Bulky and expensive is so true.

Ask someone that likes cichlids lol.

Yeah, once you start using buffers and chemicals it gets tough because if you don't maintain the pH and all consistently, the wild pH swings can kill the fish pretty fast. R/O kits are nice but you're right, so expensive and also bulky.

Haha, so I got one vote for clown loaches from thekoimaiden and one vote for cichlids from you. I need a tiebreaker. XD

I wish I could ha e cardinals but I don't want to use a bunch of chemicals to adjust my pH, also I would have to do something about the hard water. I wouldn't Kk.d buying an RO kit, but it is expensive! Good thing is because I live in apartments there is no water bill.

I say cichlids! I just love the way they look. I wouldn't mind the shell dwellers, I just can't find them!

Yeah. I think neons are really much more hardy now because so many are commercially bred. I was reading and cardinals need like 5.0-6.4 pH to do well. They definitely aren't as adaptable as neons.

I'm really torn about the 55 gallon. When it's free, I'm not sure if I want to put a bunch of Malawi cichlids in it, huge schools of tetras, or 3 clown loaches. I'd love cichlids because I'd love to see them breed. But I've also loved clown loaches. Too many fish, not enough tanks!

So it doesn't matter since neons have been bred so much they can be in any water, got it. I know they still collect the cardinals from the wild because they still haven't found out a way to commercially breed them.

In my opinion it use to be the most but after seeing this huge like 55 gallon or Niger full of neons it looks awesome.

Okay, now that I've gone back to check the profiles, they tolerate the same pH and hardness. Although the book does call bloodfins hardy.

I know what you mean about the many fish thing. I agree, I like one or two big schools better and it's better for the fish because schoolfish are happiest with 6 or more.

Way to save money. The tank will also have some driftwood so hopefully that will lower the pH a little, as well as softening it a bit.

Are bloodfins able to tolerate higher pH then neons? If so I will definitely get bloodfins. Maybe if the gourami will keep the tetras in a closer school, though to me it doesnt matter. Funny how some people try to have as many different fish in a tank, one or two big schools look way better.

I am planning on buying some more plants for Kei, as well as some frozen bloodworms.

Smart of you, I totally didn't even think of trying to find the numbers on the water facility website. Way to go. :)

A huge school of neons really are a sight to see. And 12 neons or bloodfins and a gourami should be great. A big school will also keep the tetras occupied so they aren't tempted to nip the gourami's ventral feelers.

And I'm so glad to hear Kei is eating! Go Kei!

How are you doing Sakura?

I think Kei is doing much better! He is swimming around, flaring, and he ate two pellets this morning. Yesterday he had one. He is kind of lazy though, I think more plants will help, the tank is sort of bare because a lot of the plants melted.

I can't just simply look at the numbers online? Of not I will but it won't happen for a bit. Does it come on the same package or separate?

I think they may have bloodfins, I will check next time I see. Maybe I will just have a huge school of neons or bloodfins and a gourami. That way the neons feel safer so they won't nip as much.