Need Some Ideas For A Empty Tank

[shelaghfishface]

its about 98 litres, its a full set up and i was using it as a temporary home for 2 small oscars (sectioned-not the oscars the tank!) but i have finally found them a new home today so now im left with a big hole in my life ( still have jambo-hes going nowhere)
anyway this is the tank

dont want anything delicate, i was thinking of black gravel ,and plants and neons, of some sort,
it has a fluval 4+ ( now saving in another tank till i need it) so nothing too messy

the pic is an old one, but of course the tank is still the same
all ideas welcomed
thanks in advance s
shelagh xxx

 

[jaycat]

Hi,

if you are planning on black sand/gravel then a shoal of cardinlas would look stunning. I have half a dozen, and if I had room left I would definately go for more. Small group of corries/ottos too.

 

[tetratank]

mmm, would look divine with the contrast. Black gravel really looks great with the brightness of the cardinals or neons, but gosh the black gravel costs alot!! Unless it's cheaper in other places??

 

[ox5477]

Could do a nice small reef Perfect size IMO for a beginning reefer... but of course... this comes with extra cost and a little eaxtra set-up work.... but it would look ace. A shoaling mass of cardinals would just as good though im sure.

Ox

 

[shelaghfishface]

does black gravel really cost a lot more?? i havent looked into it as yet.anyway thanks ox, but no im not going marine, as much as i would love to,its the extra cost/time etc,i cant commit to it.
also i have a pink bulb in this tank, and no co2 or anything,so basic plants (( goodness me feels like forever since i had decent plants thanks to the oscars lol))....

how many cardinals/neons could i start out with ? and end up with for the matter, as i think maybe these would be my best option

shelagh xxxx

 

[lilfishie]

the black gravel by Roman is good, cost me just over £3 for a 2KG bag

 

[tenohfive]

Forget the cardinals, cram as many Ember Tetra's in there as you can. The most interesting tetra I've come across, really cute. Tiny but mighty.
Put a central planted area in the middle and hopefully they'll swarm around it.

Its a theory anyway. I've promised myself I'll do that one day.

 

[shelaghfishface]

ooh i have never heard of them, ill look into that thankyou xx

 

[backtotropical]

I like the cardinal tetra idea Shelagh.

How about black background and black gravel with lots of plants (Vallisneria Sp. would be ideal, low light and low maintenance), and a shoal of say 30 cardinals and a few pygmy corys scurrying around the bottom. Stunning!!

BTT

 

[Esfa]

Forget the cardinals, cram as many Ember Tetra's in there as you can.

i was going to say that, too!

 

[shortymet55]

Being the owner of a 10 Gallon Cardinal Tank (Only mates are Otos), Id say go for the Cardinal Tank. Mine is stunning and It would only be better with black gravel, black background, and MORE CARDINALS.

 

[tenohfive]

Whichever way you go - cardinals or embers - you're still onto a winner. I think whatever you go with will look good and be low maintenance.

 

[shelaghfishface]

thankyou. lots of fab ideas here, its going to look great, ill post some pics.
BTT thats a great amount 30, i didnt think i could have that many, will look stunning

ill be more than gratefull for low maintenece too to be honest
shelagh xxx

 

[backtotropical]

Maybe i just jumped in with my eyes closed there? What filtration are you using?

 

[shelaghfishface]

itll be a fluval 4+ on this tank, but i have just bought a new 4ft so i may go with this idea in that tank, and get an external, at the moment i have moved convict eggs into this tank, but not sure they will make it anyway