[Laki]

So an update. I decided to get a heater after all (a Fluval m100) and so I began researching other gourami (as I said before, blue gouramis are my heart species). Thanks to lilaug for all the great advice on paradise fish but after scoping out the fish shop and looking at the stock (meagre at best) and I really really really love opaline gourami.
I know their basic requirements and I am currently cycling my tank (though I'm confused because it's only been running a week and I have nitrates but only a little bit of ammonia and I was given the impression that the ammonia should be off the charts until nitrates fix it and they both go to 0 ppm).

My biggest question is: for my tank currently, how many opalines could I get? I understand they get to be 6" but would a m/f pair work even if I don't want to breed? All the videos I have watched make it seem like they enjoy the company of others.

Thanks

 

[lilnaugrim]

Not every cycle happens the same way. You may have some nitrates in your tap and that could contribute to that.

Opalines are beautiful too, I also love Platinums :-D But yes, all 3 Spot variations will enjoy the company of others of their species so you could get another Opaline or any of the 3 spot variants. How big was your tank again? 29?

 

[Laki]

Well when I tested the first day (the tank was running for about a week before I first tested) it had 0ppm nitrates AND nitrites and 0ppm ammonia. The ammonia has stayed at 0ppm despite me adding BB. I intend on reading some more on that today because although I know I should wait longer than 2 weeks all my tests are consistently safe. I even thought maybe the new filter was removing ammonia and nitrates but my reading told me that's most likely not the case.

No, my tank is 20g but I maybe have 10g or a little more of water in there. I am willing to add more water but I want my driftwood to stick out because I'm planting a terrestrial anubias on it.

So I could add a golden, a blue and an opaline? They don't care if they're not all the same type of 3-spot? Hmm. That could be cool. It might be hard for me to get 2 females and a male because I think the stores usually have quite a male majority. I might be wrong. The shops I looked at already this week had such pitiful numbers so I didn't much to compare to. There was a super dark, think breeding colors, opaline male in one of the shops. Oh I wanted him so bad but I didn't want to kill him with my cycling tank!

*ETA* Maybe a pair would be a kinder choice. An opaline and a golden perhaps for nice contrast of color.

 

[lilnaugrim]

If you add BB like from a supplement bottle, that does nothing for your ammonia. You also have to feed your BB ammonia by using pure ammonia if you want to do fish-less cycle or fish food/pellets.

Ah, if it's only about 10 gallons of water then you can't do any of the 3 spot gouramis, they get much too big for even a 20 high. You need at least 30 gallons for one of them, ideally you'll have a trio in a 55 gallon.

 

[Laki]

OH.. So my BB might be dead because I haven't fed them ammonia? :< What a disappointment and waste of money.

Hm. So my tank is too small for even one adult 3-spot. Nothing is working out for me! What about dwarf gourami?

 

[lilnaugrim]

They likely aren't dead but they are hungry. Feed them something

Yes, one Dwarf Gourami and a couple Small tetras will do fine in that size.

Could also do Sparkling Gouramis or Croaking Gouramis (though my Sparkler's croak just as much or more than the Croaking ones did lol!) or Honey Gouramis (couple different color variants)

 

[Laki]

Thanks
So 2 dwarfs would not be okay in my tank? Even with all the driftwood and plants? (ps, my live plants are in shipping). I am thinking I will add more water out of it and just raise up my driftwood. I was out in my backyard yesterday and found several buckets filled with cool looking rocks (I'm thinking for a years old dead dream of landscaping by whoever lived here before us).

 

[lilnaugrim]

Yeah, never put two dwarfs together. Bad idea. They're the most territorial out of all of them. You can get a lovely trio of Honey's though, much sweeter just like their name and they can look similar to Dwarf's if you get the wild coloration type, they're beautiful!

 

[Laki]

Hmm, thanks! I will look into them. It's still m/f/f for a trio, right? I thought honeys were a color variation of dwarf but I see that they're only similar.

 

[lilnaugrim]

Yeah, that's best but you can do whatever with Honey's. The male will display best when he has some females around, but won't mind if you do 3 males instead. They will spar but usually they don't do a crap ton of damage or anything. And yeah, they stay smaller than Dwarfs too so less bioload ^_^

 

[Laki]

They sound great. And I love the wild coloring. Going to call the big petshop today and see if they have any honeys. My tank is reading consistent 0ppm on ammonia, nitrate and nitrite so I assume it's safe. I'll keep a close eye on it if I do get fish this weekend.

 

[lilnaugrim]

Of course it's going to be zero everything if you don't have anything creating ammonia in it ^_^

 

[Laki]

It was 25ppm the other day before my water change though. And I know I shouldn't been, but I have been adding fish flakes every other day.

 

[lilnaugrim]

Okay, just watch when you add the Gourami's is all. I know you are competent in fish care and all, but you'll probably get a nice little ammonia spike the day after as well. The plants will obviously help keep that down

 

[Laki]

Oh I'll be super diligent and probably test ammonia twice a day until I feel sure it's okay. I'm just super impatient, the tank has been set up and running for 2-3 weeks with no adverse readings. I know that's not fool proof though and I'll feel awful if anything happens to any fish I add.

 

[lilnaugrim]

Awesome ^_^ I'm sure they'll do fine! Honey's are pretty resilient :-D

 

[Laki]

I want to extend a super duper thank you to you as well, lilaug. You were the only responder to my gourami posts and you helped me pick the right ones for my setup. You are a gourami hero

 

[lilnaugrim]

Haha, no worries ^_^ I'm happy to help! Though, you can just call me 'lil' since you keep forgetting the "n" in my name ;-) haha

 

[Laki]

Haha oh my god. Sorry! I have always thought you were lilaugrim forever. Oops!

Im on the bus now coming back from store. She gave me a price on a little trio of honeys. I have a wild, a yellow and a red and some salvinia for the coming ammonia spike. But i got on the wrong bus and i have no idea where i am. Hoping to loop back to a familiar part of the city soon!

 

[lilnaugrim]

Lol, it's okay, I've been mistaken for many different things before ;-)

Oh no! Hopefully you find home soon!!