Ok, I Really Need Help Now

[stephen.h89]

ok, i am having trouble deciding what to put in my rio 400, if it was your tank what would u put in there, i kno the decision is mine but i want to kno how others would stock it to give me an idea, i was thinkin malawis but since my heater popped i have put them in my smaller tank and they look much better in there, i was the toying with the idea of 3-4 Coius microlepis and maybe a teacup ray or 2 but i think that may be highly over stocked, i am open to all fish apart from common community fish and oscars, thanx

 

[VaegaVic]

Sand substrate, bog wood and amazon rock filling.
Discus,
Corys,
Black Neon tetra.

Job jobbed.

 

[stephen.h89]

not sure on discus cos i heard they need RO and i dont wanna spend out on more equipment, rather spend the money on fish

 

[VaegaVic]

not sure on discus cos i heard they need RO and i dont wanna spend out on more equipment, rather spend the money on fish

Absolute rubbish.

They're exactly the same as any other freshwater fish, just do your research before hand and you'll be fine.
The myth that discus are hard to keep was founded by people who just rushed in without preparing, hence it was easier to blame it on the fish than on their own skills.

 

[stephen.h89]

ah ok then, i will look into them, its a possibilty

 

[meguro]

a group of nice angelfish like peruvian altums or rio manacapuru etc. and build a community around them. angelfish > discus imo

 

[stephen.h89]

any body suggest some not so common fish, too many people have discus and angel fish, i would also prefer to have a few different species in there

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i particularly like dwarf cichlids like the apistogramma's, they're a little unusual while still being not too ridiculously hard to track down. bright and colourful, not too big so fit in most reasonable sized tanks, their behaviour is fascinating to watch if you get a male and a hareem of females or even better a couple of males and then you can watch them displaying to win the females attention. they're fiesty but not seriously agressive with each other. also if you then want to breed them they make a nice breeding project - not too hard but not too easy either if you know what I mean!!

 

[stephen.h89]

change of plan, stocking now has to include 6 convict cichlids so will be CA cichlids only, any suggestions

 

[fluffycabbage]

i'd have 2 or 3 centrepiece fish, and 2 or 3 shoals of different fish. assuming they could all get along with eachother! lots of bogwood, plants, and a black background to show off their colour not jealous you have a 400 at all!

 

[stephen.h89]

lol, its looking a bit small now, the wow that looks huge has worn off now, already have black vinyl on back, jus awaiting heater for it and then will start re stocking it, wont have plants tho, from what i have been told by a few people cichlids like to rip them up so no point really

 

[fluffycabbage]

oh right - can you use silk plants? or do they just like rocks n wood?

 

[kizno1]

Cichlids will be fine with plants. For some cichlids plastic of silk will be best though because they will uproot or eat them. Lots or wood and caves for them to hide and spawn in. Maybe a few big rocks.

 

[stephen.h89]

definately rock, i prefer them to wood, plus with knowing how to make homemade replica ocean rock i can have them any shape and size i like

 

[kizno1]

Sounds good. Have a look at red moor wood its tall and twisty wo would give any dithers and the cichlids alot of hiding spots. I plan on using some for my 150G ones i get it set up.