My 60L (Update) With Pics.

[Cossie1111]

a few know about my project to set up a 60L tank, but for those who don't, heres some history:

due to ammonia being ridiculously hard to find here, i had to opt for fishless cycle, i kicked off the cycle with a betta, and some Seachem stability (following the directions).

here are some specifics on the setup:
-62L, 16.6g
-100W heater
-filtered by jebo 835 (1000L an hour, i turned down the outlet flow to about 50%)
-air stone
-silk plants

after letting the tank go for about two weeks, i rearranged the decor (i originally planned on using solely UG, it was already under the gravel, so i opted to leave the UG under the gravel, not running, in case of an emergency. (i could even have the UG running alongside my external filtration if i wanted to)) put my betta in a breeding trap, and bought some fish.

i have now built up to the current stocking:
1 betta (in breeding trap)
11 harlequins
2 bronze corydoras

the stocking has been like this for about a week now, with no major issues. unfortunately, i dont think my betta will ever get used to being in a community (sometimes he even tries to attack the other fish from inside the breeding trap)

and here are today's test results:
Ammonia : 0ppm
Nitrite : 0ppm
Nitrate : 5ppm
pH : 7.2

now i have some questions:

1. what should my next stocking purchase be? i was thinking maybe some guppys and/or cherry shrimps. any ideas?
2. could i run the UG alongside the jebo? or will the corys be exposed to unhealthy bacteria? (in the wilds corys do have their noses in mud)
3. my smaller cory is paler than my larger one, why?


anyway, i release you...
heres some pics.

(harlequins are a real pain to photograph)
(sorry for bad quality)

 

[Cossie1111]

Bump

 

[annaw123]

lovely tank! my corys have always been different colours even though they are the same breed ... there is also one that has stayed very small for no reason it's just variation i guess, long as it's healthy

lovely tank! my corys have always been different colours even though they are the same breed ... there is also one that has stayed very small for no reason it's just variation i guess, long as it's healthy

 

[minnnt]

Really like that. Unsure of your questions, but the Cories may colour up with maturity. If it is not showing any signs of ill health then don't worry about it. But... they do better when kept on a sand substrate due to them sifting the top layer of sand for food. The should also be kept in a bigger group of around 6.

Also, if you can't trust your Betta with the community then you should rehome him or take him back to the LFS as keeping him in a breeding trap will stress him and could lead to health problems.

 

[Cossie1111]

they do better when kept on a sand substrate due to them sifting the top layer of sand for food.

I know, but its very smooth gravel, and their little barbels are looking healthy.

Anyone with other stocking advice?

 

[minnnt]

Its not just to protect their barbels.

 

[Cossie1111]

Well, just took my betta to the lfs...

 

[Mowbz]

Bad times, but if its for the best....

Agree with Minnnt on the substrate issue, its not just the barbels that will suffer, your Corys will find it quite hard to eat off the substrate you have. The barbels becoming damaged or dissapearing is a secondary issue. It starts when they try and push their head through the gravel to get food. You even stated in your OP, that Corys spend their time with their noses in MUD, not pea shingle.

I bought three adult C.Pandas to join some juveniles i had, and they had come from a LFS tank with gravel. Ive spent the last 2 weeks and £20 on Melafix shifting their mouth fungus, i assume a direct result. Just the three new have cost me over £35 so far.

Agros play sand is £2.99 a bag....

 

[minnnt]

Its how they naturally occur so you are denying them their natural habitat. They sift through the sand and out it through their gills to get food.

Glad to hear about the betta, you did the right thing.