Ideas Regarding Plants And Fish Please.

[Bristlenose]

Hi all,

I have a 3 foot Fluval tank with both and external filter and an internal one. Its been set up now for well over a year and previously I had a two foot tank for about 6 years.

Anyway I need inspiration or idea's. Currently the tank has two pieces of bogwood/drift wood in it with a third having the tannin soaked out as we speak. I also have a divers helmet decoration in it as well. Current tank inhabitants are:

3 Angels, two of which recently attempted to breed, layed eggs etc.
1 Bristlenose catfish (female).
1 upsidedown catfish.
1 zebra snail.
3 bronze corys, one of which I have had for at least 5-6 years (how old do they get, shes outlived everything else?)

Thats it, its looking very empty, most are the survivers down the many years from sholes etc bought over time.

I have 4 anubis plants grown on to bogwood etc. (some have started to go a bit brown on the edges recently).

But its looking bare.

Suggestions regarding plants? (gravel is not to deep perhaps 30mm deep).
Fish? ideally I'd love to have some shrimps but they would be deadmeat, or an applesnail but I fear likewise....

All ideas welcome. Cheers all in advance!

 

[Wills]

Okay so if your angels are starting to pair up I would be ready with either a spare tank or to rehome the third angel as it could get messy in there when they start breeding and defending the eggs/fry etc.

What kind of size is this tank? Ideally it wants to be tall but over all I am going to guess its a 125 liter tank.

So for me in this tank it would be

2 Angels - the breeders
8 Lemon Tetras (or similar sizes tetras, not too small like Neons but not to big of zippy as Bleeding Heart Tetras)
1 Bristlenose Cat
3 Upside Down Catfish
6 Bronze Cories

The Lemon Tetras would add a bit of action into your mid levels and for the upper levels you could consider Hatchet Fish. A trio of Spotted Headstanders might be nice.

Wills

 

[Bristlenose]

Hi I would be concerned that I do not see the upsidedwon catfish and would not see the other two. Also the Bristlenose is often hiding under bogwood. The angels as I am sure you are aware do not move about much just hang there.

I am looking for something with a bit more activety.

Any idea regarding plants, The Aunubis is the only one that has taken well and I think this is due to low light conditions. I was thinking adding some Java Moss.

 

[Wills]

So are you looking for suggestions on a total restock or additions?

Angels are quite still fish but as cichlids should give you a level of interaction? How big are they at the moment?

With the upside down cats - in larger numbers they are sometimes more active. Sometimes swimming in mid water together.

If your after an active tank I would probably look at changing to things like Barbs, Mystus Catfish would be good, some live bearers are good like Swordtails.

Wills