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Post by madonplants on Oct 2, 2008 10:23:25 GMT 1
Glad everything is OK and all fish are accounted for. If you do have problems with algae and you want a 'fish' to deal with it, might I suggest a few of these. They don't grow very big, unlike normal 'plecs and they will love your green stuff. Light can cause algae obviously, but I know giving the tank a siesta from light during the middle of the day, is quite useful. So 4/5 hours on, then 2/3 off then 4/5 hours on, is what I am getting at. That is where a timer is useful. I remember a next door neighbour nearly called the police once, when he saw light on in our house, while away, until they realised it was the fish tank. It's a good thief deterrent as well, makes the house look lived in, while away!  Most aquatic plants like good light to do well, except for plants like amazon sword and java fern. The latter comes attached to bogwood. I'm glad you got some neons, they are perfect for your tank. I'm pleased too that all fish were accounted for when we got back from our holidays.  although I had my doubts of course. I like those plecs that you have suggested but have 2 questions ? 1. The PH of the water seems a bit low - my water is more 6.5 - 7.5 do you think that will be alright. 2. They prefer to be in a group of at least 6, - Does that mean 6 of there own kind or with 6 different fish in a tank ? - Which ever way I look at it and the size of my tank, I can only add a couple more fish.  I really would love a bottom feeder though. 1. The pH will be fine. 2. You would be OK with two or three. The only problem you may have is finding a shop that sells them. Too many shops sell, common plecs, but these are quite often the Snow King plec and given a good sized tank can reach 2ft in length!!  Just read back, as I remembered you saying you were thinking of a bigger tank, how much bigger were you thinking of? Might help in other suggestions. If you do go for the Oto's, make sure the water is in good clean condition, they don't like too much nitrate and supplement their diet with algae wafers and lettuce, using a special clip, or what I used for my Gibbicep, an algae magnet. |
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Post by madonplants on Nov 20, 2008 1:33:17 GMT 1
I know I said in my PM, I'll do this tomorrow, oops today, but if I wait, I'll forget, so I've had a quick look and found a picture of the fish I mentioned. I know I called it a Peppered Catfish, but Peppered Cory is the same thing!! Is this the one you have bought? www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/cory-pal.htm Hope Salty and Pepper have settled in well. |
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Post by alicat on Nov 20, 2008 2:27:17 GMT 1
My pepper fish looks very much like your photo - thank you I didn't think that he grew to 4 inches though, definitely will have to go back to the shop asap. - will let you know as soon as I can. Really must go to bed now. Thanks again, take care. Take care all. x
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Post by madonplants on Nov 20, 2008 13:05:16 GMT 1
My pepper fish looks very much like your photo - thank you I didn't think that he grew to 4 inches though, definitely will have to go back to the shop asap. - will let you know as soon as I can. Really must go to bed now. Thanks again, take care. Take care all. x That's in a large tank, or in the wild and if you have a male, it won't be as big. The only trouble you may have is that corydoras catfish do like to shoal, but I had one, named Ekkythump by my SiL and he had or seemed to have, a long and enjoyable life. He, or she spent most of it's life in a 2ft tank and was the star of the show. He came from a shop that only had the one in the tank and I felt sorry for it! Yes, even I do that! If it's doing OK, don't take it back, especially if you have named it. Do you know, you can get a Salt and Pepper Catfish, can't remember it's other/proper name. It's a smaller corydoras, if I remember correctly. Here you are! It is one of the smaller ones, I thought I was right there, though didn't think it was quite that small. |
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Nov 23, 2008 3:14:31 GMT 1
In a GC last week I was very taken with a 'Biome' tank...a big ball of glass...I wonder if OH would buy me one for Yuletide? Are they an abomination? they come with proper filters and everything....and are sposed to need cleaning less often than a 'normal' tank...the tropical fish one is quite pricey.....
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Post by emseypop on Nov 23, 2008 7:48:30 GMT 1
In a GC last week I was very taken with a 'Biome' tank...a big ball of glass...I wonder if OH would buy me one for Yuletide? Are they an abomination? they come with proper filters and everything....and are sposed to need cleaning less often than a 'normal' tank...the tropical fish one is quite pricey..... My cousin has the cold water fish tank very stylish it is too.  Is always looks spotless, for a young man on his own that's a good sign. |
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Post by madonplants on Nov 23, 2008 14:00:28 GMT 1
In a GC last week I was very taken with a 'Biome' tank...a big ball of glass...I wonder if OH would buy me one for Yuletide? Are they an abomination? they come with proper filters and everything....and are sposed to need cleaning less often than a 'normal' tank...the tropical fish one is quite pricey..... Do you really want me to answer that, Cheery? To start with, round tanks, don't filter very well! I suppose a really large one could house a few neons, but not my cup of tea! I still remember the Terry and June programme, when Terry had a platy and the pet shop owner kept saying, you need a bigger tank, especially when they realised the fish was gravid!! ;D Oh back in the days when humour was just that, humour!! |
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Nov 23, 2008 18:12:30 GMT 1
I shan't get one then Keith, I wouldn't want any fish to suffer, it's always best to ask someone who knows...  |
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Post by alicat on Dec 19, 2008 23:10:06 GMT 1
My pepper fish looks very much like your photo - thank you I didn't think that he grew to 4 inches though, definitely will have to go back to the shop asap. - will let you know as soon as I can. Really must go to bed now. Thanks again, take care. Take care all. x That's in a large tank, or in the wild and if you have a male, it won't be as big. The only trouble you may have is that corydoras catfish do like to shoal, but I had one, named Ekkythump by my SiL and he had or seemed to have, a long and enjoyable life. He, or she spent most of it's life in a 2ft tank and was the star of the show. He came from a shop that only had the one in the tank and I felt sorry for it! Yes, even I do that! If it's doing OK, don't take it back, especially if you have named it. Do you know, you can get a Salt and Pepper Catfish, can't remember it's other/proper name. It's a smaller corydoras, if I remember correctly. Here you are! It is one of the smaller ones, I thought I was right there, though didn't think it was quite that small. Finally got the names of the fish Keith Pepper is a Peppered Corydoras, and I think it is the bigger one as he is already bigger than 2cm's. Salty is a small sucking loach - can't get any more info than that as they have sold out and the boss was not in the shop. Salty is silvery grey with a black line down his centre. I can't always find him/her as he tends to hide most of the time. I was worried to begin with but the lady in the shop assured me he only likes to come out at night when its dark.  One other thing I forgot to tell you is the owner said I could have up to 30 small fish in this tank ( small being tetra size) What do you think ? Otherwise they are all fine. - Happy bunny I am. |
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Post by Sleepy on Dec 19, 2008 23:15:40 GMT 1
That's in a large tank, or in the wild and if you have a male, it won't be as big. The only trouble you may have is that corydoras catfish do like to shoal, but I had one, named Ekkythump by my SiL and he had or seemed to have, a long and enjoyable life. He, or she spent most of it's life in a 2ft tank and was the star of the show. He came from a shop that only had the one in the tank and I felt sorry for it! Yes, even I do that! If it's doing OK, don't take it back, especially if you have named it. Do you know, you can get a Salt and Pepper Catfish, can't remember it's other/proper name. It's a smaller corydoras, if I remember correctly. Here you are! It is one of the smaller ones, I thought I was right there, though didn't think it was quite that small. Finally got the names of the fish Keith Pepper is a Peppered Cordoras, and I think it is the bigger one as he is already bigger than 2cm's. Salty is a small sucking loach - can't get any more info than that as they have sold out and the boss was not in the shop. Salty is silvery grey with a black line down his centre. I can't always find him/her as he tends to hide most of the time. I was worried to begin with but the lady in the shop assured me he only likes to come out at night when its dark. One other thing I forgot to tell you is the owner said I could have up to 30 small fish in this tank ( small being tetra size) What do you think ? Otherwise they are all fine. - Happy bunny I am. What size is your tank Ali? |
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Post by alicat on Dec 19, 2008 23:29:02 GMT 1
It holds just over 40 litres of water, will have to find the book out for the exact size.
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Post by Sleepy on Dec 19, 2008 23:30:55 GMT 1
It holds just over 40 litres of water, will have to find the book out for the exact size. Is it 3' x 18" x 18" or 2' x 12" x 12" or... |
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Post by madonplants on Dec 20, 2008 0:11:59 GMT 1
That's in a large tank, or in the wild and if you have a male, it won't be as big. The only trouble you may have is that corydoras catfish do like to shoal, but I had one, named Ekkythump by my SiL and he had or seemed to have, a long and enjoyable life. He, or she spent most of it's life in a 2ft tank and was the star of the show. He came from a shop that only had the one in the tank and I felt sorry for it! Yes, even I do that! If it's doing OK, don't take it back, especially if you have named it. Do you know, you can get a Salt and Pepper Catfish, can't remember it's other/proper name. It's a smaller corydoras, if I remember correctly. Here you are! It is one of the smaller ones, I thought I was right there, though didn't think it was quite that small. Finally got the names of the fish Keith Pepper is a Peppered Cordoras, and I think it is the bigger one as he is already bigger than 2cm's. Salty is a small sucking loach - can't get any more info than that as they have sold out and the boss was not in the shop. Salty is silvery grey with a black line down his centre. I can't always find him/her as he tends to hide most of the time. I was worried to begin with but the lady in the shop assured me he only likes to come out at night when its dark. One other thing I forgot to tell you is the owner said I could have up to 30 small fish in this tank ( small being tetra size) What do you think ? Otherwise they are all fine. - Happy bunny I am. Good grief, what shop is this? As I stated before, the normal requirements are 1 inch of full grown fish per 1 gallon of water. You have less than 10 gallons, so that's 10 inches of fish, when they are fully grown. Neon Tetras can grow over an inch, so that is only 10, maybe 12 of them. Sorry Ali, but I don't understand why shops say things like that, except to get your business, I suppose! Is this Salty? If so, keep an eye on it, they can come aggressive. I think it even says it in the text below. Many years ago, they were sold on a regular basis, as algae eaters, rather than sell you 'plecs, which can be hit or miss, unless you know what actual plec it is. I had one in my early days, in a 2ft tank, they don't eat much algae and they pester other fish! Keep an eye and see how it goes. Your danios will be able to cope, as they are fast swimmers, but if you ever want something like a Dwarf Gourami, beware! I have just tried umpteen times, to upload a pic of that first tank from a scan, but PB didn't like it for some reason!  I'll try again tomorrow, maybe! |
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Post by debbiem on Dec 20, 2008 10:54:53 GMT 1
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Post by alicat on Dec 20, 2008 12:32:38 GMT 1
It holds just over 40 litres of water, will have to find the book out for the exact size. Is it 3' x 18" x 18" or 2' x 12" x 12" or... Here you go Sleepy It measures 380L x 250w x510H mm. Capacity: 41.8L |
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Post by Sleepy on Dec 20, 2008 12:34:49 GMT 1
Is it 3' x 18" x 18" or 2' x 12" x 12" or... Here you go Sleepy It measures 380L x 250w x510H mm. Capacity: 41.8L Oh gawd - modern units of measure  |
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Post by Sleepy on Dec 20, 2008 12:39:18 GMT 1
Here you go Sleepy It measures 380L x 250w x510H mm. Capacity: 41.8L Oh gawd - modern units of measure thats 15" long 10" wide and 20" high |
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Post by Sleepy on Dec 20, 2008 12:42:17 GMT 1
Oh gawd - modern units of measure thats 15" long 10" wide and 20" high That's not big for 30 fish - even little ones. |
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Post by alicat on Dec 20, 2008 12:42:28 GMT 1
Thanks Keith and MrsB A local Aquarium shop, they have been going for 30 years or more. We bought the tank from them. I was very surprised by the amount too especially after what you and Debbie had said. Don't worry I won't be getting 30 anyway.  Just had another look at Salty and he dosen't look like either of the links, maybe a bit more like yours keith. I will haveto try and take a photo at some point but he is really shy and loves hiding, He did just when I was trying to look at him |
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Post by alicat on Dec 20, 2008 12:51:14 GMT 1
Here you go Sleepy It measures 380L x 250w x510H mm. Capacity: 41.8L Oh gawd - modern units of measure Morning Sleepy he he some how I thought you would say that. ;D Yep I thought it was too many, I even pointed to the same tank and said 'really' in a questioning way. and he still said Yes. |
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Post by madonplants on Dec 20, 2008 13:12:10 GMT 1
The trouble is Ali, your biggest measurement is the height, so the problem is available surface area, if you can understand that! It's where the oxygen exchange happens. As regards the loach, if it was sold as a sucking loach, then it's probably a member of that family. At last got the picture done, using the old uploader! This one was 24 inches wide by 15 inches high by 12 inches deep. I never had 30 small fish in this one, ever!  |
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Post by alicat on Dec 20, 2008 21:54:58 GMT 1
Don't panic Mr mannering Sir. I'm not going to get 30 fish And I understand about the surface area Oxygen ratio. Your very good at explaining. I like the layout in your fish tank. just out of interest was the photo taken in the 80's ? |
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Post by madonplants on Dec 21, 2008 0:10:55 GMT 1
Don't panic Mr mannering Sir. I'm not going to get 30 fish And I understand about the surface area Oxygen ratio. Your very good at explaining. I like the layout in your fish tank. just out of interest was the photo taken in the 80's ? Yep, how did you guess? ;D |
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Post by debbiem on Dec 21, 2008 20:10:55 GMT 1
It looks a lovely clear tank Keith, what did you keep in there?
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Post by madonplants on Dec 21, 2008 23:48:56 GMT 1
It looks a lovely clear tank Keith, what did you keep in there? Just the usual community fish, like Zebra Danios, Platies, Swordtails, Corydoras catfish (Julii if I remember correctly), Banjo Catfish and later on a Redtailed Shark and two of my favourites, Bubblenest Catfish. |
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Most aquatic plants like good light to do well, except for plants like amazon sword and java fern. The latter comes attached to bogwood. I'm glad you got some neons, they are perfect for your tank.
I'll try again tomorrow, maybe!