New Member

[Bernard]

Hi all,
I am a new member looking for advise please. I have kept tropical freshwater fish for many years in small aquariums mostly species tanks. I am now getting my first big Aquarium a 250 litre I will be planting it out with natural plants mostly Java ferns and Java moss, I will also be using rocks caves and bog woods I am looking for advise on a colorful mix of compatible fish, I have made up a list see below any other ideas or suggestions will be appreciated

One Elephant Nose Fish - Gnathonemus petersii

Mixed Platies approx twenty- Xiphophorus maculates

Shoal of three-Clown loach, Chromobotia macracanthus

Shoal of approx' twenty - White Cloud Mountain minnow, (Tanichthys albonubes)

Shoal of ten- true Flying fox, Palzeorhynchos kalopterus

Shoal of 20 - Tiger barbs, Puntius tetrazona)

Shoal of- 20 Rosy barbs, Puntius conchonius

Shoal of- 20 Australian Rainbowfish, (Melanotaenia fluviatilis

Group of- 10 Coolie) Loach - Pangio (Acanthophthalmus) kuhlii

I am thinking of adding some larger fish to this collection any ideas?

 

[glolite]

Hi. Sounds like you're getting a lovely new aquarium lucky you!

Basically, if you stick to 1 inch of fully grown fish to one gallon of water then you can mix and match as long as the fish are compatable. I think elephant nose fish are very sensitive to water conditions so would need a well established and stable aquarium. Might be best to wait a while like around 6 months before getting one.

Have you visited Badmans fish compatability site? Just google it and it will give you some ideas.

Have fun.

 

[Bernard]

Hi. Sounds like you're getting a lovely new aquarium lucky you!

Basically, if you stick to 1 inch of fully grown fish to one gallon of water then you can mix and match as long as the fish are compatable. I think elephant nose fish are very sensitive to water conditions so would need a well established and stable aquarium. Might be best to wait a while like around 6 months before getting one.

Have you visited Badmans fish compatability site? Just google it and it will give you some ideas.

Have fun.

Thanks Glowlight,
Thats good advice on the Elephant nose thanks I haven't kept them before, I will be starting to set it up next week I hope to have it planted etc (without fish) by the beginning of August and leave it settle and establish for a couple of weeks whilst I'm away on holiday, I will seed it from the filter of my 2 ft tank before I go, and thanks for the reminder of the inch per gallon rule I think I will be safe if I stick with approx' 100 inches of fish.
I will check out the badman's compatibility site as well cheers.
Bernard.

 

[glolite]

A quick PS

Seed it when you come back otherwise the bactera will die while you're away without anything to feed on. I would stick a pinch of fish flake in before you go, test the water when you come back, do a waterchange if necessary, then seed and add fish (just a few hardy ones at first).

 

[Bernard]

A quick PS

Seed it when you come back otherwise the bactera will die while you're away without anything to feed on. I would stick a pinch of fish flake in before you go, test the water when you come back, do a waterchange if necessary, then seed and add fish (just a few hardy ones at first).

Hi Glowlight,
I will be putting 1 inch of topsoil in with the river gravel on top won't there be enough nutrients in that for the bacteria?. I can also seed it again if necessary.

 

[Duck and Dive]

Hi and welcome to TTF!

 

[glolite]

Ooh I don't know. Never heard of soil in an aquarium. Have to go and do research on that one. I don't think it would hurt to put a pinch of food in though.

 

[deathy]

Hi and welcome to FF.net

 

[Bernard]

Ooh I don't know. Never heard of soil in an aquarium. Have to go and do research on that one. I don't think it would hurt to put a pinch of food in though.

Hi Glowlight Yes,
I set up my 2ft tank that way it takes a couple of weeks to clear, but then the plants grow beautiful, I wash it in a bucket with water gently flowing into it from a garden hose just to remove any floating pieces.
Bernard.