Added pictures to gallery but pending approval. Ammonia and Nitrite hit 0 last Tuesday. My 4 year old has become fascinated with fish, but the tank resides in the garage (
my hiding place). I got us a 30"x12"x12" tank for the living area (Xmas) that was advertised as a 20
gal - with your encouragement and information I changed my mind about a bigger tank. I ended up starting with the only Otocinclus from the only
LFS that stocks them. His tank mates have been dying since I started going there and I felt bad for him. I've fed zucchini and an algae wafer (two different nights) per forum advice to others, but in the morning neither was heavily consumed -- I wouldn't be surprised if most of it was eaten by shrimp. The Oto is active and has a little belly, though. He's red around the head (was at
LFS too), which I read could be ammonia/nitrite poisoning. I do a one gallon (~15%) water change every other day and nitrates max in the 20 range. (approximate color -- isn't that high for a moderately planted tank?) I submitted an unfocused picture of the fish in the unhealthy fish section of the gallery, and any suggestions there/here are appreciated.
Currently the 7 gallon also has one ~2" Blue Gourami that has turned a very pretty shade of blue/purple while his
LFS tankmates are still gray/silver. I am hoping that a fishless cycle on the 18
gal can be completed by the end of January, but the cycle won't start until after Xmas. I have been told that he'll be fine in the 7 gallon until the new tank is cycled. Do you agree? I did not get a Dwarf Gourami because proprietor of best
LFS advised that they're prone to disease and not as hardy as regular Gourami, and I already had gotten the Oto. I probably should have waited to see how the Oto does, but you know how it is after you... eh, your kid lights up about a new toy
As you can see in my gallery, there are brown spots on the Afzelli. I'd like to try
DIY CO2 (again, thanks to all for the information shared) but figure it's better to learn on the 18 gallon.
After the 18 gallon is cycled and home to the Gourami, do you think it can support four or five Julii Cories and four or five Albino cories, given regular water changes and moderate (proportional to the 7 gallon) initial planting? How about two bamboo shrimp?
For the 7 gallon there's a Petco 45 minutes away that has Otos, so maybe I can get this guy some buddies after the Gourami moves out? Considering Petco's reputation (I've not been to that Petco, but the one here isn't the best and isn't the worst fish store), would you suggest that I order Otos online? Perhaps three more Otos in the 7 gallon? I'm happy with them being the only fish, along with the existing shrimp. What do you think about moving the Oto to the 18 gallon and making the 7 gallon a brackish tank, along with bumblebee gobies? From what I've read the shrimp would thrive in a brackish envoirnment, and may even mate. I really like the shrimp.
Edited to add more questions
Thank you all again for all the help and any more help you can spare.