New Tropical tank idea

[Blazer]

Thank you Kitty, I think im just going to get some Clown Loaches and skip the shark thing all together. Today I am going to go get a shoal of Nean Tetras, Zebra's, and and other schooling fish, and some cory dora's, and a loach or two. And from the LFS I am going to order 3 Boesemani Rainbows, and 2 New Guinea Rainbows. Maybe a couple Gourami's ( but this list is getting kinda crowded) And then I will be done. Thank you EVERYONE for your help and any more comments or concerns are welcome for I will not be leaveing for a couple hours. Thanks again.

~dan

 

[parker313]

Clown loaches get really big too - up to 12" and need to be kept in groups of 3...

That said, I love my rainbowfish. I loved them so much, I took back all my rosy barbs and swapped them out for more rainbows. The specifics are in my sig, but I'm just thrilled with my tank

 

[Blazer]

How fast do the loaches grow? I have never seen one bigger than 3 inches? What are some other catfish/poop eaters/ algae eaters....hehe

`dan

 

[Fawke]

What are some other catfish/poop eaters/ algae eaters

A sponge and a python/gravel vac/syphon

Seriously tho, you shouldnt really think of them as eating poop, they dont, infact most plecs, loaches etc produce vast amounts of it.
That said, a considerable amount eat algae. I think (but dont quote me) Otto's eat the widest range of algae and help keep the tank clean

Good luck in your quest

 

[Blazer]

I havent been able to find any otto's? Do you have to order them are they are to find? thanks for the comment...I will kep it in mind and look for some otto's!

~Dan

 

[Pointy_kitty]

there are other types of loaches you can purchase too!

some great loaches for your tank off the top of my head are :

~horse faced loaches (stay under 5"), very comical looking and very social
don't be alarmed if this fish buries himself in the gravel and keep a tight lid

~Kuhli Loaches (clean 10 times more waste then they produce (keep in big schools and do not buy under 2" IF YOU HAVE LARGE TANK INHABITANTS OR THEY WILL BE MISTAKEN AS A WORM)
*sorry, cap locks got stuck*

~Dojo loaches (4"), very comical and very social
mostly noctornal, keep in groups of 3 or more with lots of hiding places
they are very sweat loaches

~wheather loaches are great but i am unsure as to how much room they need
i have never kept these loaches personally but i know they get 6"
they can be piggies at feeding time but make excellent bottom feeders

HOPE THAT HELPS!

 

[Blazer]

The horse faced one's sound about right..or the Kuhli, But I just hope my LFS or oen them has them....Thats the only problem I really have, I have 3 LFS: The first my Favorite- is a Fresh water, salt water and tank seller and a dog groomer on the side...so the selection isnt really great but the Owner is truthfull and VERY knowledgable. The second is a ALL around pet store and fish is a side thing, little better selection but the guy istn ver knowledgable. The third- PetSmart Which I dont like going there to purchase living fish BUT they have a GREAT selection. And As long as you have researched your fish you should know if it is healthy or not and if they mix with the others but Petsmart is almost as bad as Wal*Mart but for selection I go there sometimes...But you can see my delema....but I get what I can find and if I really want the other stuff I order it from the First LFS!

~Dan

 

[Blazer]

AND WITH THE RESULTS!!! I know am back with the fish and ready to show and tell...

1. A school of 13 Neon's
2. A school of 6 Zebra's
3. 1 Panda Cory
4. 1Peppered Cory
5. 2 Golden Chinnese Aglae eaters
6. 1 male Swordtail
7. 1 female swardtail
8. 1 Male Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami
9. 1 Male Fire Red Dwarf Gourami
10. 3 plecs.

Still Left To get:

1. Lots of Guppies
2. More Cory Dora's
3. More Swordtails.
4. More Neon's and Tetra's.

Thats all Folks. This is what I now have! Any suggestions or comments on how to take care of tehm now??

~Dan

 

[karrihug]

What are some other catfish/poop eaters/ algae eaters....hehe

`dan

ghost shrimp. in my angel tank i have 6 angels, 7 rainbows, and a common pleco. every week i buy about 2 dozen ghost shrimp and put them in the tank after feeding everyone. they eat the pleco poop before the pleco eats them. in this manner i can keep my gravel vacs down to once a week or so. did you know a common pleco can poop twice his lenght in a day?

 

[Blazer]

Good idea but i dont think I have th income to buy shrimp everytime....and bout the plces poop yes i know.....i didnt know it was a fact but ive watched mine enough to know that they are som poopy fish specialy when they are 9 inches long!!! I have 18 inch threadys of poop hanging everywhere....know I have Cory's to take care fo that! But the reason i made this post is to let you know pictures are coming im uploading them up to my computer now!!

~DAN B)

 

[Pointy_kitty]

so far is great
only one thing i would not have done
you really should only have one pleco
they produce massive amounts of waste and there is no way your tank will produce enough algae to feed them
they are not schooling fish and do not need companions
you are going to have to feed them sinking algae waffers and they are going to overcrowed and pollute your tank

i would get a few more corydoras
and maybe 2 more swords
then nothing else
the pleco's make you way overstocked

no more neon tetras (you have plenty)
and do not put guppies with dwarf gourami

your tank would be perfect if you didn't have the 2 extra pleco's

 

[Blazer]

Oks Doky...i will call my LFS and see if he could use some plecs...and Guppies wont work? There is plenty room for them to get around.....Thanks for the tips!!!

~Dan

 

[Pointy_kitty]

Oks Doky...i will call my LFS and see if he could use some plecs...and Guppies wont work? There is plenty room for them to get around.....Thanks for the tips!!!

~Dan

i would be worried about the guppies being harassed by the gourami is what i was saying
your doing a great stocking job
BTW i know its hard not to bring home the whole store
but remember, too many fish means too much waste and high nitrates
and also keep in mind that they will all get bigger in time
my first tank i went by their baby size and way overstocked

 

[Blazer]

Thanks for the advice...But Like you said a few more Cories wont hurt.I do need some cleaners and the one's I have are only about 3 cm big...still babies. But they will grow? and on the Swoardtails! should I jsut get 2 more females? or another pair? or any at all over stocked? Thanks again for the help.

~Dan


P.S. I AM getting rid of 2 plecs!!

 

[karrihug]

Good idea but i dont think I have th income to buy shrimp everytime....and bout the plces poop yes i know.....i didnt know it was a fact but ive watched mine enough to know that they are som poopy fish specialy when they are 9 inches long!!! I have 18 inch threadys of poop hanging everywhere....know I have Cory's to take care fo that! But the reason i made this post is to let you know pictures are coming im uploading them up to my computer now!!

~DAN B)

find a store that sells the ghost shrimp as feeders. i pay $1.29 a dozen for mine, and am at that store every week so she usually gives me lots of extra.