Your Opinions Please

[l i s a]

Hi everyone,

I wondered if you would take a look at my proposed tank setup and give me your opinions on the suitability of my fish choices/equipment and also maybe some suggestions to add.....

planning on getting a Juwel Rio 180 (180 litres)
Hoping to keep some nice plants, possibly with some carpeting plants also. Will be willing to add additional lighting if necessary (rip 180 comes with 2 x 30 watts bulbs) and wil use nutrients.
Plan to use aquarium soil with coral sand on top. I am hoping this will help the plants out and also keep the fish happy.
I am looking for a natural look to the tank and will add some rocks and make cave strutures for fish to hide in.

Fish:
Shoal of Cardinal Tetras (10-15)
Glass catfish (around 6)
a few african dwarf frogs - I saw some congo frogs in local shop recently and was wondering if these are the same thing? they are absolutely tiny at the moment but grow up to 3 inches)
gold gouramis (3)
a few small catfish for bottom feeding and clearing algae...could you suggest suitable ones please?
Maybe an apple snail?

I am aware the glass catfish and cardinals will not like a new tank and so I will add these last. I intend to run a fishless cycle first and add slowly.
Will these fish all get along ok? Do the numbers look ok?

please give me any suggestions....
thanks

 

[dwarfgourami]

I have to admit I have no experience of my own with African dwarf frogs, but from what I've heard the might find it difficult to compete for food with your other fish in a big tank like that- perhaps you'd better ask in the invertebrates and amphibian forum about that. Apparently their eyesight is really bad. It may be that the experts there will suggest setting up a small tank on the side for them. But don't just go on my advice here.

I am not at all good with substrates, but I have a suspicion that coral sand may alter the water in a way that your cardinals might not like (making it hard).

Gold gouramis can be very territorial- make sure you get 1 male and 2 females, rather than 2 or 3 males.

Good on you for planning a proper school of glass catfish, they really appreciate that.

For the bottom feeder, a school of corydoras will provide great entertainment, will clean off uneaten food (as long as it's fresh), but they will not eat algae. A bristlenose plec will do all those things.

Sounds a nice tank you're planning.

 

[l i s a]

Hi there Dwarfgourami,

Thanks for getting back to me with your advice, it's really good to get advice from experienced people as I am just starting out and don't want to make mistakes when fishes lives are involved!

I will definately get two females and a male for the gouramis like you suggested, I am trying to decide between the gold gouramis or the bue coloured ones as they are also very beautiful with their irridescent colour.

I have since read that the apple snail is likely to eat all my plants so I may have to give that one a miss!!

With the frogs, I may use a pipette to push some food down by them to make sure they get fed before the fish eat it all as I have heard they can miss out too.

As for the corydoras, are there different types? Which ones would you suggest? Or I may well go for a bristlenose as they seem great. Will my tank be big enough for one? Should I just keep the one or more than one?

thanks for all your advice,
Lisa

 

[dwarfgourami]

As for the corydoras, are there different types? Which ones would you suggest? Or I may well go for a bristlenose as they seem great. Will my tank be big enough for one? Should I just keep the one or more than one?

There are loads of different corydoras- check out the corydoras section of the catfish forum. I would avoid pandas for a first tank, as they have a reputation for being sensitive. The hardiest ones are probably bronze corys (c. aenenus) and peppered corys (c. paleatus), but there are lots of others. Check out the temperature preferences before you buy, some like it hot, others prefer cooler waters. Bronze and peppered corys can grow to 3 inches, most of the others stay at 2 inches. All corys like to be in groups (of the same type), and they like a smooth substrate- either sand or smooth small gravel, which needs to be kept clean by weekly gravel vac'ing (but you want to do that anyway, with any tank). They like somewhere to hide, like a cave or under a piece of bogwood. They are very peaceful and friendly with each other. They eat flakes, catfish tablets and any livefoods going.

Alternatively, a bristlenose should fit into a 180 ltr tank with no problems. They only grow to about 5-6 inches. They eat algae, though not all types (I don't think there is a fish that eats all types). You also need to feed bristlenoses: they take algae wafers, cucumber, zucchini and most other veg. They want a piece of bogwood in the tank to aid digestion, and they do need a hiding place. Again, you will need to do a fair bit of cleaning, they are less sensitive to dirt than corys- but they produce more!

Can't tell you which of these to choose- I have 4 peppered corys in one tank and a breeding pair of bristlenoses in the other, and I love them both! I have found both species hardy and easy to look after; definitely some of my favourite fish.

 

[stang1]

I agree with Dwarfgourami, the bristlenose are great. I have two in my tank and they never stop cleaning! Their favourite hiding places are definitely under the bogwood. Mine are only about 2-3 inches at the moment but they certainly do their job. I feed them a variety of things but they love algae wafers. My partner has a Bristlenose in his tank but that one is about 5-6 inches. It's probably one of our favourite plecos.

 

[l i s a]

Thanks so much for all your advice...very much appreciated.
I have decided to go for a bristlenose! All very exciting!

Lisa

 

[Callum]

bristlenoses are lovely but dont count on there cleaning ability in my 20g he was a lazy sod but in my new tank he actually cleans so its a hit and miss really

 

[dwarfgourami]

Mine don't seem to like all flavours. They don't touch the hair algae- but then the amano shrimps eat those, so that's all right- but I had a tank that was overgrown with black brush algae and brown algae, to the extent that I was beginning to avoid looking at it- put 3 juvie bristlies in there, and a fortnight later, it is a showpiece! No creature I have yet owned is capable of dealing with that very hard green algae that sticks to the glass- noone except the Wilkinson sword blade

 

[l i s a]

bristlenoses are lovely but dont count on there cleaning ability in my 20g he was a lazy sod but in my new tank he actually cleans so its a hit and miss really

he he..Luckily I am not to worried about that so anything mine did would be a bonus. I just think they are fascinating. Maybe I could bribe mine with lots of nice veggies!