Fish advice wanted - Aquarium Advice

current516 · 11-09-2005, 01:08 AM

I'm starting up a 60 gallon planted tank. I'm new to the hobby but I've been doing a fair amount of homework on this and other sites.

I'm seeking advice, warnings, ridicule, whatever.

Regarding Fish:

My daughter loves, and I would like, a nice sized school (15-20) of neon or cardinal tetras. I really want the schooling thing; maybe there are other equally impressive schooling fish? I also really like gouramis (2-4?), and tiger barbs (7-10). Is this a recipe for disaster? I know the barbs have rep for fin nipping. But I think I read somewhere that if you get enough of them they'll leave the other fish alone.

Also, if I were to go this route, which fish should I purchase first? Does the age of the barbs matter? Types of gouramis that would work or not work?

Any thoughts on those, and any other info that might be helpful to me will be greatly apreciated.

Thanks in advance

Nick

mattrox · 11-09-2005, 02:08 AM

I am not an expert on Barbs, but large school of rummy nose tetras looks good too. I have cardinals, rummy nose, and pencil fish in my tank right now. About 10 of each. I would really like to go 15 of each, but this will be in the future. The cardinals swim around fairly peacefully, with the occasional "tetra twitch" and the rummy nose tetras seem to dash around actively in comparison.

A low light planted tank with a large school of tetras looks great. If you are going for high light levels do a thorough read of the planted tank forum. I am biased but do some research on dwarf cichlids. Many of them compliment tetras in a tank, as do Corydoras catfish... OK now this is starting to sound like my tank..... There are many wonderful hardy Apistogramma species with a relatively peaceful temprament.

I assume you would do a fishless cycle. After the cycle is complete I would add the cardinals. Nothing like instant colour. With correct water conditions (clean), I have found cardinals to be quite hardy fish.

Jchillin · 11-09-2005, 10:06 AM

I have to agree with mattrox. I have two dwarf cichlid species in my tank and they are wonderful to watch. A planted tank makes everything much better and as mattox suggests, give the planted tank forum a look over. There are lots of low-light, low-maintenance set ups available.

11-09-2005, 01:08 AM	#1
current516 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ravena, NY Posts: 114 Images: 3	Fish advice wanted I'm starting up a 60 gallon planted tank. I'm new to the hobby but I've been doing a fair amount of homework on this and other sites. I'm seeking advice, warnings, ridicule, whatever. Regarding Fish: My daughter loves, and I would like, a nice sized school (15-20) of neon or cardinal tetras. I really want the schooling thing; maybe there are other equally impressive schooling fish? I also really like gouramis (2-4?), and tiger barbs (7-10). Is this a recipe for disaster? I know the barbs have rep for fin nipping. But I think I read somewhere that if you get enough of them they'll leave the other fish alone. Also, if I were to go this route, which fish should I purchase first? Does the age of the barbs matter? Types of gouramis that would work or not work? Any thoughts on those, and any other info that might be helpful to me will be greatly apreciated. Thanks in advance Nick

11-09-2005, 10:06 AM	#3
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,976 Images: 47	I have to agree with mattrox. I have two dwarf cichlid species in my tank and they are wonderful to watch. A planted tank makes everything much better and as mattox suggests, give the planted tank forum a look over. There are lots of low-light, low-maintenance set ups available. __________________ _________________________________

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11-09-2005, 02:08 AM	#2
mattrox Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 1,328 Images: 36	I am not an expert on Barbs, but large school of rummy nose tetras looks good too. I have cardinals, rummy nose, and pencil fish in my tank right now. About 10 of each. I would really like to go 15 of each, but this will be in the future. The cardinals swim around fairly peacefully, with the occasional "tetra twitch" and the rummy nose tetras seem to dash around actively in comparison. A low light planted tank with a large school of tetras looks great. If you are going for high light levels do a thorough read of the planted tank forum. I am biased but do some research on dwarf cichlids. Many of them compliment tetras in a tank, as do Corydoras catfish... OK now this is starting to sound like my tank..... There are many wonderful hardy Apistogramma species with a relatively peaceful temprament. I assume you would do a fishless cycle. After the cycle is complete I would add the cardinals. Nothing like instant colour. With correct water conditions (clean), I have found cardinals to be quite hardy fish.