Self Maintaining Aquarium (fish Wise)

[dazsmith69]

Ive had my 55g (250litre) tank up and running for a number of months now, ive stocked it with smaller fish, but lots of them, so they have their own little communties and feel safer in their groups,

my stock

8 albino corys - clean the floor
10 ghost shrimp - eat what the corys dont and anything else
8 otos - clean my glass
15-20 platies and (mollies (tank bred so have always been in slightly alkaline water)) - provide the colour in the middle of the tank

i was wondering if anyone else has setup their aquariums like this to naturally maintain them to a high standard constantly? (obviously regular water changes)

they all live very well with each other and tank has perfect water quality (which is what i was aiming for - crystal clear and no ammonia, nitrate or nitrite), see a baby here and there too aswell

is is advisble to mix guppies with thie many platies? or just stick with the platies? would panchax be suitable in this tank for the upper level?

Thanks Darren

 

[SJ2K]

Just to clear up, its almost impossible to have a FW tank completly free of nitrate Fortunatly, lo levels arnt a problem.

As far as stocking, you could go for guppies but why not try somthing other then simple live bearers? Theres plenty of centre piece options such as gourami's, smaller SA cichlids, angels etc

 

[jollysue]

A sensitive fish but an interesting top swimmer is the hatchet.

Most dwarf SA Cichlids are bottom fish. Nonetheless interesting though. And they are fine with the ones you have.

I have found that my Emperor Tetras like the top.

A nice family of straita loaches would keep you snail free.