Odd Stocking Question

emeraldsky

Alright, I have a very specific question. I went and bought an 18 tall (20L x 12D x 20H) and I know the limitations of stocking a tall tank. I really like how they look though so I wanted to give it a shot. Also it was on sale and I have a problem saying no.

Right now, my only stocking plan is my cherry shrimp colony, which is probably about 50-70 shrimp.

The way I plan to decorate the tank is having the whole bottom just be manzanita wood and then plopping my Java Moss thats overfilling my 8 gallon on top. In my head its going to look like a tree but well have to see if that actually happens


After thinking about it, my shrimp will probably spend about 90% of their time living in moss which leaves me with a very empty looking bottom tank. I was wondering if there was a fish that could live in the bottom of it. I dont mind shrimplets being munched on though since this tank has the footprint of a 10 gallon, it needs to be a pretty small fish.

It also cant be an anabantid since the top will have limited access, being covered in moss and all. Also, if no fish is suitable, I'm ok with that as well, it wouldnt be my first larger shrimp only tank.


My PH is 7.6 and thats the only information I have regarding my water, sorry! D:

rowanbrierbrook

If you did the bottom as half wood and half sand (then it could look like a tree on a beach!) you could try the smaller corydoras. I have 5 false juliis, and they are a delight! They mostly swim along the bottom, but they do roam about the midlevels on occasion as well. I'm not sure if they would work on a fully wood substrate bottom though. Mine do range over my wood piece but they do love their sand as well.

emeraldsky

I thought Cories liked to go to the top every now and then? It wouldnt work in this tank.

I have sand substrate though c:

Let me see if i can dig up a picture of it.

Byron

A group of corys, say 6-8, of one (or more) of the small/medium sized species would be OK. They will eat baby shrimp though, if they come across them. Almost any fish will.

If you are thinking upper water fish, there are a number of suitable ones for this type of tank (tall) but almost all of them are soft water, which I assume this is not.

Byron.

emeraldsky

Found it!


It looked a lot nicer when I started, some of my wood decided to float D:
tank.jpg






This is going to be a terrible tank to clean in the future ;___;

emeraldsky

Thank you, I'm not sure how cories would fare against all the wood though. When it properly sinks its going to be pretty maze like which I think would restrict the cories swimming.

I'm more looking for bottom oriented fish, to swim between the wood. Something sedate would probably be best, or at least something really small.


I dont mind if baby shrimp are eaten, I'v more than enough for a decent colony.

rowanbrierbrook

Perhaps look into the loaches? I think some of them stay pretty small. The Kuhli Loach maybe?

emeraldsky

i don think this is big enough for kuhlis, they need a group and more swimming room than this tank will give them. It only has the footprint of a ten gallon.

Byron

Corys would be fine that aquascape. They don't swim like most fish but rather browse surfaces, and the more surfaces the better.

That would be an idea setup for pencilfish, with soft water. The Rio Nanay in Peru is like this, full of branches.

emeraldsky

I looked up pencilfish and those are insanely pretty, its a shame my water is so hard. Im not really in a place where I can make my water softer either so I'll just have to wait on those.

Ill take a look at corys and see which one will fit best, thank you!