This is just a bit of fun, hope you will take the time to give your opinion and WHY.
Some info on my tank (if you havent read already!)
A reef one "BiUbe" the lovely tall cylinder one, effective volume is 30L of water, I tweaked the parameters on aqadvisor to get the "equivalent" volume for the height of the water. It relies on an air pump going through an air stone and up through a central bubble tube, around the base of the tube is the filter housing, a donut sponge shape with a tray under for zeolite and carbon pellets (both removed). The tank is just cycled, but am giving it a few days to steady out, it has been a frustrating 2 months at times, but we are so close to finally having fish. The biube comes with a LED light on a timer program, and a heater, currently at 28 centigrade, will drop down as needed. Will be planting some anubias and other easy plants, have a handful of shells from the LFS in the bottom. The substrate is a ceramic media, chunky rocky and sharp but designed for good biological filtration.
OK, my dreams of a multi species community tank have been dashed by the realisation that the small volume and particular unusual shape just dont give enough room or bioloading for my initial plan.
My water params are a low KH, 4 or 5, ph around 8.2 from the tap, seems an odd combo since many books seem to put fish in hard alkaline or soft acidic conditions and ours seem to be soft alkaline! anyway I have yet to get the GH test kit but will do so before buying fish. Also I would be surprised if the LFS has a different water supply to us as we are close to them, so whatever is in the shop probably is used to the Malmö water supply!
My choices seem to boil down to this. What would you suggest, AND WHY would be super appreciated!!!!
1. A mini school of neons. Calculator says 5, but I think my conscience would let me stretch to 6. They look better in a big group but 6 is enough to get a nice little schooling effect in the small tank, my missus loves them. Slight concerns, lack of individuality, and seems they prefer ph lower than 7.5, even down to 5!!!
2. A family of guppies, the calculator says 2 is understocked, 3 slightly overstocked, but since they are best with 2 females to 1 male, I might again allow myself to get 3 even if the males look nicer usually. Good thing is they look very nice and easily recognisable, match water conditions better maybe, downside is the fry production (though I assume they get eaten if left), and have read they are heavily bred and can be quite sickly.
3. A family of platys. As above, 2 is understocked (just), 3 is a bit over, again with a 2 to 1 female to male ratio. Have not had them before so no idea what their characters are, I think by picking the black markings ones, we can identify individuals. A little bit worried (maybe with the guppies too) that the lack of horizontal swim room means they might not be as happy as they would be otherwise (would be interested to hear how people feel about the contrast between that and for example them living in a LFS tank with far too many crammed into a single tank!!!)
4. a pair of dwarf gouramis. To be honest we only seem to have seen the "dull" ones the females, the males look nice in the books but maybe we have been unlucky. No idea what they are like, but they seem to be better as a "pair" then the guppies and platys where you need an extra female to keep the man in check! I suppose to a beginner, these also seem a bit "different" compared to the most common first tank choices
5. A siamese fighting fish. If we could find a super nice looking one, I can see the attraction though 1 fish on its own, can that be a bit boring? Maybe they can use the vertical space better, and I suppose they would be a bit special as a single individual pet.
6. An option I have not thought about??? Feel free to post here. In a way, I think I have picked out the only 5 viable options but for one, other biube owners I have read in forums seem to have a lot more fish, a lot more mix and far too big and active swimmers in there! Plus, 5 options seems like loads, well it is at least 4 too many haha!!! HELP ME
I have discounted several fish I liked such as
Endlers.... girlfriend thinks they might be a bit boring, even though as smaller "mix" of neon tetra and guppy probably suit the actual tank to be honest. I mean a "mix" in looks wise!
Harlequins / Zebras / 5Band barbs / Tiger Barbs
seem to be a bit too active and a bit too big for the shape of the tank, and like to be in groups. Bah humbug, they are all super nice, love the barbs.
I should say that we are planning to have some red cherry or amano shrimp on the bottom, these seem not to affect the stocking so am I right in thinking I can put 2 or 3 in the bottom and they will be OK?
Some info on my tank (if you havent read already!)
A reef one "BiUbe" the lovely tall cylinder one, effective volume is 30L of water, I tweaked the parameters on aqadvisor to get the "equivalent" volume for the height of the water. It relies on an air pump going through an air stone and up through a central bubble tube, around the base of the tube is the filter housing, a donut sponge shape with a tray under for zeolite and carbon pellets (both removed). The tank is just cycled, but am giving it a few days to steady out, it has been a frustrating 2 months at times, but we are so close to finally having fish. The biube comes with a LED light on a timer program, and a heater, currently at 28 centigrade, will drop down as needed. Will be planting some anubias and other easy plants, have a handful of shells from the LFS in the bottom. The substrate is a ceramic media, chunky rocky and sharp but designed for good biological filtration.
OK, my dreams of a multi species community tank have been dashed by the realisation that the small volume and particular unusual shape just dont give enough room or bioloading for my initial plan.
My water params are a low KH, 4 or 5, ph around 8.2 from the tap, seems an odd combo since many books seem to put fish in hard alkaline or soft acidic conditions and ours seem to be soft alkaline! anyway I have yet to get the GH test kit but will do so before buying fish. Also I would be surprised if the LFS has a different water supply to us as we are close to them, so whatever is in the shop probably is used to the Malmö water supply!
My choices seem to boil down to this. What would you suggest, AND WHY would be super appreciated!!!!
1. A mini school of neons. Calculator says 5, but I think my conscience would let me stretch to 6. They look better in a big group but 6 is enough to get a nice little schooling effect in the small tank, my missus loves them. Slight concerns, lack of individuality, and seems they prefer ph lower than 7.5, even down to 5!!!
2. A family of guppies, the calculator says 2 is understocked, 3 slightly overstocked, but since they are best with 2 females to 1 male, I might again allow myself to get 3 even if the males look nicer usually. Good thing is they look very nice and easily recognisable, match water conditions better maybe, downside is the fry production (though I assume they get eaten if left), and have read they are heavily bred and can be quite sickly.
3. A family of platys. As above, 2 is understocked (just), 3 is a bit over, again with a 2 to 1 female to male ratio. Have not had them before so no idea what their characters are, I think by picking the black markings ones, we can identify individuals. A little bit worried (maybe with the guppies too) that the lack of horizontal swim room means they might not be as happy as they would be otherwise (would be interested to hear how people feel about the contrast between that and for example them living in a LFS tank with far too many crammed into a single tank!!!)
4. a pair of dwarf gouramis. To be honest we only seem to have seen the "dull" ones the females, the males look nice in the books but maybe we have been unlucky. No idea what they are like, but they seem to be better as a "pair" then the guppies and platys where you need an extra female to keep the man in check! I suppose to a beginner, these also seem a bit "different" compared to the most common first tank choices
5. A siamese fighting fish. If we could find a super nice looking one, I can see the attraction though 1 fish on its own, can that be a bit boring? Maybe they can use the vertical space better, and I suppose they would be a bit special as a single individual pet.
6. An option I have not thought about??? Feel free to post here. In a way, I think I have picked out the only 5 viable options but for one, other biube owners I have read in forums seem to have a lot more fish, a lot more mix and far too big and active swimmers in there! Plus, 5 options seems like loads, well it is at least 4 too many haha!!! HELP ME
I have discounted several fish I liked such as
Endlers.... girlfriend thinks they might be a bit boring, even though as smaller "mix" of neon tetra and guppy probably suit the actual tank to be honest. I mean a "mix" in looks wise!
Harlequins / Zebras / 5Band barbs / Tiger Barbs
seem to be a bit too active and a bit too big for the shape of the tank, and like to be in groups. Bah humbug, they are all super nice, love the barbs.
I should say that we are planning to have some red cherry or amano shrimp on the bottom, these seem not to affect the stocking so am I right in thinking I can put 2 or 3 in the bottom and they will be OK?
He swims down and pokes around in the gravel or plants, then he bobs back up and breathes. He rarely shoots back and forth the way neons do.
