I just brought home a pair of these Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish yesterday.
(along with three chocolate gouramis.
)
I have a few questions.
~ I keep reading that they'd like a "well planted tank with subdued lighting"...??
How exactly would I accomplish this?
Right now, the best plant cover is on the brightly lit side of the tank.
I'm not sure thats working for them. They seem to hang out under the internal filter, which is on the 'dark side' of the tank but just open water there.
Do you know of any tall growing low light plants?
Or should I go ahead and add light, plant heavily and let the shade subdue the light for the fish?
I should have observed them more closely at the store, but..
~ Their fins seem to be moving really fast. The body doesnt shimmy, and i don't think they're breathing fast, but their pect and caudal fins seem Very fluttery.
Is this normal or a sign of stress? Also, not quite sure if they are clamping... should they hold their dorsal well upright most usually?
~ I just have the pair. Has anyone any experience keeping them this way, or will they really need a school?
~ I don't know the hardnes of my water yet. If its not to their liking, can you see them react? also, in your experience, how crucial is hardness to them?
~There is a bubble wall thing in the tank. It is buried under 2" or so of gravel so it bubbles slowly.
I am sort of afraid to turn it off because I imagine that it is O2-ating (I couldnt spell that) the gravel in that spot without it I'd kill off a bunch of nitrifying bacteria. Is that crazy? and could the water movement from it be bothering the rainbows?
The Gouramis, meanwhile are looking Really good so far. colored up, poking around the tank, they even ate!
10 gal tank
ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 10 ish
temp82F (28C) ( thats about 2 degrees higher than at the store)
ph 7.6 (highish, but same as their store and growout tanks)
java moss,
5 or 6 small java fern
2 tall plants from bulbs, under the lightbulb.
The hood could hold 2 screw in bulbs. I have one compact flourescent. something like 13 watts, with lumens comparable to 40 watt incandescant...
( I dont know much about lights)
Currently just a whisper internal filter. It seems alright but I am thinking of upgrading/augmenting.
(along with three chocolate gouramis.
)I have a few questions.
~ I keep reading that they'd like a "well planted tank with subdued lighting"...??
How exactly would I accomplish this?
Right now, the best plant cover is on the brightly lit side of the tank.
I'm not sure thats working for them. They seem to hang out under the internal filter, which is on the 'dark side' of the tank but just open water there.
Do you know of any tall growing low light plants?
Or should I go ahead and add light, plant heavily and let the shade subdue the light for the fish?
I should have observed them more closely at the store, but..
~ Their fins seem to be moving really fast. The body doesnt shimmy, and i don't think they're breathing fast, but their pect and caudal fins seem Very fluttery.
Is this normal or a sign of stress? Also, not quite sure if they are clamping... should they hold their dorsal well upright most usually?
~ I just have the pair. Has anyone any experience keeping them this way, or will they really need a school?
~ I don't know the hardnes of my water yet. If its not to their liking, can you see them react? also, in your experience, how crucial is hardness to them?
~There is a bubble wall thing in the tank. It is buried under 2" or so of gravel so it bubbles slowly.
I am sort of afraid to turn it off because I imagine that it is O2-ating (I couldnt spell that) the gravel in that spot without it I'd kill off a bunch of nitrifying bacteria. Is that crazy? and could the water movement from it be bothering the rainbows?
The Gouramis, meanwhile are looking Really good so far. colored up, poking around the tank, they even ate!
10 gal tank
ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 10 ish
temp82F (28C) ( thats about 2 degrees higher than at the store)
ph 7.6 (highish, but same as their store and growout tanks)
java moss,
5 or 6 small java fern
2 tall plants from bulbs, under the lightbulb.
The hood could hold 2 screw in bulbs. I have one compact flourescent. something like 13 watts, with lumens comparable to 40 watt incandescant...
( I dont know much about lights)
Currently just a whisper internal filter. It seems alright but I am thinking of upgrading/augmenting.
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