Substrate For Kribs

[LauraFrog]

I'm setting up four identical 16 gal tanks and I want to put a pair of kribs in one of them. I'm already figuring out which of my rocks would make the nicest caves, but I'm not sure which substrate to put them over - I have pea gravel and fine sand.

Also, these are the other fish I am planning on putting in these tanks. This is the shortlist, I know I'm not going to fit them all!

Corys (paleatus, maybe albino and panda)
Bristlenose cats
Diamond tetras
Black neon tetras
Zebra danios
Longfin rosy barbs
Pearl/lace (leeri) gouramis
Gold panchax killi
Livebearer fry

I know the tank is a little on the small side for a pair of kribs, but I figured if the tankmates were inoffensive surface dwellers they would not bother the kribs. Would I be okay with killies or gouramis with the kribs? If the kribs got aggressive when spawning it would not be a big drama to remove the other fish for a few weeks. I have MTS like you wouldn't believe, so I can usually dig up a spare.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[kribensis12]

Laura, that will be waayyy overstocked. I would not recommend putting any other bottom dweller in with kribs. The corries will get chewed to pieces, and the bristlenose will eat the kribs eggs. The barbs swim fast and have eratic movements, scareing the kribs, and making them reclusive and stressed. I havent kept Kili's with Kribs before, but i having a feeling you will be Kili-less ina week or two. The livebearer fry will most likely be killed. The Neons and Diamonds and Danio's have a really good chance of being eaten.The gourami's may also be killed. If i were to stock a 16 gallon, i wouild do:
2 kribs
Thats it. They need room to raise the fry, and since they dont have it, your other fish will be nead.

 

[Ace Of Spades]

Laura, that will be waayyy overstocked. I would not recommend putting any other bottom dweller in with kribs. The corries will get chewed to pieces, and the bristlenose will eat the kribs eggs. The barbs swim fast and have eratic movements, scareing the kribs, and making them reclusive and stressed. I havent kept Kili's with Kribs before, but i having a feeling you will be Kili-less ina week or two. The livebearer fry will most likely be killed. The Neons and Diamonds and Danio's have a really good chance of being eaten.The gourami's may also be killed. If i were to stock a 16 gallon, i wouild do:
2 kribs
Thats it. They need room to raise the fry, and since they dont have it, your other fish will be nead.

She has four 16 gallons, Not one. SO if she needs to the Kribs can go by themself. Useless rant diverted!

 

[LauraFrog]

Krib knows I've got four, he's been helping with the planning for the setup.


I know I'm not going to fit that many fish even in the entire system, I just wanted to know if there was any chance that some of those fish might be compatible with a pair of kribs. It will make it easier to work out which of those species to go for and which to miss. The livebearer fry can go in with the tetras. The krib fry I can raise in other tanks if necessary (once the parents get sick of sharing a tank with them).

What about the substrate though - black gravel, pale gravel or pale sand?

 

[kribensis12]

Black Gravel will show off the colors the best. Get the SMALL sized gravel, so they can make thier fry pits. Laura, are you running theese systems together? If you are, you may want to be wary of the fry getting suck up into the sump or filter and getting deposited in the krib tank.

 

[LauraFrog]

Outlet strainers made of breeding net. I've thought of that. The current at the bottom will be minimum anyway because of the overflow system. Any fry that gets sucked into that sump is dead anyway, it's barely 10 gallons and the turnover in it will be over 300 gph.

The black gravel is about half the size of aquarium pea gravel. Then I'll be planting with val and whatever anubias bits I'm growing on to sell, and caves of course for the kribs.