How would you stock this tank???

[mommytron]

it's 27 gallons. i like the idea of a 'themed' tank. most likely will do a community. any and all suggestions/ideas welcome. would like to see what others would do with this tank because my husband wants to get it up and running, but i'd like some idea of what the stock will be so we can decorate accordingly. so how would you decorate and what would you stock?? thanks for sharing!!

 

[Lowryder]

Hmm. I would stock 2 swordtails, 6 bleeding heart tetras, 2-3 convicts and a few emerald cats. As for decor, I am a natural biotope guy.

 

[logansmomma1228]

How about angels? I know they like taller tanks. Or some type of schooling fish

 

[HN1]

I agree with the natural look for decor. Live plants may require a lighting upgrade because of the tank depth.

Stocking... I'd personally go with a single angel or a pair of apistos, 6-8 of your favorite smallish tetra or rasbora, and a school of 6 cories. I'd avoid livebearers and cons because of their prolific reproduction.

You have tons of options though as I'm sure you know. Most important is that you and your husband enjoy the process of stocking and get what you like.

 

[mommytron]

hmmm. angels were our first thought. we could only do one though, eh?

my husband likes the look of the apistos. what fish would be safe to put in with them? if we get a pair will they breed and get aggressive during breeding time? i personally prefer peaceful tanks, but it's ultimately up to my hubby (it's "his" tank hehe....i get the 10 gal in our room and the 20 is technically "mine" i guess )

we won't be going with convicts or livebearers, we're not prepared or set up for fry.

as much as i prefer a planted tank, i don't think we have the resources to fix or buy a new fixture. i think he has decided on fake plants since we already have a ton of them. plus, we are totally new to plants and ours aren't looking too great right now. we'll probably wait until we figure out plants a bit more, because i have a feeling the hex tank will be pretty challenging to plant.

i really wanted cories for this tank, as we are not going to put them in the 20. i was going to do otos in my 10, but i really love the panda cories... but my husband is more drawn to bigger and scarier looking fish so we'll see about that.

 

[severum mama]

Apistos generally stick to the bottom half of the tank. Schooling fish like tetras or rasboras work well with them. Apistos do get somewhat aggressive when breeding, but not nearly as much as many other cichlids. They will chase other fish from their territory but it rarely results in damage. When they aren't breeding, chances are they will be very laid back.

You're right about plants in a hex tank; they are challenging. The stock lighting that comes with those tanks is totally inadequate for most plants (given the depth that the light must penetrate), so an upgrade would be necessary as you know. You can always start out with artificial plants and then upgrade as funds allow though.

 

[Laurence]

Giant vallisneria or some tall sword plants would be ideal for this aquarium, so long as they receive enough light. Angels would be ideal, maybe two or three, not more, since this tank has limited air surface because of its shape. One male betta would also do well in this tank, as would some smaller fish like neons or glowlite tetras.

 

[severum mama]

27 hex has a pretty small footprint. One angel would be great, but IMO no more than one.

 

[mommytron]

do angels do well by themselves? well, i mean in a community as the only angel. how about an angel, a group of cories, and a school of small fish like tetras?

 

[severum mama]

Angels do just fine on their own. Cories and tetras are great tank mates, provided they are too large to be eaten. Some angels have differing opinions about what is edible... we have a big black veil angel that ate a cory. It was stuck in the fish's mouth for a couple of days and we thought for sure we would lose the angel. Scary!

BTW, the angel was eventually able to swallow the cory and is doing fine now. LOL

 

[BigJim]

You could use duckweed or another floating plant that stays up near the light and puts roots (tendrils?, don't know the technical term) down into the water. That way you wouldn't have to upgrade your lighting. You could always supplement that with plastic plants at the bottom of the tank.

 

[HN1]

You could use duckweed or another floating plant that stays up near the light and puts roots (tendrils?, don't know the technical term) down into the water. That way you wouldn't have to upgrade your lighting. You could always supplement that with plastic plants at the bottom of the tank.

REALLY good point. Salvinia and watersprite would probably flourish and lay down long root / tendril things.

 

[mommytron]

you can just float water sprite?? that's a wicked good idea. i like the thought of floating plants on top. our plants are only so tall, so having some live ones floating on top would add much more interest and comfort for the fish. thanks guys!!!

 

[DragonFish71]

you can just float water sprite?? that's a wicked good idea. i like the thought of floating plants on top. our plants are only so tall, so having some live ones floating on top would add much more interest and comfort for the fish. thanks guys!!!

Yep, water sprite does good as a floater. If you check out the pics I posted yesterday of our 80 BW tank, the last pic shows the roots of a floating water sprite I've had for about 3 months in there.

 

[severum mama]

Water sprite does great as a floater for me. Actually, I've never managed to do very well with it when I try to plant it down! LOL

 

[logansmomma1228]

I think an angel would be a nice centerpiece fish. I don't know how apistos do solitary but I know I am getting a single ram or keyhole to prevent breeding aggression. I am all for you getting the panda cories, I love them as well

 

[severum mama]

Apistos are fine as a solitary fish, you just won't get to see the vibrant coloration that you'll see from keeping a pair.