Planning my first tank

[nahrie]

thanks for the help so far guys



maybe a dwarf gourami (is just one okay?)
4-6 cories
possibly some blue ram (how many are suggested? what genders?)

The dwarf gourami will be fine by itself. I have kept single dwarfs numerous times. Groups tend to aggressive with each other. They only get along IME if they are a mated pair. I always wondered why it was the big guys got along fine, but not the dwarfs, but there you are anyway. Singles are awesome centerpieces in tanks. I have one now doing just that.

Rams do well in pairs or quads. Genders aren't relevant, and good luck telling them apart anyway. LOL Or at least, I never bothered with mine, and everybody got along fine.

 

[pantsworth]

awesome help everyone....

I was very intimidated by setting everything up so i went ahead with the kit for comfort reasons.... I already am thinking about how to upgrade stuff

I have natural gravel, a couple clay pot halves for caves, and a flat rock propped on one of the pots. I bought a piece of wood that was supposed to "sink immediately"... it's still floating in a bucket.

I got some plants from a friend... some eel grass (the real name is "V" something), a little java fern, and a bit of crypt.

I just added 3 Guppies... 1 Male and 2 Females.... I think both of the females are already pregnant...

I'm going to go buy more supplies tomorrow (the kit came with little sample packs)... what sort of chemicals do i need to make sure to have? Should i be testing my water regularly? Should i get salt and how much should I add?

My friend is offering me a pair of Apisto Borelli, which i am considering instead of the rams or gourami.... what do you guys think?

I'm going to probably be grabbing 2 cory cats tomorrow or the day after and then adding another 2 later (i'm thinking 4 total)

I'll try and post some picture soon... thanks again

 

[Flying_Diamond]

no salt, make sure you get water conditioner (prime recommended), testing regularly until you're cycled is a very good idea, but as long as you keep up on water changes isn't mandatory, just a precaution.

apistos would look good in there just like the rams would IMO.