Hey All,
I've got a fairly new tank set up and I'm still battling with water parameters (so I'll preface this by saying that I won't be purchasing any additional fish until the tank is stable) - but:
It's current occupants are 1 Adult Female and 16-18 Juvenile Black Mollies. What I'd like opinions on are "non-livebearer" companions for this tank. (i.e. I'd like something away from the molly/platy/swordtail/guppy route.)
Here are my water parameters:
Ammo: #ppm (currently battling a finicky cycle, hence the disclaimer)
Nitri: 0ppm
Nitra: <10ppm
PH: 7.6-8.0
GH: 14-18
KH: 12-14
Current Tank temp: held at 81*F
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Here's what I've been considering, and my misgivings about each:
Cory Cats
Pro: Small, adorable, and friendly.
Cons: My water is harder than I've seen recommended for them, my gravel is a bit on the rough side, and my mollies (through the feeding of algae crisps) would have no problem butting in on a bottom-feeder.
A Pleco
Pro: Singular fish (definitely going for a small breed) - fun to watch.
Con: There would be some stiff competition for the Algae Wafers at feeding time.
Dwarf Gourami
Pro: would add some color to my aquarium, I've read some of the dwarf versions are quite peaceful.
Con: I think 26gal is a bit too small for a brood of rambunctious mollies and a territorial fish to co-exist.
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Soo... any and all suggestions welcome. My tank is full freshwater, although I've been toying with the idea of Brackish.
Bonus Points for the following:
-- A fish that can get along great with adult mollies, but may make a snack of the youngest fry. (All the juveniles I have now are large enough to make do, and I'd actually appreciate a "natural birth control" as opposed to having to "evict" all the males).
-- An all-black or mostly-black candidate. I think something like that would really be neat in my already "black-tie-only" tank.
I've got a fairly new tank set up and I'm still battling with water parameters (so I'll preface this by saying that I won't be purchasing any additional fish until the tank is stable) - but:
It's current occupants are 1 Adult Female and 16-18 Juvenile Black Mollies. What I'd like opinions on are "non-livebearer" companions for this tank. (i.e. I'd like something away from the molly/platy/swordtail/guppy route.)
Here are my water parameters:
Ammo: #ppm (currently battling a finicky cycle, hence the disclaimer)
Nitri: 0ppm
Nitra: <10ppm
PH: 7.6-8.0
GH: 14-18
KH: 12-14
Current Tank temp: held at 81*F
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's what I've been considering, and my misgivings about each:
Cory Cats
Pro: Small, adorable, and friendly.
Cons: My water is harder than I've seen recommended for them, my gravel is a bit on the rough side, and my mollies (through the feeding of algae crisps) would have no problem butting in on a bottom-feeder.
A Pleco
Pro: Singular fish (definitely going for a small breed) - fun to watch.
Con: There would be some stiff competition for the Algae Wafers at feeding time.
Dwarf Gourami
Pro: would add some color to my aquarium, I've read some of the dwarf versions are quite peaceful.
Con: I think 26gal is a bit too small for a brood of rambunctious mollies and a territorial fish to co-exist.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Soo... any and all suggestions welcome. My tank is full freshwater, although I've been toying with the idea of Brackish.
Bonus Points for the following:
-- A fish that can get along great with adult mollies, but may make a snack of the youngest fry. (All the juveniles I have now are large enough to make do, and I'd actually appreciate a "natural birth control" as opposed to having to "evict" all the males).
-- An all-black or mostly-black candidate. I think something like that would really be neat in my already "black-tie-only" tank.