Hi all, I've read loads of the posts already and followed some useful links - (thanks!) - but thought I'd post a new thread with my specifics. I have a 125 litre (27 US gallon) tank with sand substrate, lots of drift wood and relatively heavily planted (mostly vallis and amazon sword / dwarf sword, as well as some HC 'cuba' I'm hoping will carpet a corner). If this fails I will put leaves in instead. pH is 6.5 (maintained using Waterlife 6.5 Buffer and 'peat balls' I bought on eBay). Temp is currently at 27 degrees c (about 80 degrees f). I have a Fluval U3 internal filter and currently a second, smaller U2 filter from an empty tank in there as well.
I set the tank up about a month ago and have just put the 1st fish in - an otto and 2 bristlenose plecs to tackle some algae that was starting to grow, and a group of 6 black widow tetras, who are temporary residents in order to age the tank for a few weeks.
I was wanting to stock it with a school of cardinal tetras, some blue rams (both of which I have kept before) and get some apistogrammas for the 1st time. I was thinking something like a. baenschi, a.borelli, a, bitaeniata, etc.
I would love some advice on numbers / types that you would suggest for a newbi to apistos.
Also, would it be safe to put some small angels & flag cichlids (mesonauta insignus) in as well?
I do not aim to breed any of the fish in the tank, just to have a lovely centre piece for my lounge room (which has enough 'pretty' fish to keep the wife happy!)
Thanks in advance!
I set the tank up about a month ago and have just put the 1st fish in - an otto and 2 bristlenose plecs to tackle some algae that was starting to grow, and a group of 6 black widow tetras, who are temporary residents in order to age the tank for a few weeks.
I was wanting to stock it with a school of cardinal tetras, some blue rams (both of which I have kept before) and get some apistogrammas for the 1st time. I was thinking something like a. baenschi, a.borelli, a, bitaeniata, etc.
I would love some advice on numbers / types that you would suggest for a newbi to apistos.
Also, would it be safe to put some small angels & flag cichlids (mesonauta insignus) in as well?
I do not aim to breed any of the fish in the tank, just to have a lovely centre piece for my lounge room (which has enough 'pretty' fish to keep the wife happy!)
Thanks in advance!