Stitchpunk Posted April 26, 2014 Report Share Posted April 26, 2014 Hi guys! Quick bit of background: currently I own The Dude, a golden albino axolotl who lives in his own 75l long tank, and recently I got Foo, a betta who is doing well in a little 9l tank with no filter (i do a 100% water change every 4-5 days. The tank came with an Aquaclear filter but even with a baffle on it seemed like too much current for a fish recovering from fin rot.) Just the other day I acquired the AR510 (75l) tank with stand for the princely sum of $75 second hand. I've just started cycling it, with gravel and a few plants but no fish. But I'm struggling to figure out what to put in it! I'm really more interested in a small number of fish (or even an individual) with lots of personality rather than a community tank. My initial plan was to divide it and have a betta and an apple snail in each half; since setting it up I've been wondering about the trickle filter though. It doesn't make huge current but it does create quite a bit of surface agitation from the water coming out of the spray bar and falling through the filter media back into the water. That doesn't strike me as ideal for bettas as I feed mine floating food. Also I'm starting to feel a bit reluctant to compromise the tank visually by dividing it. I looked into a fancy goldfish but as with most other species I've looked at that appealed to me it seems like this tank isn't really big enough in the long term for even one. The other fish I'm seriously considering is dwarf puffers, but as the lady at HFF said on the phone in a tank that size I'd probably never see them! I would be happy to do heavy planting and create lots of hiding places so that I could have a few in there, but if I never get to see them then there wouldn't be much point! This tank just seems to be the wrong size for everything! Do you guys think dwarf puffers would work? Or can you suggest something else that would do well as a single fish or small group and has LOTS of personality without being too tricky for a relative noob to look after? (Alternatively, is it possible to baffle or modify the spray bar to reduce surface current? I gather. A lot of people end up giving up on these trickle filters and getting something else...but as I just forked out for the noodles and carbon pads I'd prefer to get some use for it before I consider switching!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted April 26, 2014 Report Share Posted April 26, 2014 It sounds like you have researched well. Goldfish can grow to 30cm, live 10 - 15 years and are very messy fish. You could have a couple in your tank for a while but eventually you would need to reduce to one. However they do not need company so that would be an option. Betta don't, in my experience, handle trickle filters very well. Their long fins and tails tend to cause them to be pushed around by the current and often they end up sticking up against the side of the intake stem/powerhead depending on which one is at the bottom of the tank. I had 4 dwarf puffers in my 54 litre tank, it was only lightly planted with a few rocks. They would come to the front of the tank when I walked past it. I initially purchased two which had been together for six months and was warned that they didn't like other puffers in their territory. I should have listened as when I added two more within a week they had disappeared, one night after another. If you are getting some get a group at the one time rather than a couple and then add more. They are best in species only tanks as they tend to get hungry in the middle of the night when other fish are sleeping I found mine picky as to what they ate - bloodworms as long as I wiggled them but I know others will eat pellet foods as well. Other options are a school or two of fish like ember tetra, harlequin tetra, neons or cardinals, rummy nose (any schooling fish) plus one or two feature fish or a pair of fish like rams which will breed eventually. You could get a couple of bristlenose or a group of otos for algae control - they could go with the schooling fish. 75 litres is not a bad sized tank as long as you stay away from the larger growing tropical fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitchpunk Posted April 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Thanks! I try to be a responsible pet owner So you think a 20 gallon tank might be ok for something like a single blackmoor or oranda in the med/long term? My research suggested 30 gallons was the minimum which was why I'd given up on that idea. I'm sure you're right about the bettas, I've seen them struggling against the current even in the nano tanks at places like Animates..... So it sounds like I'd have to invest in a new filter for that to work. If I get puffers I will definitely take your advice and get a group in one go. HFF Albany has 4 or so at the moment, which is frustrating because it'll be weeks before the tank is ready! I have bloodworms to hand all the time because my axie loves them, also frozen brine shrimp, and I would set up a bucket somewhere and try to keep a stock of rams horns for them. In theory I have plenty of time to decide which way to go but the sooner I can decide on the fish the sooner I can get on with acquiring the right decor and plants, which is half the fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted April 27, 2014 Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Yes I do think the tank would be okay for a single blackmoor or oranda, certainly for quite a while. The main thing with them is the need for quality water so regular water changes. As they grow the mess will increase. They don't do well with floating food so need sinking pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitchpunk Posted April 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2014 Yes I do think the tank would be okay for a single blackmoor or oranda, certainly for quite a while. The main thing with them is the need for quality water so regular water changes. As they grow the mess will increase. They don't do well with floating food so need sinking pellets. Thanks! Good to know. Now I'm going to dither over fancy goldfish vs puffers for a few weeks.... Just as well I don't have room for any more tanks or I'd end up with both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitchpunk Posted April 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 I've made the decision to go with puffers because the tank is better suited for them & it's more likely that I'll be able to give them a good life. Am in the process of obtaining ramshorn snails to start a breeding set-up, so hopefully by the time the tank is cycled I'll have yummy snails for my new fish (assuming I can actually get hold of some...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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