So far, so good... suggestions required for the next step...

R

rzak

AC Members
Mar 19, 2005
13
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Hey all :)

I need suggestions/advice on how next to proceed with my setup (see below). I've had it for about a month and my fish look healthy and appear to be doing well together. I'm thinking:

- I should add a bunch of slate and maybe some platic plants
- fill the aquaclear 300 exclusively with biomax since I'm getting enough mechanical filtration by way of the aquaclear 500
- pick up some 'top of the tank' dwelling fish since my current stock likes to stay at the bottom

My setup is as follows:

60 gallon tank 48" x 24.5" x 12.5"
- 1 Aquaclear 500 (filled with sponge inserts)
- 1 Aquaclear 300 (one sponge insert, one carbon, one biomax stuff insert)
- 1 300 W Heater
- 1 48" single light canopy
- Black natural gravel
- 1 ft. high piece driftwood

My fish (so far):
- 2 BN Plecos (both less than 1.5" in size)
- 6 Bronze Cories (all less than 1" in size)
- 5 Apistogramma Aggazzis (all less than 1" in size)

Weekly water changes of about 30%.

Thanks in advance!
 
Last edited:
Sounds like a fantastic setup. Slate is good, very inert and won't mess up pH or hardness. Don't fear the cheap stuff at Lowes or Home Depot (please don't pay $2 a pound for it at the pet shop, it's 100% rip off, the same stuff you get anywhere else for a third the price). Make sure it's hard and "flaky" meaning it breaks in flakes. If you're worried about the purity, drop some vinegar on it. If it fizzes, it will mess up your pH (bad for agassizz's). If not, your fine. Cheap slate is usually reddish or gray, both are perfect for an aquarium.

Biomax-alone in the filter? Sounds fine to me, if you're getting enough mech filtration from the 500, which sounds about right. I don't think you'll reap a lot of benefit other than having a bit of a "backup" culture of bacteria. Just remember to never (ever!) "sterilize" the biomax or the mechanical sponge (except when replacing the sponge). Clean them all in tank water from the water change, keep the bacterial colonies nice and healthy.

Good "top tank" fish for your setup might be some hatchetfish (keep a tight lid, they will jump), danios (not south american though, if you care). Guppies would be fine, the agassizz would be quite happy to eat the fry that pop out.
 
Thanks for the advice.

How about black tetras? Think they'll go good with my current stock (and stay near the top of the tank)? You got me thinking about guppies now and their 'added' benefit :)
 
Went and picked up 9 harlequin rasboras. Recently added them after a couple days of quarantine and they seem to be doing well with my setup.

Should I look to add even more fish? :)
 
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