New Ebay Tank

[Mr&Mrs Newb McFish]

Wow well thanks to the addiction that is fish keeping my other half went and won a new tank on Ebay last night.
A juwel 180 for £150 with various bits including an Aqua One Canister Filter CF 700, now i know that some of you guys gave humongous tanks far bigger than a 180 but for us this is pretty #135## big, current tanks are 2 fry tanks a 21 litre on loan, a 48 litre square tank which is lovely and a 60 litre which is in repair after a small leak

Now we have experience with Mollies, Neons, Platies, Guppies, Bronze Cory's and Dwarf African Frogs. Just can't decide what to do with the new tank, my partner is going fully planted and to be fair I can't blame her because as well as looking natural a better environment is a sure thing for the fish.

Now I have said that I do want some kind of Catfish in there but apart from that we're stuck lol. It was a kinda impulse buy seeing as she won £200 on bingo (she has a use after all )

Was thinking about something different to what we are used to.

Any ideas ?
thanks

do kinda like Kuhli loaches as well but don't know a lot about them, hmm research time i guess.

 

[chrisbassist]

Some small cichlids!

 

[Mr&Mrs Newb McFish]

Some small cichlids!

just had a look at the Cichlids, nice fish. have to say i have never seen them at any of the shops i go to, are they hard to come by ?

 

[chrisbassist]

They're not round here. You may have just not noticed them.

Check out apistogramma, or keyhole cichlids.

In that tank you may well be able to get something a bit bigger in.

 

[meguro]

since the tank is planted maybe consider a group of discus or angelfish with apistogramma or mikrogeophagus

otherwise i suggest gourami and/or loaches

 

[Mr&Mrs Newb McFish]

lol how cute are those keyhole cichlids, bless 'em. there's such a range as well, are they good community fish in your experience ? they really have a different look to most fish you see.

as for the bigger fish comment, i am currently researching some thing suitable (suggestions welcome) the tank will have some bottom dwellers, some medium sized fish some shoaling fish maybe tetras but i do want a kind of main focal point. of course not too big i have some molly babies so may include them in the tank when they are big enough although the woman wants some platies.

this is a photo of the tank, doesn't quite convey the size of it - with added small child who just stumbled downstairs

 

[chrisbassist]

The keyholes grow to about 5 inches. And are rather shy. So they make good additions to a community. They are very peaceful.

 

[Enna]

just had a look at the Cichlids, nice fish. have to say i have never seen them at any of the shops i go to, are they hard to come by ?

I'd recommend having another good look/google at the LFS stores around you. When I first started up our tank I went to the two or three in town which all sold mostly the same sort of fish and assumed that's all there was, I then searched a bit futher and found Wharf Aquatics about a half hour drive away and WOW! what a difference, tanks beautifully kept, large selection of different fish and knowledgeable friendly staff. We often go now on a Sunday just to gawp at the fish

 

[Mr&Mrs Newb McFish]

hi enna, i'm Nottinghamshire as well, not too far from the city centre. where do you go ? I have to say that I really like the Aquatic Centre in Bullwell near the old Food Giant/Kwiksave which has just been knocked down, great selection of plants. There's a generic pet shop near to me which is ok for supplies but i would never get fish from there. I nearly boycott it just for the general conditions.

lol ok just saw the "Wharf Aquatics" (i'm tired what can i say) just found their website, looks good. thnx
could be worth a visit

@chrisbassist
just found the "German Blue Ram Cichlid". I think a pair of those would be a great addition. Absolutely Beautiful looking fish.

 

[chrisbassist]

Indeed they are, but they are also less tolerant of water conditions, prefering a low ph, and a mature tank. Having said that they are beautiful fish.