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SO something different, stocking wise.

2K views 10 replies 3 participants last post by  Byron 
#1 ·
i have two 55g tanks one with live bearers, one with rainbows, neons, both with cory cats.

im setting up a 30g

it will be planted.

i am wanting something different.

i was thinking Kribs but im afraid of how easily they breed and what i would do with all the fry.

i was thinking Rams but im a little scared of their water demands.

im not opposed to a cichlid tank but its a 30g and i have zero knowledge and experience with them. plus like i said i want it planted.

so im looking for suggestions nothing SUPER exotic (AKA $$$$) but i dont mind paying for some awesome fish if that makes sense.
 
#2 ·
You could do a nice community tank, maybe with a blue gourami as a centre piece fish of sorts. Maybe some African Dwarf frog as something different. Round it out with some Brilliant rasbora (No profile so I'll give you this link http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fish/brilliant-rasbora.php) or Harlequin rasbora and/or maybe a school of pristella tetra or lemon tetra.

Of course you'd have to add them over time not all at once and hopefully after your tank has cycled. With enough plants that will be quick.
 
#3 ·
What are the water parameters?
 
#9 ·
I would not keep rams and kribs together. I would not mix cichlid species at all except in much larger aquaria (4+ feet length) and then only with carefully-selected species. Cichlids are very easy fish to spawn; if the tank is to their liking--which means the water parameters, stability, environment suit the fish species--they will spawn, repeatedly, no matter what. When defending eggs and fry, cichlids can be very rough on any other fish, even those considerably larger. I have some Apistogramma baenschi in my 4-foot 70g, one male with (now) 3 females, two of which are mature fry from the original pair's first spawn that managed to survive. The male spawns with any female who is willing. And in spite of the females being less than an inch, they are rough. And I mean, rough. With each other, and any fish that they perceive as being "too close." As soon as you mix species, this intensifies to the detriment of other fish in the tank. And kribs will kill other fish in their way, moreso than most other dwarf cichlids. The Rams are pretty feisty too, so this is not a good mix. A 30g (presumably 30-inch length, maybe 36) is insufficient for more than one species of dwarf. But even in one of your 55g I would not mix these two.

Understanding the science behind what is occurring in our tanks helps us avoid doing something that will have serious consequences. This hobby is a scientific one, and success comes easier from knowledge. After 20+ years in the hobby, I am still learning. When you have those numbers, I will try to put it in perspective.
 
#11 · (Edited)
ok so API Test strip says water out of my tap:

Gh is 120-180 (darker blue)
KH is very low 0-40 (yellowish green)

SO this tells me that there is basically no buffer so the PH going into the tank will not stick. correct?
Depending upon the accuracy of the strips, the buffering capacity is low. But this would explain the tap pH of 7.4 becoming 6.0 to 6.4 in the aquarium.

Monitor this at a water change to see what effect; you can expect the fresh higher-pH water to raise the tank a bit, but we don't want it too great. A rise of up to .5 is OK, I have that. Perhaps change 1/3 of the tank rather than 1/2 and it should be OK.
 
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