spiritofgonzo Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 Hi everyone, I've just started a 54L tank, tropical - I've been doing a lot of research and have gotten a pile of books out from the library so i think i'm on the right track. I've just introduced my first 2 inhabitants: 2 plecos', one of them in 'golden blackeye' bristlenose ancistrus - the other is just a normal bristlenose ancistrus. They look so cool together. The golden one is going nutso, exploring the territory and sucking up anything it can on any surface it comes across LOL! :bounce: the other one's a bit shy :oops: but he'll come around I'm sure... anyways... I intend to put in with these guys: * 10 or so tetras; either neons or something equally as cool * 2 honey Gouramis (eventually) - they're sooo cool * 2 Blue/Rainbow Rams (eventually again) So here's my question. What else could i put in with them? I was going to put in 4-6 zebra danios however, it appears that they get pretty pushy when surface feeding and the shy honey gouramis dont like that. hmmm.... ps - I'm from Christchurch 8) oh yeah - i have a video too. http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q308 ... V01528.flv As you can see from the video, i have heaps of plants too; loove the plants, and i hear the honey gouramis do too. I also have that substrate that you put underneath the gravel which helps them grow. ...Look at ol' goldie go :bounce: LOL! Any advice at all will be greatly appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 Welcome to the fishroom. Has this tank been cycled yet and if so, how? You have a newly setup tank and have introduced two ancistrus which will have nothing to graze on. Have you any driftwood in the tank? Ancistrus need wood in their diet. Keep an eye on the golden ancistrus. He should not be going 'nutso' like that and may be stressed. You say you have heaps of plants but from what I could see on the video, you don't really - although they will grow of course The ancistrus will enjoy cruising along the leaves keeping them clean. Fast growing plants like hygrophila are good in a new tank. 54L is about 60 x 30 x 30cm isn't it? If you add (slowly) the fish you say you want then you should not add anything else as you will have too many fish as it is only a small tank. Wait until the tank is well established before adding the honey gouramis as they are very sensitive fish and will prefer a mature, stable tank. The rams also prefer a mature tank (that is, one that is 6 months or older). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiritofgonzo Posted November 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 i have a big bit of driftwood - you can't really see it in the vid, it's along the right half of the tank - quite a big bit. I'll keep an eye on the golden one for sure, thanks for the heads up - they have both settled down now, although the golden one was going nutso, it was suckering everything??. Don't know if that's good or not? No the tank has not been cycled - we have introduced these fish for that process. I put in some stress-zyme benificial bacteria a couple of days ago so hopefully it should be ok. We'll do regular water changes and regular nitrate and ammonia tests. No, honey and gourami won't be going in for a while i realise that Hmmm, maybe i'll rethink the 10-15 neons then if it's getting too crowded?? Thanks for your comments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 I'd say 10-15 neons would be great. I've never had a honey before, but we have just got a gorgeous dwarf gourami, he's fluoro blue with red stripes with bright orange feelers, awesome little guy, totally recommend dwarfs now! Make sure to weight down a slice of courgette or some sinking algae tabs, as your bristlenose need something to eat, and your tank wont have any algae in it yet My baby GBAs have little moments where they go crazy over the glass, normally when I'm a day or two late on replacing the courgette. If you have another tank, or know somebody with some, borrow some of their gravel or something to try and get the bacteria across. Stress-Zyme doesn't have any beneficial bacteria in it, it would need to be refigerated if it did, but it PROMOTES the growth of beneficial bacteria, so it works a lot better if you have something to seed your tank with (e.g. handful of gravel, filter media from another tank, whatever). My personal experience when setting up a new tank was that it did make a noticeable improvement in the cycle, however others have varying opinions on the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozski Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 Yay you made your way over here! Haven't checked the trademe thread yet...just about to watch your video. As to fish going spastic when you first add them, my danios went NUTS when I put them in my tank. They settled down in a day or so. Was like they were on crack lol. Awesome that you got a golden bristlenose too, they are gorgeous See ya back on tardme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiritofgonzo Posted November 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 Heya Roz, the goldie's settled down a lot now - the other spotted one does come out - i did have a shot of them playing together but i accidentally deleted it, so i think they're happy. http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q308 ... V01533.flv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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