Help me pick out new fish - Aquarium Advice

mrzap · 11-14-2005, 06:10 PM

1. Tank size

29 gallon

2. Current filtration

Eclipse system (blue stuff with carbon inside, size H) with bio wheel

3. Type of substrate

Eco-Complete with 8 live plants

4. pH of your water

Haven't tested yet as the tank is still cycling. It will probably be close to 7 because I use distilled water for changes.

5. What type of fish you like the most.

Pictus Catfish, Golden Algae Eaters, Betta (probably would be difficult to add betta in with other fish), ghost shrimp

I've had pictus cats and golden ae's in the past, but never at the same time. Would they be compatible? I was thinking about getting two of each. I will probably also load up with ghost shrimp. I like bottom feeders

I've had a female betta in with those guys in the past without issues, but I haven't mixed her in with any non-bottom dwelling fish. I don't require having a betta in my new setup, but would be nice.

Help me pick out some non bottom dwellers!

My girlfriend demands I get some colorful fish. She wants me to get some angelfish, but they seem too needy.

Talon242 · 11-14-2005, 06:58 PM

I could be wrong since I never had a pictus catfish, but wouldn't it eat ghost shrimp.

Lonewolfblue · 11-14-2005, 07:17 PM

Are you using straight distilled water for your [acronym:246a86ab51="Partial water change"]PWC[/acronym:246a86ab51]'s? I'd add some tap water to it so the water in the tank doesn't lose too much buffering capacity. It's like [acronym:246a86ab51="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:246a86ab51] water, need to mix in with tap water.

talloulou · 11-14-2005, 08:40 PM

I always thought it was a bad idea to use distilled water in the tank because it's unstable and has no [acronym:73854d1ee4="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:73854d1ee4]?

RoK · 11-14-2005, 09:54 PM

Pictus catfish need LOTS of room. Minimum tank size for them should be 55g. They are very active and without enough room they will suffer.

You could have some angels, tetras large enough not to be eaten, and loaches. I'm not sure if loaches would bother the shrimp or if a betta would be ok with angels.

mrzap · 11-15-2005, 12:51 AM

I had 2 pictus in a 10 gallon for months. They loved my bubble wand (endlessly circled it) and they were doing great until I got some mollies carrying ich from a bad lfp which killed off my entire tank awhile back.

What would eat the tetras?

Will loaches eat any leftover fish flake as primary food or do they need specialty diet?

I never had pictus + shrimp. My golden algae eaters didnt seem to mind my shrimp but they aren't carnivorous like pictus.

On the distilled water, I had used it in my 10 gallon exclusively and my [acronym:2f4a3cef4a="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:2f4a3cef4a] was a near stready 7.0 all the time, but I'll take in the suggestions.

Tiffi · 11-15-2005, 10:37 AM

Your pictus could eat the tetra and also the shrimp. The catfish get about 5" in size. I think that's quite a bit for your 29gal! Maybe they were happy in your old tank, cuz they weren't that big yet and never got that big cuz they died to soon.

Why don't you consider some pygmy cory cats, some otocinclus? The otos look very close to regular catfish, they just don't have the whiskers, don't get that big and don't eat any other tank inmates.

mrzap · 11-15-2005, 04:31 PM

Forgetting the betta requirement and pictus requirement what would be the most colorful fish I could get. I don't think I am a fan of tetra.

zenkatydid · 11-21-2005, 05:24 AM

what about guppies? or rainbowfish?

mrzap · 11-21-2005, 09:15 AM

I added some clown loaches and male endlers. I am going back for guppies in about a week.

11-14-2005, 06:10 PM	#1
mrzap Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 206	Help me pick out new fish 1. Tank size 29 gallon 2. Current filtration Eclipse system (blue stuff with carbon inside, size H) with bio wheel 3. Type of substrate Eco-Complete with 8 live plants 4. pH of your water Haven't tested yet as the tank is still cycling. It will probably be close to 7 because I use distilled water for changes. 5. What type of fish you like the most. Pictus Catfish, Golden Algae Eaters, Betta (probably would be difficult to add betta in with other fish), ghost shrimp I've had pictus cats and golden ae's in the past, but never at the same time. Would they be compatible? I was thinking about getting two of each. I will probably also load up with ghost shrimp. I like bottom feeders I've had a female betta in with those guys in the past without issues, but I haven't mixed her in with any non-bottom dwelling fish. I don't require having a betta in my new setup, but would be nice. Help me pick out some non bottom dwellers! My girlfriend demands I get some colorful fish. She wants me to get some angelfish, but they seem too needy.

11-14-2005, 07:17 PM	#3
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	Are you using straight distilled water for your [acronym:246a86ab51="Partial water change"]PWC[/acronym:246a86ab51]'s? I'd add some tap water to it so the water in the tank doesn't lose too much buffering capacity. It's like [acronym:246a86ab51="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:246a86ab51] water, need to mix in with tap water. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

11-14-2005, 08:40 PM	#4
talloulou Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 2,092 Images: 17	I always thought it was a bad idea to use distilled water in the tank because it's unstable and has no [acronym:73854d1ee4="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:73854d1ee4]? __________________ http://talloulou.smugmug.com/

11-14-2005, 09:54 PM	#5
RoK Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,224 Images: 11	Pictus catfish need LOTS of room. Minimum tank size for them should be 55g. They are very active and without enough room they will suffer. You could have some angels, tetras large enough not to be eaten, and loaches. I'm not sure if loaches would bother the shrimp or if a betta would be ok with angels. __________________ Current fish (includes all 8 running tanks): Gouramis, polypterids, SA cichlids, convicts, rainbows, plecos, loaches, ACFs, a platy, tetra, & a Ctenopoma

11-15-2005, 10:37 AM	#7
Tiffi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: first ST-Germany, now TN-USA Posts: 1,052 Images: 19	Your pictus could eat the tetra and also the shrimp. The catfish get about 5" in size. I think that's quite a bit for your 29gal! Maybe they were happy in your old tank, cuz they weren't that big yet and never got that big cuz they died to soon. Why don't you consider some pygmy cory cats, some otocinclus? The otos look very close to regular catfish, they just don't have the whiskers, don't get that big and don't eat any other tank inmates. __________________ Some time ago in Germany: 2x 15gal tank, 45gal heavily planted Now: 70gal FW, 130W CF, driftwood, black gravel/laterite/flourish tabs/pool filter sand, pressurised CO2, power reactor, 200W = 250W heater, Fluval 304, Eheim prefilter; pH 7, kH 5, gH 9, CO2 ~20mg/l Plants: Cryptocoryne beckettii, wendtii "red", Giant Vals, Nymphaea lotus "zenkeri", Anubias nana "petite", Echinodorus "ozelot", Dwarf Sag, Hygrophila polysperma, Rotala rotundifolia, Limnophila sessiliflora Fishes: 2 Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, Endlers, 4 Otocinclus vittatus, 1pair Pelvicachromis pulcher, 5 Corydoras panda

11-15-2005, 12:51 AM	#6
mrzap Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 206	I had 2 pictus in a 10 gallon for months. They loved my bubble wand (endlessly circled it) and they were doing great until I got some mollies carrying ich from a bad lfp which killed off my entire tank awhile back. What would eat the tetras? Will loaches eat any leftover fish flake as primary food or do they need specialty diet? I never had pictus + shrimp. My golden algae eaters didnt seem to mind my shrimp but they aren't carnivorous like pictus. On the distilled water, I had used it in my 10 gallon exclusively and my [acronym:2f4a3cef4a="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:2f4a3cef4a] was a near stready 7.0 all the time, but I'll take in the suggestions.

11-15-2005, 04:31 PM	#8
mrzap Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 206	Forgetting the betta requirement and pictus requirement what would be the most colorful fish I could get. I don't think I am a fan of tetra.

11-21-2005, 05:24 AM	#9
zenkatydid Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 765 Images: 3	what about guppies? or rainbowfish? __________________ 50gal planted - yoyo loaches, BNs, SAE, odessa barbs 28gal planted - sparkling gouramis, dwarf cories (hastatus, habrosus, pygmaeus) 5gal planted - betta, otos 5gal planted - glass shrimp, CRS

11-21-2005, 09:15 AM	#10
mrzap Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 206	I added some clown loaches and male endlers. I am going back for guppies in about a week.

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