A Newly Set Up Tank - What To Put In it?

[Martin Thoene]

Finally got around to sorting out the 3 foot tank the Sewellia were in before until I put them into the River-Tank.
Pulled out the R/T manifold, swished the sand around, mixed in some gravel. Cleaned the rockwork and some bits of bogwood and set it all up the day before yesterday with existing filters and old water from the Clown tank.
Then I planted it yesterday with some Hygrophila and "Thin leaf Vallisneria". The background visually deepens one's perspective of the tank because of the common plant species.

Today it looks like this:





Took the pictures in evening sunlight, plus the tank lights (Halogen spots and a 20W Aquarel tube.)

I'm thinking lots of Kuhlis....plus some dithers but I can't decide what. I've been in a few shops in the last few days, but I'm uninspired. It's in my lounge in a prime viewing position so I'm wanting something lively and colorful.

EDIT:

Here it is in a different light. By flash.



Martin.

[Blue]

Can't go wrong with microrasboras for dithers. Diamond tetras? Red phantom tetras? Black phantom tetras? Threadfin rainbowfish? Praecox rainbows? You'll notice praecox are very prolific though I expect the eggs will be eaten by your loaches eventually.

[Jim Powers]

That's very nice!
The kuhli idea sounds good.
Maybe some Celestial Pearl Danios as dithers?
Not sure if the two are compatible as far as water parameters, though.

[Martin Thoene]

I'm thinking tiny but colorful. Boraras sp. possibly and lots of them.
I've kept praecox before but to be honest the one's available these days are just not worth the money they charge. Totally inferior to the ones I had years ago back in England which were stunning. I saw some nice threadfins today actually, but they just don't do it for me.

After moaning about certain place's fish prices I was awed today to see nice Ottos @ 2 for $1.99!!!!!

Martin.

[Blue]

After moaning about certain place's fish prices I was awed today to see nice Ottos @ 2 for $1.99!!!!!

Get them while you have a chance, Martin.

Boraras brigittae? Espei? They're quite nice-looking. There's also Sawbwa resplendens.

[Jim Powers]

Brigittae are nice little fish. A large shoal would look impressive.

[mikev]

Since microrasboras were mentioned, this is the kind of tank Rosies will really appreciate...like 20 of them should look real nice. They should not bother kuhlis any.

As for Praecox: I'm kinda window-shopping them myself. I saw pretty colorless ones today for 99c but also really-nice looking ones for $7 (dummit...no available qtank).

[kimura]

Odessa barbs love a densely planted tank and are very colorful and active.......... im moving my 10 striatas to a 40 gallon breeder and have been toiling over the dithers. i think im goin with 6 ghost cats.......but i've always like black ruby barbs too...


http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod ... CatId=1009

[katt]

Very nice setup.

Yes, the Harlequin Rasbora would really liven up the tank.
And when in good health they have a purple shine to them.

[helen nightingale]

the fish tank is your oyster

i saw some very nice dwarf rainbows at a new Norwich store yesterday that i would have been tempted by if i had somewhere to put them. its unfortunate the place is on the way to work too

they had several micorasbora that were nice too.

Katt do your harlequins have a blueish stripe above the black wedge, as well as the purple shine over the orange? i agree with you, they are great fish. its a shame they are so common but so hard to find good ones.