Neptune Aquatics

Freshwater Question

chicken

chicken

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I am trying to help my mom get her ~50g hex tank cleaned up and some fish in it again. She had a fish my brother gave her like 5 years ago after he tore down his tank and it died the other day, I think of old age. She is looking for some fish that have some personality. The problem is I have no clue on where to start with freshwater. Anyone have any ideas or any sites they can point me to?

Thanks
 
freshwater fish with personalities: Cichlids and gourami.
Caution though. Some are very aggressive to other fish and some are almost solitary.
 
Personality HAS to be the Clown Loach! Your mom will LOVE this fish. Join:
http://forum.sfbaaps.org
It's the local freshwater planted tank group. Like BAR but on the freshwater side.
Just like we run refugiums I'd add a couple of basic plants to any freshwater tank. They are pretty and help control nitrates. However, they don't do well with cichlids. I'd suggest a couple of loaches, perhaps a shrimp and crab and then some cool schooling fish. Not to dis cichlids (I had a few in my day) but their habitat is rock structures and I don't think make for a very "pretty" tank.
Here's What I would do exactly:
Put a good substrate in the tank (ADA Aquasoil, Flourite or the cheaper Soilmaster)
Get a couple of pieces of good driftwood and maybe a few rocks (I think wood looks better but that's only my opinion)
Get her a good HOB bio-wheel filter and maybe two small powerheads (you need flow, but much less than a reef)
-Replace the bio wheel cartridge crap with a good activated carbon filter and some Chemi-pure in a sock
Make sure to cycle it for a good amount of time
Then add a bunch of fish, a few shrimps and maybe a fiddler crab or two
Put in a few easy to care for plants (Valisnaria gigante are great looking big grass plants that are easy for exapmle. Much more info on SFBAAPS)

The goal is producing an easy to care for tank that balances. You don't want her stressing with water changes (hench the plants for nitrate removal) but you also need enough fish to produce CO2 for the plants. Like any tank it will take a while to "dial-in" but if done right a good planted tank that is not overstocked should be very easy to care for and only require small water changes perhaps once a month or maybe even less.
 
[quote author=Dyngoe link=topic=5600.msg70160#msg70160 date=1229539294]
Personality HAS to be the Clown Loach! Your mom will LOVE this fish. Join:

It's the local freshwater planted tank group. Like BAR but on the freshwater side.
Just like we run refugiums I'd add a couple of basic plants to any freshwater tank. They are pretty and help control nitrates. However, they don't do well with cichlids. I'd suggest a couple of loaches, perhaps a shrimp and crab and then some cool schooling fish. Not to dis cichlids (I had a few in my day) but their habitat is rock structures and I don't think make for a very "pretty" tank.
Here's What I would do exactly:
Put a good substrate in the tank (ADA Aquasoil, Flourite or the cheaper Soilmaster)
Get a couple of pieces of good driftwood and maybe a few rocks (I think wood looks better but that's only my opinion)
Get her a good HOB bio-wheel filter and maybe two small powerheads (you need flow, but much less than a reef)
-Replace the bio wheel cartridge crap with a good activated carbon filter and some Chemi-pure in a sock
Make sure to cycle it for a good amount of time
Then add a bunch of fish, a few shrimps and maybe a fiddler crab or two
Put in a few easy to care for plants (Valisnaria gigante are great looking big grass plants that are easy for exapmle. Much more info on SFBAAPS)

The goal is producing an easy to care for tank that balances. You don't want her stressing with water changes (hench the plants for nitrate removal) but you also need enough fish to produce CO2 for the plants. Like any tank it will take a while to "dial-in" but if done right a good planted tank that is not overstocked should be very easy to care for and only require small water changes perhaps once a month or maybe even less.

[/quote]I don't see any links :(
 
[quote author=Dyngoe link=topic=5600.msg70160#msg70160 date=1229539294] Not to dis cichlids (I had a few in my day) but their habitat is rock structures and I don't think make for a very "pretty" tank.
[/quote]

I personally think you can do nice rock tanks :)
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OK, I'll admit rocks "can" look good but I prefer wood and plants. Plus, plants give the added de-nitrification for easier care.
604_Planted_Tank_1.jpg


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tank1_020321.jpg


Ebony..Ivory...Living in perfect harmony:

rockwall_aquarium.jpg
 
I've done a ton of planted tanks and agree with you. Just saying rocks can be nice too :p Plants are compatible for south American cichlids though :)
 
Matt, I would definitely go with the cichlids. I use to have them when I was a wee teenager before I got into salt. You can get a wide variety of different colored species with some very bright colors!! But as Gomer said they are aggressive and territorial. But they are fun and extremely active. Some of my favorites were Frontosas. Most cichlids will run you about 5 bucks for your smaller variety, but frontosas will run you about 15-20.
 
German rams (SA Cichlid:) get a mated pair. Tons of personality. Lots of color. In tank breeding. Plant compatible. Readily available :) In a 55g, you can have two mated pairs. Each will find their own territory. When they get near each other, they will have wild color displays and amusing aggression "dances". With space, their aggressions is almost always for show and they don't (usually) harm eachother.

RamBlue.jpg
 
[quote author=Gomer link=topic=5600.msg70191#msg70191 date=1229546316]
German rams (SA Cichlid:) get a mated pair. Tons of personality. Lots of color. In tank breeding. Plant compatible. Readily available :) In a 55g, you can have two mated pairs. Each will find their own territory. When they get near each other, they will have wild color displays and amusing aggression "dances". With space, their aggressions is almost always for show and they don't (usually) harm eachother.

RamBlue.jpg


I used to keep those in my planted tanks :)

I prefer planted as well but in a thriving planted tank your going to have more upkeep IMO then a reef tank in terms of having to harvesting plants,etc :)


[/quote]
 
Yes, upkeep in planted tanks can be difficult. Personally I think a reef tank is easier to keep than a high light, co2, stem plant planted tank. However, you could also do low maintenance planted tanks with different types of moss, cryptocoryne, and other slow growing easier to maintain plants.
 
My crypts grew like MAD :( :) true though...but why am I sooo attracted to the high upkeep ones :lol:
 
I am too, problem with the high upkeep ones is that its very hard to keep them nice long term. It looks good for maybe a month then blah. I hated having a "nice" tank for only 1 out of every 4 of so months lol.
 
Yes, I was thinking some java moss/fern, perhaps val, microsword, moss ball, anubis. I think these will grow fine with no supplimetal CO2 and basic lighting. They all look good small and after growth. A couple of these in a 55G hex with a school of rummynose and neon tetras, some different loaches/coris and a few shrimp would look awesome. Get the right balance and this system could be very easy to keep. Heck, I think I'll put this together in the 90G sitting at my parents for them. ;)
 
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