if thats the only choice youve got, then go for it.

I think it will be fine. I have kept both sexes before and with a 4 foot tank, densely planted I'm not anticipating problems but I do have a couple of other tanks so could just set up a smaller one if there is trouble.
Just out of interest, I was planning to use gravel as a medium but a couple of the fish places locally I notice used sand. What is you opinion on this? I doubt it would be a good idea with the large oscars as they will stir it up but for the community tank?

 

[starrynightxxi]

In a large tank it can be done if the planting is very dense, and you have a back up plan which is very important when trying this sort of venture, the only thing i would say is to do 4 females rather than 3 because the females will probably interact more with one another than they will with the male if all goes as it should, and the third fish may get bullied. better to have four to even out aggression.

 

[unspoken930]

I dont know much about sand, but if you plan on live plants its not the BEST because roots have a bit of a hard time with it, or so ive read. It also harbors bad bacteria if you dont "stir" it up frequently, so id just go with a fine gravel

 

[alisdairkr]

Whiteclouds are lovely in a school, IMHO

 

[kniesh]

Hi, I have sand in all my tanks and I find it quite difficult regarding planting in it. Because the sand is a lot less compact than gravel it is a lot easier for the fish to dislodge the plants or for waterflow to take its toll. I suppose if you went with a deep sand it would woork. A nice school of Columbian Tetras would look nice in that tank, say 5/6. They are very peaceful and are a lovely colour once established.

 

[LisaLQ]

What are the dimensions? I doubt you'd get away with two oscars and a catfish in a 4ft tank. 6ft yes, but not 4ft. I'd consider some smaller cichlids

 

[Miss Wiggle]

What are the dimensions? I doubt you'd get away with two oscars and a catfish in a 4ft tank. 6ft yes, but not 4ft. I'd consider some smaller cichlids

that was my thought, but you never know it could be a 4 foot cube or something in which case it'd probably be alright

oscars need about 75g each, you need 125g to keep 2 i believe? (sure Lisa will correct me if not!)

but there's loads of lovely cichlids you could keep in a 4 footer so don't despair!

 

[LisaLQ]

Spot on Miss Wiggle Some folks say 55g for one oscar, but as oscars can get to 14-16", the bigger the better - I'd say 75g for one, and 125g for two was perfect. You could probably get away with a plec in there with them at those tank sizes, depending on dimensions and what species you went for (a silfin/gibby would probably need bigger as they can get to 2ft, and they're quite feisty with it). I wouldn't even consider it in a 55g though, so it's really down to tank size

 

[PoPoV]

You know that the male will still attack/kill the females because theyre not ready to breed all the time, this is from what I understand, but I would ask the betta forum on here about that.

And good for you with the plants Im with you about the plain plastic ones, and I dont really even like the silk, but if thats the only choice youve got, then go for it.

I think it will be fine. I have kept both sexes before and with a 4 foot tank, densely planted I'm not anticipating problems but I do have a couple of other tanks so could just set up a smaller one if there is trouble.
Just out of interest, I was planning to use gravel as a medium but a couple of the fish places locally I notice used sand. What is you opinion on this? I doubt it would be a good idea with the large oscars as they will stir it up but for the community tank?

sand does hold alot of bacteria. All my tanks that have been "infected" In the past have had sand substrait. Id use a fine gravel inless the fish you are looking at fish that like to dig. than i would use sand so they dont damage them selves. But sand does offer a very nice look to the tank.