Fish Ideas - 40 Gallon Breeder Planted Tank

[OrangeCones]

I have a heavily planted 40 gallon breeder tank that is fishless at this time. I'm tired of adding nitrogen!

I am looking for ideas for fish.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

40B is a nice size, especially starting with a blank slate like that. What appeals to you?

I personally love those dwarf neon praecox rainbows. But there are a lot of really good options. If it were me, I'd look into one fish that I really wanted, and then go from there compatibility-wise.

Also, if you like catfish, check out hoplo catfish (see my avatar). They are basically hotdog size cories, non-aggressive towards any fish and social with each other. For some reason they aren't that common, but they are super easy / hardy and have good personalities. Just can't have them with particularly aggressive fin nippers - I had one named "Stumpy" for this reason...

 

[arcab4]

manually adding nitrogen? how about setting up a co2 tank? makes it less work and you have a successful planted tank already!

 

[OrangeCones]

With no fish, plants need a source of nitrogen. I have been sprinkling fishfood to decay lol

 

[arcab4]

fish food timer is your friend in that case. haha

a pic if you get a chance!

 

[OrangeCones]

I'll post something this weekend when I do my water change. I rearranged the manzanita wood in there this weekend and stirred up a bit of mulm.

 

[OrangeCones]

Maybe Badis badis. I had them years ago. Just don't have anyplace locally to sell babies to if they reproduce. And they bred like rabbits!

 

[arcab4]

never heard of babis babis..had to google it. great looking fish. not even LFS will take them? bummer.

 

[OrangeCones]

The males are so protective of their young (and it seemed to carry over to any small fish). They even protected rasbora fry in the same tank! Only thing is that you need another tank (or divider) once eggs are laid. They will drive the female(s) off with a vengeance once they have a nest to guard.

 

[OrangeCones]

Looks horrible lol

Need to clean the glass and get some fish in there. Had an outbreak of hair algae when I left the lights on 30+ hours when I was away. Oops!

 

[arcab4]

at least plants are alive! much harder when plants keep on dying instead. the driftwood is nice!

 

[OrangeCones]

Amazing to me is I started this one with only 1 bronze crypt. They have taken over! Anubias are showing nitrogen deficiency, so I guess I go shopping this weekend for something to put in it until I decide on what I want to do with it. Got to trim the yellowing leaves. Or maybe leave them for the snails. Hrmm.. lol

I usually like to get fish that are not normally found in the 'big chain' stores. Not much else in my city. Most of the time I end up ordering fish shipped to me.

There are 3 pieces of wood in there, but hard to see it with the jungle. Its manzanita wood. I like it because its smaller but has a lot of 'character.'