New 12g and 29g Setup Advice

[MU1348]

I have been out of keeping an aquarium for awhile (since I was a teen), but I have moved to a new office which has several aquariums that has gotten me fired up about it again. That and my 13month girl old loves looking at fish.

I live in Huntsville, AL if that may give you any indication of water conditions.

For the 12g Eclipse I'm going to have a pair of Brevis (LFS has a pair that is starting to breed) and a pair of Neon Rainbow fish. This setup was suggested by cichlid recipe so I feel fairly confident with it. I don't know what type of plants to use though. I've never delt with plants before, but I think they add a great touch and I like the fact that they supply oxy to the water. Will the shellies dig them up? Should I put plants in small pots?

The 29g will be in my home and I want some larger more visible fish for my daughter to see, but I don't want to overcrowd? I have no idea what to get!! I like the contrast between blue and yellow, but I don't know what fish can give me this that will fit in the tank.

I like Kribs and Blue Rams.....can they co-exist in a 29g? Those are about the only small cichlids that I know about, aside from shellies.

Any and all advice would be appreciated.:)

[medge00]

I think 29 gallons, even if its a long tank, may be a little small for a pair of kribs and a pair of rams. kribs get fiesty when breeding. maybe some one else has more experience with this though.

[medge00]

oh, what about apistogramma's?

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

I have a pair of kribs in my 20 gal tall with one bolivian ram and an angel, amoung others.

Yes, they do chase each other around but it's not the 'i want to kill you chase' its just like they are trying to bug each other. They've been in there for a year at least together and no one has any damage. Everyone is fine.

I don't know how a pair of rams would do though,.... i don't know if rams get agressive when they mate.

As long as you provide caves for the kribs then they will be fine. They need a territory of thier own. Pots laying on thier side works good, if you don't mind the uglyness :D

I would not keep kribs in anything under a 20 gal, though, unless it was a tank just for the pair.

And they breed like rabbits!

[MU1348]

The yellow panduro apisto's would probably contrast well with the Blue Rams if the Kribs get too aggressive. Although if it's not a 'hunt you down and kill' chase then it would be fun for me and my daughter to see them 'play tag'. Do all of these fish like the same water conditions??

I've heard that the Rams are picky about their water. I'm not stuck on the Rams. I just want some colorful fun fish that like the same conditions.

[medge00]

Well, its good that some one with some experience was able to help out with this...

as for rams, I have found them to be pretty picky about water conditions. If you are wanting them to breed, they are SUPER picky about water. I've kept them for a long time though, and I've found that if your water is clean (weekly water changes are a must) and your ph is fairly neutral, they'll show great colors. be sure to have a few hiding spots, some are kinda shy. I've usually found the happier they are, the better their colors are.