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Coldwater Display Tank


Aqua

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Right. Now that I've got two tanks big enough to actually stock, I want to use the largest one (about 56L) with some nice fish! Only problem is, I don't want to go troppo yet...

Can anyone recommend good coldwater fish that have a reasonable amount of color & movement?

The WCMM are lovely, but they're going to have a tank to themselves... or possibly share it with a school of leopard fish... Not sure on that one yet...

So yeah, What fish would be good for a 56L tank? Amounts of fish as well?

8)

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Aqua said...

> I want to use the largest one (about 56L) with some nice

> fish! Only problem is, I don't want to go troppo yet...

Tropical tanks are really no more difficult to look after than

coldwater ones...

> Can anyone recommend good coldwater fish that have a

> reasonable amount of color & movement?

There are lots of fish that will live in an unheated indoor tank.

Many of the fish we keep as tropicals actually come from cooler

waters than we give them credit for. My favourite page on the

subject seems to be down at the moment...

http://www.aquaria.net/finart/finart.html

You could try Peppered cats, zebra danios, rosy barbs, paradise

fish, rice fish, guppies, variatus type platys and various others.

All are cheap and readily available from your LFS.

> The WCMM are lovely, but they're going to have a tank to

> themselves...

If they're by themselves you'll almost certainly get fry after

a month or so...

> ... or possibly share it with a school of leopard fish... Not sure

> on that one yet...

The leopard fish will most likely eat any WCMM fry, but will probably

produce fry of their own (they're livebearers, like guppys).

> Amounts of fish as well?

In a tank of approx 24 x 12 x 12 inches (assuming UG filtration

and regular water changes etc), you could (relatively) easily have

4-6 peppered cats, 6 or 8 zebra danios, a pair of paradise fish

and maybe a few rice fish. Not added all at once, of course,

but rather over several weeks so the filter could cope...

Just my opinion, of course.

Andrew.

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YAY! This means I get to have some hoover-fish?? I love those algae eating things!! They look soooo cool! But I was told that they're strictly a troppo fish, but you can acclimatise them, but it's difficult? That's what I was told by the pet store in Pakuranga mall...

OOoh my head hurts now!

Thanks for all the info!! :lol:

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If you get them this time of year they should acclimatize by themselves over the next few months. I have only seen my heater come on once this fortnight and that was because I did a too cold a water change. Just float them around in the bag for a while before releasing them into the tank.

The Pakuranga Mall shop is Ok but small (even smaller since they moved). If you live in the area take a look at Jansens on Ti Rengi Dr (across from the Gull service station) Boutney Downs. Much bigger selection although the prices are similar.

$40 for a heater and the tropical world will open up to you. Now I bet that temptation makes your head hurt! :evil:

Cheers

Shilo

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heheh yea it does make it tempting, but I don't have a filter for the big tank, I'm using an U/G filter for the 26L, and that covers *almost* all the bottom of the tank, and I've got to uplift tubes in it, each with their own airpump, so that one's sweet :lol:

So yeah, to go troppo for the big tank, I'd need filter, thermometer, heater etc... And I'm moving house on Sat 18.01, so I'm going to be poor for another month...

:evil: Monthly pay SUCKS!!! :evil:

So..... you mean to say I just buy a tropical hoover-fish and it'll fix itself? I was told it can do this, but it's really difficult???

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So yeah, to go troppo for the big tank, I'd need filter, thermometer, heater etc...

Now lets see, Heater = $40 to $45, Thermometer = $5 to $6 (stick on glass type) and Filter = ?? but I'm currently fiddling with a DIY wet/dry filter total cost approx $30 + $49 for pump. Hang on back filters are cheap as if you shop around. You won't need a large or expensive one. Even an internal canister filter will get you going. Lets say $100 max all up.

Not sure on temp limits of particular fish (I'm just getting into this buzz in a big way myself - others here will be able to help you out better) but at the moment no heater is needed. Once things start to cool down the fish will either be acclimatized or you would have the full tropical outfit and be looking at marine tanks! Now thats a temptation!!!

Cheers

Grant

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LOL there's NO way I'm going for marine until I own a house... :P

And I'm 20, and a lowly call center operator... that ain't gonna happen for a while... Even though my flatmate really really wants seahorses! :-?

I see your point with the 'expense' of going tropical, but when I'm on less that $2K a month, and I'm moving to a house where I'm paying double the rent, the tropical can wait a while lol

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Aqua said...

> Hollywood Fish Farm ROCKS!!!

>

> I was shown them today, and that's where I bought the

> peppered cat from. The staff were extremely helpful,

> and definately know what they're on about!

Yeah, they're one of the shops I visit when ever I'm in

Auckland. Jansens just around the corner is also good.

Andrew.

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