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Finally decided!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  Byron 
#1 ·
I have finally decided that I want to have my 44.9 gallon tank as a Central American Community tank. I have been searching around and compiled a list of fish, that I believe would work well with the hard alkaline water I have. I am not sure if they would work together though, nor do I plan on cramming all of these fish in the tank.

The list so far is:

sail fin mollies
short fin mollies
platies
sword tails
guppies
Mexican Tetra( includes both the blind cave tetra and it's seeing none cave dwelling cousin)
X-ray tetra( is found in both fresh and brackish)
Pacific sail fin molly( found mainly in brackish and marine conditions).

-Are there any other fish I should check out from this region?

-What types of plants?I plan for now going fake, but then either mixing in or going full on with live plants.

-What Style of filter would be best, and not break the bank? LOL
also what substrate would you recommend?

-and finally what fish would you mix from the list ?
 
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#3 ·
By X-Ray I assume you mean the Pristella Tetra; this species to my knowledge does not occur in Central America.

I would strongly recommend live plants. Their benefits esp in new setups cannot be understated. Some easy plants that will do very well in hard water are Valisneria species (two are in our profiles), aqnd some of the sword plants. Floating plants are also very useful; Brazilian Pennywort is perfect floating.

I would not use salt, all livebearers occur in freshwater. Some molly species occur in brackish water but not permanently, and the effects of salt on other species and plants is not worth the risk.

A substrate of gravel, such as pea gravel, with a few rounded "boulders" (pebbles) with a chunk or two of wood would be very authentic of a CA stream. Livebearers predominate; the CA cichlids were get too large for a 44g.

Byron.
 
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