sid 201 Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 Hi all, new to the forum I'm planning on buying a new tank in the near future(when finances allow) and thought I'd lay out my ideas here to see what you all thougt, My previous experiance has been with smaller cold water tanks. 200 liter tank with filter and lighting built in to the lid gravel and/or sand substrate plenty of bog wood , rocks and quite heavily planted fish wise I'm planning ,in order of intoduction:- 1) a small school (6+)of tetra(not sure of type yet)to cycle the tank 2) a pair(maybe 2 pairs) of blue rams 3) a pair of kehoe cichlids 4) pair of flag cichlids and 5) 4 corys will this work? The cichlids are all ment to be quite peacefull could there be teratory issues though? any advice would be apreciated Cheers all Sid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid 201 Posted September 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 wonder why Any way cash issues have scerwed my plans for the time being, any Ideas Cichilid wise for the small(60x30x30)tank I have? come on -need some ideas here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 Hmm lets see, You could keep one pair of blue rams and a school of about 6 tetra in a 60 * 30 * 30 tank. Probably even 4 or 5 corys.... The 200L tank idea you had would of worked well IMO. I dont know about flag cichids but the rest would of been sweet together i rekon... Good luck ..If only it wasnt the cost aye.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid 201 Posted September 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 yay :bounce: Hoped the small tank could be used for a pair of rams-still plan to have it quite heavily planted. any other suggestions for smaller (prefrably American)cichilids? Dwarf's of some type?-dont know much about them though-want to look at a few ideas before I make a comittment here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 the apistogrammas are really neat but are a bit more agro than rams, especially if you have a male with a group of females. the orange flash and cockatoos are quite common, the males are really stunning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 What about kribs? Some nice rocks covered in java moss would look neat and in no time you would have motive to get that new tank at any cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid 201 Posted September 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 but still want to keep to the S.American theme--for when I can aford to move on to the bigger tank. Will probably go with the Rams-Maybe!!! I'll see what catches my eye when I've got the tank ready to go, just need to sort lighting in the lid I've knocked up and tidy the wiring to the air pump and filter-so a week or two at most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandS Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Id go with a pair of apistos or rams, some smaller corys (pygmy or hastatus) and a small school of Dwarf Pencilfish. just note that some blue rams can be very hard to keep alive.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid 201 Posted September 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Africa arn't they?? Any s American alternatives? Was moving away from the Idea of corys though-not sure what to use as an alternative in the small tank-not planning to breed but have been told the corys would hover up any eggs should any be laid.Otocinclus catfish have been sugested -think they would be ok? How Hard are rams to keep? I know they need some care but are they realy that dificult Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandS Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Africa arn't they?? Any s American alternatives? Apistos are south american have been told the corys would hover up any eggs should any be laid Both rams and apistos in most cases are really protective of eggs and fry, but if you are worried about it and want to mix corys and dwarf cichlids, go with apistos, as they are cave breeders, and the corys wouldent stand a chance of getting in the cave, where as rams will lay in the open (on leafs, driftwood etc) HTH P.S. Otocinclus are great and highly recomended 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Go with Shane, definitely apistos or rams, they really add some excitement and stunning colour to the tank. Otocinclus are excellent clean up crew as they only eat algae, so you don't have to worry about them munching on eggs, plus they'll be a good dither fish too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Yea i would go with shane aswell... Otocinclus have a tendancy to die when put in a new tank, It happens to alot of people, but i know my two have survived a couple months already so........... Aparently you should look when buying them and not buy any with a sunken stomach or something??!!?? im not sure, Just what i have read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid 201 Posted September 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 I ment the pencil fish-are they African? Otocinclus look cool -saw some in Hollywoods a couple of weeks back-I actually prefer them to the corys -am I right in thinking that they would be happier in a group (3-4 ) ? would the small tank support them ok? At the moment the idea (very roughly) is60*30*30 planted tank with- 1 pair of Dwarf cichilids (rams or apistos) 6ish fill in fish (probably tetras) several Otocinclus(in preferance to corys) fish wise im hoping to stick with S Amerian types -not so bothered about plants being American ,any thing that would suit the size of tank& look good-have some java fern will see whats at the shop when I'm ready to set the tank up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandS Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 I ment the pencil fish-are they African? Nope, they are South American to. the reason i sujest these over tetras is because they are less active. I have rummys and neon's in my 4 foot and they are always up and down the length of the tank, i feel they would look restricted in a smaller tank, but that is just my opinion. Others have had great luck with tetras in smaller tanks... Sounds like it will be a nice tank when finished :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid 201 Posted September 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Thanks -shouldn't be long until I start putting it all together. I'll post some photos when its all done. just need to sort the lighting out /finish the tank lid . Any ideas where I can find pencil fish in the South Auckland /Pukekohe area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 I got my pencils from Pupuke but i saw them in hollywoods and jansens aswell, I dont know auckland very well so i dont know what is close to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid 201 Posted September 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 tank lids nearly finished-just have to rig up the lighting now. will make a trip out to hollywoods next possible chance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bOi Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 Dont forget to post up pic when you can ya? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid 201 Posted October 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 well its all together :bounce: -just need to add the heater and fish..... What you all think?? should be good when the java ferns have had a chance to grow some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxglove Posted December 31, 2006 Report Share Posted December 31, 2006 Hey there, how is the tank now? What fish did you get and are they thriving? I'm thinking of doing a similar set-up for my new 3ft tank, with Apistos or rams, otos and harlequins (I have ten of these and love them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid 201 Posted January 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2007 had some problems getting the water's ph down to a level suitable foe Dwarfs--I've been told that this was probably due to the drift wood leaching salt into the water--Changed the wood for shop bought stuff yesterday& added some broken flower pots as caves Iv'e 6 golden pencil fish and a shed load of guppies (currently trying to give the buggers away -want some anyone?) have added java moss, ambula(i think) and another (unknown) plant to the java fern--Ive just trimmed the ambula right back-I'll post some more pic's in a week or so when it's looking better. I'l be doing a few extra water changes over the next week or so, plan is to sort the ph ,loose the guppies and wait untill some one here has some dwarfs of some type going -- probably get a couple of otto's after next pay though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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