Planning New Tank Set Up (Questions and Advice)

[Josh_311]

Hello all,

I am planning out a new tank set up and had a few questions from some more seasoned aquarists. Also, hoping for some advice and personal experiences. This will be our second tank set up as we currently have a micro aquarium, planted with guppies (bachelor group), neocaridina, and mystery snails. Below, I'll list some of the plans/ideas for the new tank along with questions. Thanks in advance!

Overall Goal:
Peaceful community aquarium stocked with nano-fish inhabiting multiple levels of the tank. Aquascaping to look as naturalistic as possible.

Tank Size:
40-55 Gallon. TBD.

Filtration:
Debating canister versus HOB. I like the idea of a canister but concerned that the flow may be too high. Is the flow adjustable? (In general, as I have not decided on a specific brand/model yet).

Aeration:
Agitator versus air stone/bubbler. Is the agitator necessary/too high of flow for floating plants?

Scape:
We plan on having this tank being heavily planted with driftwood hardscape, floating plants, and aquasoil substrate.

Livestock (This is just a list of animals being considered as all of them would be quite the overstock):
Chili Rasboras
Harlequin Rasboras
Green Neon Tetras
Cardinal Tetras
Ember Tetras
Penguin Tetras
Otocinclus
Corydoras
Neocaridina Shrimp
Amano Shrimp
Mystery Snails
Nerite Snails
Dwarf Gourami
Honey Gourami

We'd like a school or tetras and/or rasboras, invertebrate clean-up crew, bottom dwelling fish, and centerpiece fish.
The gourami would be the centerpiece, but I've never kept them. Would a pair be reasonable for this set up?
We definitely want Corys, however, most of my research recommends sand substrate. As this tank will be planted, the substrate will be aquasoil, has anyone kept Corys on aquasoil?
Otos would be great, but would they overcrowd the tank?

Any and all experiences and recommendations would be appreciated!

 

[seangee]

For what you describe sand is probably a better option. Many plants feed through their leaves and root tabs can be used if you get heavy root feeders. Aquasoil is used where you are growing challenging plants, using CO2 and high lighting. Most of the fish you list prefer low light and in general aquasoil causes more problems than its worth. The nutrients also don't last forever.
Canister vs HOB - your choice. People have their preferences and both have pros and cons.
Aeration is not really needed.
For stocking I would choose fewer species and bigger groups. I have 30-40 cardinal tetras in a similar sized tank but only 4 fish species (1 of which is a single Bristlenose)
Centrepiece is your choice but I don't consider it essential. In the tank I mentioned the cardinals are the main event. Either way avoid dwarf gourami - it is pretty much impossible to find any that aren't infected with an incurable virus.

All the fish species you propose do better in soft, slighly acidic water. Some (like chili rasboras) require it. The ideal water for these would not be ideal for snails.

 

[GaryE]

Tank Size:
40-55 Gallon. TBD.
This is an excellent start. Larger tanks are easier to learn with.

What is your water source like? That is essential to know. You like softwater fish, but can you get a readout on your water from your city, or an an analysis of your well?

Filtration:
Debating canister versus HOB. I like the idea of a canister but concerned that the flow may be too high. Is the flow adjustable? (In general, as I have not decided on a specific brand/model yet).

Both are good, HOB are easier to maintain. Flow is needed. It's your friend, not a problem. Very few fish come from still water. Whatever the filter says it is rated for, double it. On a 55, I would ideally have two filters, each rated for 55-60 gallons per hour.

Aeration:
Agitator versus air stone/bubbler. Is the agitator necessary/too high of flow for floating plants?

I haven't used aeration in ages (around 40 years....), and see it as more cosmetic unless you don't have flow from your filter. It's for show, and won't add to any natural look.
Scape:
We plan on having this tank being heavily planted with driftwood hardscape, floating plants, and aquasoil substrate.

Only floating plants?

Livestock (This is just a list of animals being considered as all of them would be quite the overstock):
Chili Rasboras
Harlequin Rasboras
Green Neon Tetras
Cardinal Tetras
Ember Tetras
Penguin Tetras (They are larger than the others)
Otocinclus (problematic)
Corydoras
Neocaridina Shrimp
Amano Shrimp
Mystery Snails
Nerite Snails
Dwarf Gourami
Honey Gourami

We'd like a school or tetras and/or rasboras, invertebrate clean-up crew, bottom dwelling fish, and centerpiece fish.
The gourami would be the centerpiece, but I've never kept them. Would a pair be reasonable for this set up?
We definitely want Corys, however, most of my research recommends sand substrate. As this tank will be planted, the substrate will be aquasoil, has anyone kept Corys on aquasoil?
Otos would be great, but would they overcrowd the tank?

Any and all experiences and recommendations would be appreciated!
[/QUOTE]
The fish choices are good, with my note on penguins. There is a very credible online site called Seriously Fish that I would research each species on, one by one. They would all need the same soft water, but you need to see if their temperature needs fit. There is a bit of a difference between them.

I don't buy the centrepiece idea. Even if your gourami doesn't have irodovirus, it won't go to the centre. It'll hang up high in the plants. I am an old gourami guy, but the health of the ones available means I no longer keep them. I would avoid going there, and ditch the old fashioned centrepiece idea. Do you want one silvery lump when a shoal of ten Bororas or embers will catch your eye much better? The fish you like need to be in groups, and I'd suggest groups of 8 to 12. Each mini shoal is a central focus when it's moving. The flatbodied, rounded fish quest caused me a lot of grief when I was always seeking centrepieces for my communities. It comes from a time when people kept small fish in groups of three. Keep them properly, in numbers, and they are more interesting and colourful than any one fish.

Biofilm will be an issue in the set up as you see it now. It's essential to the life of the tank, and is no problem. But your snails will eat it. That cuts out Otos, which really shouldn't be in tanks under a year or two old. It takes time for their favourite food to develop, and a lot of pet shop Otos are doomed to starve.

Be prepared to do about 25-30% water changes every week to ten days. There are people selling convenience who will tell you it isn't necessary, but their fish tend to live short lifespans. You can make money by telling people the what they want to hear, and water changes can be a chore. Your question about Corys and substrate shows you get the idea the tank is for the fish, as well as for you. Tank maintenance takes a fraction of the time my dog demands, and I wouldn't want to be without a dog or my tanks.

This is a supplement to what @seangee said above, all of which is dead on.

I would look hard at Corys. I personally love that group, and you shouldn't settle for the first species you see (unless it's Hoplisoma panda, which is small, easy to find and easy to like).

I haven't used aquasoil, so I'd pass that on to someone who has. My plants go in sand or fine pool filter gravel, with root tabs.

 

[seangee]

A small caveat to @GaryE's post. Flow throughout the tank is desirable. Raging torrents are not. It was not a suggestion to go out and buy the biggest, most powerful filter you can afford or fit in the tank

 

[GaryE]

Filter flow is a balance. Glass walls cause turbulence, and that limits our ability to create habitats like our fish thrive in in nature. You won't find fish in many habitats that flow as little as home aquariums, and that affects behaviour and oxygen distribution.

I like to run a canister and two HOBs on my larger tanks. My 2 75 gallons have filtration that on the box adds up to 180 gallons each. My largest tank, a 120 gallon, is decently planted and contains nothing but small tetras and Corydoras group fish. Its filtration is a large canister rated at 250 gph, and a large Aquaclear HOB rated at 500gph.

My experience collecting fish in several environments says streams are similar the world over, and if you have any near you with fish in them, go stick your feet in a few and feel the movement. Even lakes will move, a lot compared to a tank. My cardinals, Corys and assorted other tetras are very comfortable looking in the 120.

But turbulence is to be avoided, as that becomes like a rapids, and that's not a small tetra habitat. If flow bashes up against glass, that's not good.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

I like this! Research and planning first. Good job. Every one is spot on with their suggestions.
Yes a few large schools of smaller fish is captivating. If you're really looking for something of a centerpiece consider a pair of dwarf cichlids such as rams, Apistogramma, Laetacara etc. providing your water parameters fit them. Small cichlids will spend 95% of their time near the substrate and would make a nice contrast with your schooling fishes. Just make sure the schoolers won't be a meal.