New here, a few tips from you resident experts!

TexasBetta · Post by **TexasBetta** » 02 Oct 2004, 04:35

Hello =) I just registered, and have asked many different forums, but wanted some more opinions on a new setup I will be doing stocking wise.

I am planning on doing a 29-33 gallon tank, it will be medium planted, rocks and wood for cover, Eheim 2236 or 2026 filter and I have an Ebo heater I will be using. My temperature would depend on the fish.

The main problem is fish!

I will be putting a schoal of 6-8 cory cats in there I know, as I adore the cats. I also like german blue rams, and was considering 2 pairs. This would put the temp at around 78-80F for optimal conditions so far.

The question is, what else do I put in there? I'd like something colorful, schooling, and peaceful, interesting to watch is also nice. A mid level/top swimmer is optimal, as with the cory/rams I have the bottom level/mid level covered. I will probably also throw in some oto's in 6-8 months from now for cleanup duty.

I have seen goo-obo gudgeons and peacock gudgeons, but can find almost no information on them.

I'd really prefer to stray away from nippy fish, ie tiger barbs, tetras, etc and pick up something more uncommon.

So, anyone have any suggestions? I know this is catfish territory, but, you all seem very well versed, so, just trying to get some more opinions!

Almost forgot, I LOVE L-46 Zebra's...But, I heard they are very docile and would not go well with cory's. Any other smallish pleco, again, interesting looking and fun that should go in there?

Post by **Barbie** » 02 Oct 2004, 05:09

If you intend to plant the tank right away, you might consider adding the otos and amano shrimp within a few weeks of when the tank is established and fully cycled. Otherwise nuisance algae could get a pretty good foothold in the tank and cause you problems, on down the line.

You might consider I. werneri (threadfin rainbows) or even M. praecox (dwarf neon rainbows) for a small planted tank like that. They're very peaceful, utilize all of the water column, and display great colors, without getting too large.

Peacock gudgeons are relatively easy to keep, IME. They like soft water, and do fine at a temp of 80 degrees. I've heard they can sometimes be troublesome to feed, but that wasn't my experience, either of the times that I've kept them. They spawn in tight fitting caves or tubes, and the male cares for the eggs, much like plecos. Once the fry are free swimming, he will treat them as a meal, if he's not very well fed, so plan to remove them, if you'd like to raise some.

There are quite a few types of Otocinclus, or Parotocinclus available, that would work well for your tank, without having to add larger fish. If you just want the "look" of a neatly colored pleco, without the expense of the L46, you might look into L134, or L260. They both stay small, and are easy to care for with docile fish in the tank. More information on your beginning water parameters for the tank would be helpful in suggesting fish that would work well in your set up.

Hope that helps!

Barbie

TexasBetta · Post by **TexasBetta** » 02 Oct 2004, 05:41

Which parameters would you like to know? I use RO or well water on all my tanks, and adjust pH and temperature to fish preference =)

And no, I refuse to use tap =) Heavy chlorines, 8.4pH, usually a "grey tinge", will stain teeth after drinking for 6 or more months regularly, and will leave heavy mineral deposits in anything aquarium related after about a month =)

Post by **Barbie** » 02 Oct 2004, 16:16

What do you add to the RO water to reconstitute it? What is the pH, kH, and gH of the water?

The heavy chlorine in the water is quite easy to deal with, the pH of 8.4 is usually to keep the water from eating into the pipes and leeching out harmful metals, and causing more problems, in the long run.

Most people that don't use tap water, also don't tend to do as many water changes as is good for their tank. It can be a real pain to have to go fetch water, and it gets expensive, eventually. If you own the RO unit and you're "preaging" water, that's a different story. It's just hard to tell from here ;)

Barbie

TexasBetta · Post by **TexasBetta** » 02 Oct 2004, 18:57

Barbie wrote:What do you add to the RO water to reconstitute it? What is the pH, kH, and gH of the water?

Tap waters pH is currently 7.9, gH is 31 which is 555ppm, kH is 143ppm.

Im not reconstituting my RO water, not sure how I would go about doing that.

I do plenty of water changes weekly, but the last time I tried using local water here it promptly sent all my fish into some sort of shock and killed.

This is after taking the LFS advice of double dosing ( he uggested triple dose actually ) Amquel and adding some pH neutralizer.

Post by **Barbie** » 03 Oct 2004, 03:11

If you aren't adding some form of buffering capacity to your RO water, then the pH will steadily fall. I would recommend you buy RO Right, or some other form of buffering agent, if you don't want to just mix in 1/4 or 1/3 tap water with your RO water. RO water should most definitely not be used in tanks without some form of kH additive to hold the pH stable, IMO.

Barbie

TexasBetta · Post by **TexasBetta** » 03 Oct 2004, 03:33

Alritey =) I appreciate the help =) I have been adding pH 7.0 to it and it seems to hold steady in my tanks, but I know I will have to start changing things around once I get into a larger tank.