Newbie-of-a-sort seeking updated information :)

[fishheadNJ]

Hello! New member, technically not new to tropical fishkeeping, but it's been many years and I suspect 'conventional wisdom' might have changed. Besides, growing up we always had a 30 gallon tank, we've just purchased a 12 gallon tank, so that will obviously affect what fish we can have.
I've always liked Angel fish but I think this tank will be too small; unfortunately it's the largest we have room for. Still, I think it's large enough to have a decent community. I was thinking of livebearers like guppies and/or swordtails, but don't want to create an overpopulation problem. I'd love an albino catfish, some guppies, a small school of tetras (3-4). I'm unsure as to the quantities appropriate for this size tank, however.
I should note the tank isn't set up yet, we've some painting to be done in the room in question and won't begin setup until that's done. I've read about tank preparation and remember all about keeping ph levels neutral, so I've an idea about that process but tips there would be welcomed as well!
The tank will 'back up' to a mirror (the filter is in the hood). I don't forsee that being an issue, but might the fish spend all their time bumping into the back of the tank trying to get to the 'other fish' they see in the mirror?

[Xavi]

I think that you should substitute a snail or two for the albino catfish. Bump the number of tetras up to 6 and make sure that they are a small species.

[brads]

I think you'd be OK with 3-4 tets and a few guppies (2-3). The cat might be a squeeze, not sure there. Fish in the mirror. I dunno, you know how they are. Always lookin' at themselves. :naughty: hey baby...

[Hooked Newbie]

:welcome:

I agree with the above posters. I'd go with 4-5 Tetras (max adult size of 2" or less), 2 fancy guppies (same sex, babies would be bad if you have no room for another tank), and maybe a couple ghost or cherry shrimp or a MTS for cleanup.

The mirror will be a good thing IMO, it'll look like you have twice as many fish than you really do!

As far as tips... make sure to read about cycling, water changes, and have a good filter. Above all, stay on this site, there are alot of very helpful people and threads here.

[fishheadNJ]

Haha, thanks for the input. How about Rasboras?

[Hooked Newbie]

Rasboras would be good. If you get them, I'd substitute them for the Tetras. I believe both like schools of 4+. The Axelrod look very cool.

[Dwarf Puffers]

Hello! New member, technically not new to tropical fishkeeping, but it's been many years and I suspect 'conventional wisdom' might have changed. Besides, growing up we always had a 30 gallon tank, we've just purchased a 12 gallon tank, so that will obviously affect what fish we can have.
I've always liked Angel fish but I think this tank will be too small; unfortunately it's the largest we have room for. Still, I think it's large enough to have a decent community. I was thinking of livebearers like guppies and/or swordtails, but don't want to create an overpopulation problem. I'd love an albino catfish, some guppies, a small school of tetras (3-4). I'm unsure as to the quantities appropriate for this size tank, however.
I should note the tank isn't set up yet, we've some painting to be done in the room in question and won't begin setup until that's done. I've read about tank preparation and remember all about keeping ph levels neutral, so I've an idea about that process but tips there would be welcomed as well!
The tank will 'back up' to a mirror (the filter is in the hood). I don't forsee that being an issue, but might the fish spend all their time bumping into the back of the tank trying to get to the 'other fish' they see in the mirror?


Swordtails can get 4-5", and far too big for your tank. Are you talking about Albino Corydoras (Cory Cats)? If so, you should be able to have 4, seeing as they get around 2.5", max.

Here's a list:

2 Male Guppies

4-6 black neons, cardinals, glowlights, or other small, hardy tetras

4 albino corys


Haha, thanks for the input. How about Rasboras?

You could probably substitute the tetras for 4 or 5 small rasboras (2" max). Have you read up on cycling yet? You'll have to set up your tank for atleast 3 weeks and add food daily, add pure ammonia, or put a cocktail shrimp in a nylon stocking and let it rought in your tank, and when there are nitrates, stop feeding / take the nylon stocking out of the tank and do a water change, wait a couple days then add fish (prolly not all at once in case of a mini cycle)

[fishheadNJ]

:welcome:

I agree with the above posters. I'd go with 4-5 Tetras (max adult size of 2" or less), 2 fancy guppies (same sex, babies would be bad if you have no room for another tank), and maybe a couple ghost or cherry shrimp or a MTS for cleanup.

Hadn't thought about shrimp before, will have to learn more about them. Definitely same sex on the guppies, we unintentionally bred them when I was a kid and we had that 30 gallon tank. We were never overrun with little guppies though, courtesy the Angelfish it seems...

MTS stands for what exactly? :)

I'll also go over the whole water changing and cycling info. I'm learning much that we never did...we never changed water, only added water after conditioning it. We also dumped new fish in, store water and all. We did add tank water to the bags and let them acclimate, but always then dumped them in. It does make sense to avoid doing that, though.

[fishheadNJ]

Swordtails can get 4-5", and far too big for your tank. Are you talking about Albino Corydoras (Cory Cats)? If so, you should be able to have 4, seeing as they get around 2.5", max.

Yup, those are the ones. My memory must be fuzzy; I don't remember our swordtails getting that big. But it was 20 years ago....



Here's a list:

2 Male Guppies

4-6 black neons, cardinals, glowlights, or other small, hardy tetras

4 albino corys


That would be a fun tank. Definitely reading all I can on cycling as I'd not a clue about it (was far too young to remember what we did, and once we started we always had fish - even when lightning hit the tank and cracked it (:eek:!!!) we saved who we could and transfered water, gravel etc to a new tank.

This is good stuff, thanks everyone!

[Hooked Newbie]

MTS stands for what exactly? :)




Malaysian Trumpet Snail, Mystery Snail would work too. The shrimp are alot more fun and worse case, a cheap snack for the fish.

[Hooked Newbie]

Have you read up on cycling yet? You'll have to set up your tank for atleast 3 weeks and add food daily, add pure ammonia, or put a cocktail shrimp in a nylon stocking and let it rought in your tank, and when there are nitrates, stop feeding / take the nylon stocking out of the tank and do a water change, wait a couple days then add fish (prolly not all at once in case of a mini cycle)

If you know someone with an established tank, ask for some gravel or used filter media... much easier than doing it from scratch!

[fishheadNJ]

Unfortunately we don't...looks like the long way around :)

[gmh]

Is this an Elcipse tank? They don't have alot of surface area and not much room at the bottom. I would'nt get catfish. Shrimp need less space and do not add much to the biolad so you can get several .
I like the idea of harliquin rasboras. Maybe 6 of them along with a couple male guppies. They would fill the tank nicely.

[fishheadNJ]

It is an eclipse tank. Would a combination of the two (say one and one, or two and one) work or are they not compatible? Must read up on shrimp. I'm glad I started asking questions while the tank is in the box still! By the time we're ready to get it going I'll be all set with a plan of action.
I remember we always had rasboras and neons and they were quite active. For this tank it's one or the other though I think.

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Hehe, well you might as well at least get it set up and fishless cycling and during that whole "hurry up and wait" phase you can do the fish search. Since it's really the filter that cycles you don't even have to have the tank completely set up (you'll have to replace most of the water out when the fishless cycling is done anyway).

[fishheadNJ]

Yeah, but we've painting and "popcorn ceiling' coating to remove in the room; makes more sense to keep it boxed until that's done...