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Hi there

Well, I decided to go with the Harlequin Rasbora. Nothing else on my stocking list was available. They look pretty & seem a safer bet than the neons or cardinals. I bought 8 of them today. I moved the guppy's across to the 43.5L tank, and will use the smaller tank as a quarantine tank while I'm stocking the big one. So, I'll leave them there for 2 weeks, before getting the next new residents. I hope the guppy's settle down a bit. Two of them (including the smallest of the guppy's) are chasing the platys & nipping them.

The harlequins are quite young & small. Are you all sure the Ram won't eat them? Their colouring is not very bright at the moment, but LFS said with the growth & bloodworms, they should colour up nicely.

To recap my stock list:-

4 platy
6 guppy
8 harlequin rasbora. Can I up this to 10, do you think?
10 Pandas
1 pair Bolivian Ram
3 Ottos when sufficient algae is present in tank

Do you have a picture of your tank now that it is planted?

GirlieGirl8519, if you are still interested, following are some pictures of my tank.

Cheers
TW

I'm not very creative & just put things where I thought they'd fit.

This is full frontal view. Most of the plants have only been in there about 2 weeks & haven't lost the "newly planted" look yet. The back still has some gaps that look empty. My twisted vals are still fairly short - only just reaching a little above my big rock. They need to grow a lot taller, so they fill in the back of the tank. The blank spaces at the front are intentional, so that I had some spaces where I can see my future pandas & other fish, playing at the front. I have a couple of places where I've got Java fern growing on rocks. Although I think the rock will look bare without the fern, I'm not sure if I should keep it. It seems like a bit of a dirt trap - and I think it's too fragile to vacuum.

There will be a few other pictures to follow in a minute or so, in the next post.

Edit - the caption should say 43.5G. I can't seem to edit the caption for some reason.

Attached Image:

43.5 Litre tank - full frontal view

Cheers
TW

This is a close up of the left hand side of the tank.

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Cheers
TW

Close up shot of the middle of tank

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Cheers
TW

Close up shot of right hand side of tank.

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Cheers
TW

That's a pretty good looking aquascape!
You have the start of a rift layout. Higher on the sides and lower in the middles. I'd suggest working in that direction. Move the hornwort (the feathery one in the middle) to one of the sides, right looks like it could use a bit of filling.

^_^

Robyn,

I think you will be very satisfied with the Rasboras .

How small are they? If they are more than 1/2 an inch I would not worry about the rams at all (and probably not even if they would be only 1/2 an inch).

Coloring up they will, even if you don't feed live food. I never ever fed anything live so far, and I think you know how happy my Rasboras are.

Now, take your time with the stocking, don't be seduced into rushing things. 2 weeks QT sounds good, keep it up.

In the meantime, in case you get bored, let's mess with you in the planted forum in a thread that may be called " How do I enhance my tank? " - or something more creative

Have fun,

Ingo

And - in time you will see if 10 Rasboras would fit.

EDIT: didn't see Babels entry until I completed mine. See - the scaping advice is already rolling in

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hello

Thanks Babelfish. I didn't think I had any hornwort. Do you mean the cabomba? I will try moving it to either side. It originally was on the left, where you can see others peeping out from behind the rock. Those stems kept uprooting themselves and I ended up planting it there, because it wouldn't stay where I wanted it. But I'll have another try, as I can see what you mean. I have a problem with the rear right corner, as the filter return water flow is strong & has already killed off my rotala macrandra that I had there. I have now put a Java fern there (right under the return water pipe)as I think it might be tougher. The problem is the Java is still a bit short & you can't see it. Hopefully, when it grows, the fern leaves will fill the gap you see. But I will def. move it to one of the sides. Thanks for the advice.

LF, I will start something in the planted tank area soon.

2 of my new harlequin rasboras did not make it. I came home tonight and could only count 6. I had to pull the tank apart to find the poor things. They weren't in the planted tank, but the smaller 20G tank. So I'm not very happy about that. The tank is slightly warm, about 28 degrees C (82.4 degrees F) due to the heat in Sydney today, so I don't know if that is the problem. The lights and lids are both off now, to try to get the tank to cool down. The planted tank was even worse when I got home, it was 32 degrees C. It has cooled slightly now to 29 degrees.

LF, re the size of my harlequins. I was able to measure one of the poor little ones that died and they are about 1 inch, including their tail. Do you think a Ram would eat that - maybe I should ask that in the cichlid forum?


Cheers
TW

Do you think a Ram would eat that

No - they wouldn't. I think this size is sufficient (just my personal opinion, as I don't have Rams).

Too bad that 2 didn't make it. Rasboras are pretty hardy, but it may have happened because they are juveniles and very stressed. I don't think a tank temperature of 80F should have caused any major problems. The water conditions in that tank are good (besides being around 80F), right?

Keep an eye on the other ones, if you can.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks LF

The water parameters are good (ammonia & nitrate nil & a 50% water change yesterday, prior to adding the new fish). But I may have stressed the surving fish further, while searching for the ones that died. That tank is a display of fairly large rocks piled upon rocks (to form the caves that cichlids like). I couldn't find the dead fish without pulling all that rock structure apart. After I put the rocks back, I let them settle down for 1/2 hour and then fed them. They did eat, so maybe that means they're ok? I am hoping they are not too stressed by all that rock rearranging, just a day after being added to the tank.

How do you think my platys & guppies will fare in the other tank, given that the temp got up to 32 degrees C (89.6 degrees F). I'm going to change the light sequence, so they go on at night time, instead of day, until this heat goes away. But even now at 10.17pm, the tank's temp is about 29.5 degrees C, so I'm too worried to put the lights back on at all at the moment. They have been off since 5.30pm, I replaced 2.6G of tank water, with 2.6G of cold water (gradually) and have left the lid off, & it has only dropped 2 degrees. I don't have air conditioning or a fan. Will they be ok, do you think? I think even some of my plants don't like the heat in there either? But am I better to forget about the plants and just leave the lights off altogether, until it cools down. I know this question belongs in another thread, but I'm rushed & worried about the fish - not that I know what else I can do for them other than no lights & no lid. (sorry, I'm waffling here a bit).

Cheers
TW

Robyn,

Sorry to hear about your heat problems.

I once had my 29G up to almost 30C for a few days when we had a heat wave last summer. The Platies in there handled it very well, I think some Neons didn't like it all that much.

Is there a chance that you could get a small fan and have it blow accross the surface? That for sure will help. How long is this heat wave supposed to last?

I would not add any more cold water as you are producing constant temperature swings. Better to keep it stable, except if it gets even higher.

I also would keep the light on for maybe a few hours a day (night) if the heat is supposed to last for a while. Can you elevate the light so it is further up?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hi LF

It's basically been going on all summer & I don't know when it will end, but it's been a really unbearable. New Years day here in Sydney was about 45 degrees Celsius and whilst that was probably worst of it, it's been hot, & sticky here most days ever since. Basically, I don't think my tank heaters have ever had to turn themselves on & I've been watching the temp. every day. It usually has been staying at about 28 or 29 degrees C in the tank, but yesterday and today were the worst. I won't add any more cold water. I don't know how I could elevate the lights - but I think it will help if I switch everything over so the lights & C02 go on at 8.30pm & turn off 6.30am. Then take I'll the lid off altogether while I'm at work. I don't think any of these fish jump, do they?

I'll have to see about a fan, but I think my hubby will give me grief about that. Dear old soul that he is, he can't help being an accountant - even when he's not at work. Other than the fixed ceiling fans in the bedrooms, we don't have a heater for winter or fan for summer, as he likes to keep the electricity bill down & thinks they're a waste. But I will see what I can do.

Cheers
TW

Robyn,

Explain to your "accountant" that he is actually saving money right now. A fan will eat up much less energy that a heater does (at least this should be your claim). And a simple fan uses way less energy than one of these giant ceiling fans.

If you go to have the lights on in the tank at night then make sure the tank is pretty dark during the day.

Maybe you should also create a special thread here solemly for the purpose to find out how other Australians (or people in hot climates) handle the heat wave, I would suggest the General Forum for maximum exposure.

And - all fish jump . But better one jumper than all dead because of overheating.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks LF. I sort of did already, but not specifically directed to Aussies. I started a thread in General forum "Help - Tank too Hot".

Cheers
TW

You are welcome

And good luck

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here's the progress on my stocking of the tank.

In the tank itself, I still only have 4 platys & 6 guppies, but - in the quarantine tank are:-

- 2 bolivian rams
- 5 harley rasboras - there will be 3 more soon (these are to replace my other 8 that all died by about day 8 after purchase

I also have 9 Panda Corys, still at LFS in a tank marked sold with my name. LFS will keep them until I've finished quarantining my latest new stock - so 2 more weeks until they arrive in my quarantine tank.

After that, I only have the 3 or 4 ottos to come.

I made a rash purchase today (note to self - never take pleading sad eyed daughter to LFS again). I bought a sailfin molly & a molly (both silver & very cool looking)as well as a very pretty male guppy - so this throws my stock list out. I'll be 3 fish extra.

Will my tank be ok with these 3 extras?

Cheers
TW

Do you know what gender the Mollys are?

I think you should be okay if they are all the same gender, but you may have to loose either the guppies or the plattys.

Another thing is thier size. Mollys can get big.

Inky

I know the size now - that's a worry too. I don't know what sex they are, but LFS will take any surviving fry, so fry won't be an issue.

I don't really want to take them back, if I can help it, as they are pretty, peaceful & my daughter's favourite, but I know the size is an issue. I hadn't realised until I got home & read their profile. Annoyed I strayed from my stocking plan - as every fish I have on my stocking list is one that I have looked up & every purchase has been planned. This was the first "impulse" purchase & I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen again.

but you may have to loose either the guppies or the platys

Do you think this is the case, even if I don't have to keep any resulting fry from any of my fish? LFS will take all surviving fry from me. I'm rather attached to my platys & guppys. What do you think, if the fry aren't an issue?

Cheers
TW

Hi Robyn! I just saw your pictures. The tank looks great. How are the harlies doing? I plan on getting some when I set up my 38g tank.

*Kristin*

Hi GirlieGirl

Thanks for the compliment on the tank. My harlies were a sad story - all 8 died within a week. Here's my thread about themhttp://www.fishprofiles.com/files/threads/27156.1.htm?19 They were in my QT tank. About a week after they passed, I'd ordered in some bigger ones from a different LFS. Also strayed from my stocking list with a couple of mollies. Bad luck continued. Either the earlier harlies or the sailfin mollie brought whitepsot into the QT tank (so glad I took people's advice & used a QT). The sailfin didn't make it, I came home from LFS with the meds & he was dead. Here's my link about the whitespothttp://www.fishprofiles.com/files/threads/27831.1.htm?13#. So, I'm still treating the QT tank, my water is bright green & fingers crossed the other mollie, who I was quite concerned about, appears on the mend. The harlies in there with him seem fine too, but only 3 of them. LFS got some more big ones for me, but I can't take them until treatment of QT tank is over. I like harlies, they are very pretty. I hope you get some soon & have better luck.

Cheers
TW

Sorry about all those dying fish. I have had some bad luck also. I bought a german ram this past Saturday and found it dead yesterday. Makes me mad.

Well, its alright to stray from your stocking list...just don't overcrowd the tank. I keep telling myself that I don't need to add anything to my 55g...well I got 2 angels this weekend. I was only going to get one, because I already have one, but the guy said I should get 2 so that mine doesn't pick on the new one. Well they are pretty small and cute. And all 3 get along. Now I just have to keep telling myself not to add anymore fish!

Good luck with your tank. It is looking great.

*Kristin*

Sorry about your german ram. I've heard they're more sensitive than the bolivians. I have 2 bolivians in the QT tank - they're harder to feed than my livebearers.

Good luck with the angels though.

Cheers
TW