JackBinimbul
Aquarium Advice Freak
I'm still gathering a lot of information and doing thorough research before getting started on my first aquarium. I greatly appreciate the personal advice and expertise of the users here and was wanting some input on timing and purchasing.
I'm wanting to have aprox. 8-10 cherry shrimp, 6 peppered cories, and 8 male Endler's in a 20L tank. The tank will be live planted and only about 1/2 full as there will be plants on a land portion that is on stilts above the water. I also intend to kick start my cycle with a transplanted sponge filter with active bacteria. I will be keeping the tank at "room temperature" here in Texas, which will be about 65-70 in the winter (can add heater to the canister inline if necessary) and 75-78 in the summer.
I will be able to add fish to the tank by late winter or early spring, depending on recommendation and the water tests.
I have three local options for buying fish. Petsmart, Petco and a very small, poorly maintained privately owned shop. The other options are a minimum of 30 minutes away, if not over an hour. I'm wanting to get the best balance of health and cost. It's important for me to maximize affordability wherever I can.
Considering the species I am wanting and the time of year I'm looking at, what is the best place and order in which to purchase them? I don't know if it would be worse stress on the fish to have them shipped, to transport them myself for an hour, or to get them from my less stellar local options. I suspect there are species that are better to not ship and some that are better to have guaranteed quality.
Then, which species should be introduced to the tank first? I don't want to suddenly overload my carefully maintained aquarium environment and I don't want to freak out the fish.
I'm wanting to have aprox. 8-10 cherry shrimp, 6 peppered cories, and 8 male Endler's in a 20L tank. The tank will be live planted and only about 1/2 full as there will be plants on a land portion that is on stilts above the water. I also intend to kick start my cycle with a transplanted sponge filter with active bacteria. I will be keeping the tank at "room temperature" here in Texas, which will be about 65-70 in the winter (can add heater to the canister inline if necessary) and 75-78 in the summer.
I will be able to add fish to the tank by late winter or early spring, depending on recommendation and the water tests.
I have three local options for buying fish. Petsmart, Petco and a very small, poorly maintained privately owned shop. The other options are a minimum of 30 minutes away, if not over an hour. I'm wanting to get the best balance of health and cost. It's important for me to maximize affordability wherever I can.
Considering the species I am wanting and the time of year I'm looking at, what is the best place and order in which to purchase them? I don't know if it would be worse stress on the fish to have them shipped, to transport them myself for an hour, or to get them from my less stellar local options. I suspect there are species that are better to not ship and some that are better to have guaranteed quality.
Then, which species should be introduced to the tank first? I don't want to suddenly overload my carefully maintained aquarium environment and I don't want to freak out the fish.