XMas planning, need help!

[Aquarius0015]

Okay, so I have finally gotten the green light from the parentals to "go ahead and order whatever the h-e-double-hockey-sticks you want" as long as I stay within a reasonable budget and keep space/transportation considerations into account. I will probably order from Big Al's Online, because they seem to be reputable and have great prices compared to the LFS even after shipping costs are considered.

I have fallen in love with Marineland because of the BioWheel. My friend owns one and he manages to keep his fish alive even though by conventional wisdom they should be dead (infrequent cleaning, water changes, overfeeding, overcrowding, etc).

Option #1 is the 12 gallon Eclipse system. The lights and biowheel filter are built into the hood which features 2 holes for tubing, wires, etc. The tank itself is acrylic with a curved front. Big Al's includes a free 100 watt VisiTherm heater (I have no heater currently). $80.

Option #2 is an Eclipse 1 hood (lights and biowheel filter) that fits onto a standard 10 gallon glass aquarium (which I have somewhere in storage). Same configuration of 'access' holes for tubing. $45.

Option #3 is a standard glass 10 gallon with a Penguin 125 (or 170?) HOB $15 (or $18) or an Emperor (280?) HOB $33. I do not know which is best, the website did not provide enough info on the appropriate sizes. With this setup I would have to purchase a hood separately.

[TKOS]

Don't knwo much about the eclipse systems but I must say the biggest tank you can get your hands on is the best. The extra 2 gallon of the 12 gallon eclipse may not seem like much but it will mean maybe an extra fish or 2.

[often dignified]

get something big, so that you won't have to upgrade again in a couple of months

[Aquarius0015]

This is for my college dorm, won't be able to get any bigger for a couple of years, not months.

[OrionGirl]

I would go with the 12. The increased volume is minimal for fish keeping, since it does not include an increased surface area, but bigger is still more stable than a smaller volume.

The Eclipse filtration systems are reliable, and with a minimal amount of modification, easy and cheap to maintain. Instead of using the replacable cartridges, buy a large sponge, and cut it to fit the media area. This will provide biological filtration that's easy and cheap to replace. Then, use some filter floss to wrap around the intake for mechanical filtration. Once more, easy to clean and replace, cheaply.

The only downfall IMM with these setups is that the hoods do not come with a great light setup. If you want plants, you'll be limited to things like anubias, some crypts, java moss and java ferns. This isn't a huge deal, just something to keep in mind.

Also, review the fish you're interested in keeping. Small tanks limit you to fish that will remain small as adults. There are many to choose from, so do your research and pick fish that will be the right size and make you happy. I try to avoid schooling fish in small tanks--the fish can't really display schooling in small setups, and are often disappointing.

[Aquarius0015]

Hmm, I really wanted julii cories, but if a 12 gallon is too small for them to be happy, then I do not think I will get them. I also like kuhli loaches, but I prefer a fish that I can actually see swimming around, not hiding.

Actually, I wanted the cories more than the platies. They are adorable. I just picked platies because they 'agree' with the cories, hang out in a different zone, are colorful, and not demanding, etc.. I absolutely detest tetras (sorry tetra lovers). I would maybe look into a gourami or angel (are there dwarf angels?) if it wasn't for my betta. He is there first so he gets priority :).

As for plants, anubias, java moss and java ferns are exactly what I had in mind, so I'm glad the lighting works out to be a little weak. I get to have the plants I want without algae concerns.

[Aquarius0015]

I would maybe look into a gourami or angel (are there dwarf angels?)

Okay, I'd like to retract the idea of an angel. Forget I said it. I did a quick google and found that there are no dwarf angels and even the smallest should not be kept in a 12 gallon. Still pretty though.

[chefkeith]

I 'd go with the eclipse 12. If you live in a dorm you'll appreciate how easy it is to tear it down and set it back, if you have to do this every 5 months or so. The Eclipse system is really light in weight too.


I got an eclipse 6. It doesn't have any fish in it at the moment, but I keep it up and running as my cycled q tank.

[Aquarius0015]

Awesome, I have three votes for the most expensive option. My parents will be less than thrilled, but I'll just tell them "the experts" say that this is the best tank for me. Who can argue with the experts? So unless anyone has any compelling suggestions to the contrary, I will probably get the 12 gallon.

I have been having a bit of trouble with the AC freshwater database search feature. I typed in a minimum tank size of 12 gallons and received some strange responses (black arowana, giant raphael, eels and such). Since it is not working for me too well, I would be happier than usual to hear stocking suggestions. My only real consideration is my betta and my desire for low light plants, and I prefer hardy to semi-hardy fish.

[TKOS]

You could easily put three small cories in a 12 gallon tank, possibly 4 with good water changes. A betta will do good in there as well. I don't knwo how well platies and bettas work together. Betta cories and white cloud minnows work well together, but white clouds have that similar tetra look to them .

[SayersWeb]

Hey!

Dr. Foster & Smith have the Eclipse 12 kit (includes 50w heater and a thermometer) for $71.99. I've had very good luck with them.

BTW, a few Corys should do fine in the tank. Acouple of dwarf gouramis would add some really nice color.

Since the tank will have a good filter system, water quality should stay stable. Be sure to get a ph test kit. You'll want to check it often since it can very quickly head south in a small aquarium.

[Aquarius0015]

A couple of dwarf gouramis would add some really nice color.

I can keep dwarf gourami's with my betta? I had always heard otherwise so that's good news.

TKOS, I just had a bad experience this week with both of my bettas attacking my 3 golden white cloud minnows, killing 1 of them. I took them back to the LFS.

[Aquarius0015]

Oooh, I just thought of something. I know one shouldn't keep two male gouramis, and preferably not a male and a female unless the tank is spacious. So where would I find two females? I am pretty sure all of the LFS have males, or else they have females that are pumped full of color-enhancing steroids. I guess I'll ask around.


I don't know how well platies and bettas work together.

My LFS keeps a betta in each of the platy tank and everyone seems pretty happy.

[TKOS]

I wouldn't keep a gourami and a betta togther as one will loose the fight.

Perhaps you should stick with a single betta as the centerpiece fish and then add like 5 or 6 cory catfish and nothing else. That might look really nice and would be eay to care for as well. Add some shrimp and a few plants.

I tend to like tanks that have a sparse amount of fish, too many and I find the fish don't do anything and just hang around.

And actually I had been doing a quick search for the Golden White Cloud Minnow and it is just another name for the standard version (seeing as they have a bronze gold body).

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=952

The only variation right now is the long finned variety that is really hard to find.

[SayersWeb]

Originally posted by Aquarius0015


I can keep dwarf gourami's with my betta? I had always heard otherwise so that's good news.

TKOS, I just had a bad experience this week with both of my bettas attacking my 3 golden white cloud minnows, killing 1 of them. I took them back to the LFS. Hmmm... I did not remember that you had a beta. It may chase the dwarf gouramis around a bit. If you have a bunch of plants it will help.

I had 6 dwarf gouramis in my 20 gallon tank for quite a while and they did just fine. I tried to get a pair of three different color strains. Never had any breeding, probably due to the amount of water circulation. Lost them all when I did a water change and the ph went through the roof. I think our town was doing some testing with the water supply at the time and it was terribly alkaline. :sad

Do you have the beta in an aquarium now? I've always found that my small tanks have too much water circulation for the beta to be happy. So, I bought a large glass vase and he stays happily on the kitchen table and interacts with our cats. The beta flares his fins at them and darts about:


http://www.sayersweb.com/ourstuff/images/2003-11-18-Mokey-Beta02.JPG

[OrionGirl]

Have you seen the dwarf/pygmy cories? They are small enough that you could have 5-6 of them in with a betta quite easily. they school nicely, even in small tanks, and swim in more of the water column than the larger cories.

[tomm10]

I'll second that, OG! I have 6 pygmy cories in with my four danios in a ten gallon right now. they are very fun to have in the tank. They seem to like hiding spots though so make sure you include some.

They schooled when initially put in the tank but they seem to go in groups of twos and threes now that they're comfortable in the tank.

[Aquarius0015]

I have not seen pygmy cories around Richmond lately, but I have seen them in other people's tanks. Truth be told, I do not find them as attractive as the pepper or julii cories, so I would prefer to have maybe 4 juliis than 5 or 6 pygmies. I'm a little shallow I guess.

SayersWeb, I recently increased the amount of water flow in my betta's tank when I bought a new filter. I thought it might be too strong at first, but he seems to love swimming about, and he has a few low-current spaces to visit if he gets tired. I think he looks a lot healthier. He has always been quite active for a betta. His new favorite pasttime is chasing the ghost shrimps away from their pellet food.

I am still not sure if I have given up on platies yet. If I just did the betta and platies, how many could I keep? Must they be kept in small groups?

[TKOS]

I don't think there is a magic number for platies. Just make sure that if you get mixed sexes then get at least 2 girls for every boy. Luckily platies are very similar in colour so getting all females or all males won't look bad in a tank, and will help keep th epopulation from exploding. They are a bigger bodied fish and a bit of a poop machine so I would keep a small number of them if you want the betta in there as well. Probably 4 or so would be good. That is assuming you are still adding the cories.

[Aquarius0015]

So now I am thinking 1 male betta, 2 male platies (males are smaller, right?),3 or 4 julii cories (but maybe pygmies if I can learn to love them), and ghost shrimp if I can manage to keep them alive. Plus plants, and I am leaning towards a small, smooth pebble substrate but considering sand, too. In a 12 gallon Eclipse of course. I figure I'll come in around under $115 by the time I get things to my liking.

[TKOS]

That sounds like a nice light easy to manage bioload. You will be able to easily put 4 cories in that tank.

Male platies have gonopods, it looks like their anal fin is pointing backward. Easy to spot.