Need help with a 'scaping idea...

[bassbonediva]

Alrighty...I think I've got two options for my second school that will work...I just can't decide between them! As much as I love the turquoise and banded rainbows, their cost and their size kind of turns me off to them (I'm not sure I want ANOTHER fish in the tank that will be bigger than the tigers). I'll have to save them for when I get my huge tank later on down the road.

Okay, so stocking option A would be...
2x kribs
8x tiger barbs
8x odessa barbs
6x gold laser (or Corydoras C121, if I can afford them) cories
1x pearl gourami (decided to try it...it can go in the 55gal if it doesn't work out)
1x SA bumblebee cat

Stocking option B would be...
2x kribs
8x tiger barbs
10x rummynose tetra
6x gold laser (or Corydoras C121) cories
1x pearl gourami
1x SA bumblebee cat

Opinions?

 

[paperdog9]

The odessa barbs are very cool colorwise, but if you want two different types of schools, I would go with rummynose tetras because coming from a completely different group they will most likely be different from tigers. From what I've seen (videos/pictures) tiger barbs are more of fish that stay around eachother and facing different directions (correct me if I'm wrong), but rummynose kind of swim back and forth in the tank facing the same direction. Sorry its hard for me to explain this, heres some vids to help explain: Tiger barbs rummynose tetra

 

[bassbonediva]

That made perfect sense, paperdog, even without the vids! Basically, the rummynose shoal (swim back and forth as one), but the tigers school (just kind of chillax together). Sweet! I think I'll go with the rummynose then. I have always loved the look of them anyway.

I'm starting to think about plants and I think with the bamboo being so linear, I really want stem plants that are "frilly" (like cabomba, frill/foxtail, etc). I've found some really pretty ones on AquaBid.

 

[paperdog9]

I just got some cabomba and I think it looks better in person then picture, because its kind of whitish green and very different. I have no experience with frill/foxtail but I've seen them and they look like fun for the fish to swim through

 

[bassbonediva]

I'm looking at some of these plants for the 46gal...

AquaBid.com - Your Aquatic Auction Website
AquaBid.com - Your Aquatic Auction Website
AquaBid.com - Your Aquatic Auction Website
AquaBid.com - Your Aquatic Auction Website
AquaBid.com - Your Aquatic Auction Website
AquaBid.com - Your Aquatic Auction Website
AquaBid.com - Your Aquatic Auction Website

 

[aakaakaak]

I like the look of the red line tetra to the rummy nose, but that's a personal preference. The shoaling vs. schooling groups should look cool in the tank.

Out of those plants I've had bad times with cabomba/fanwort. It just seems to fall apart too easily for me. It might have been the batch I had though.

 

[bassbonediva]

I like the redline tetra, and it would go well in the tank, however talk about impossible to find! Couldn't even find any on AquaBid!

I'm still open to a good shoaling fish (like tetras, rasbora, etc) other than the rummynose. Something that will shoal well, work colorwise with the kribs and tigers and isn't impossible to find (like the redline tetras lol).

Also, the 29gal is going to be just WCMMs (regulars and golds) and leopard danios. I believe Indie is KIA. I haven't seen him in three days.

 

[aakaakaak]

We have red lines here......

Red line rasboras (Yeah, similar but not the same) at PetSmart and the tetras at Care-a-lot and the super LFS store. You want me to ask em if they ship?

Edit: ...and your LFS could probably get some for you if you ask.

Double edit: They're also called Glowlight Tetras, and they are on aquabid (10 for $15+S&H):
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwcharacins&1289861237

 

[bassbonediva]

Ah, yeah, have glowlight tetras. Don't like them. lol The five I have are being shipped to kenny1tothe6 in Florida along with my evil DG, albino rainbow shark and gold barbs.

When I googled "redline tetra", this is a pic that came up, which looks nothing like my glowlights: http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/img/Hyphessobrycon_amapaensis_1.jpg

Sooooooooo...any other suggestions?

 

[aakaakaak]

Ah, googling says Ampa Tetra. I love how it all gets confused.

Congo tetras are super pretty, but I don't know if your barbs would nip or not. Long fins are long fins, even to your super-chicken barbs. I don't know if they shoal or school though.

 

[bassbonediva]

ROFL! That is too funny.

I LOVE congo tetras and I know a source where I can get really good quality stock (breeder on another forum), but you're right about the long fins. IDK, though...my tigers wouldn't go near Caius, my angel, when he was in the 29gal and he completely ignored them. Also, just checked out some vids and it looks more like they school more than shoal (so they have more the schooling behavior of the tigers).

 

[bassbonediva]

Okay...so I've narrowed it down to two species for my second school in the 46gal, unless someone comes up with something I just have to have. lol

My choices are a school of 8 rummynose tetras or a school of 8 penguin tetras. I'm leaning a little more toward the penguins, TBH.

 

[OrangeCones]

Pygocentrus nattereri! Oh wait, you wanted a sensible fish for your tank! LOL

How about Aphyocharax anisitsi?

 

[bassbonediva]

Yeah, the Pygocentrus nattereri would eat my tiger barbs. I lurv my tigers, even if they are big wimps!

Hmmm...never been a huge fan of the bloodfin tetras. IDK why. Maybe because all the ones I've seen have been kind of "meh" on coloring and I've always expected something more spectacular? IDK.

 

[OrangeCones]

Get a big shoal of Chili Rasbora (sorry, I just love em!)

 

[bassbonediva]

Oooo...I like...but I fear they would become lunch for the tigers, kribs, and pearl gourami. lol I am afraid that what would start out as a "big shoal" would quickly turn into a "non-existent shoal"! LOL! Remember, OC..."semi-aggressive" tank.

 

[OrangeCones]

I have kept them with Badis badis with no problems, but they are not known to be aggressive (similar to GBRs in personality). But yes, with your current fish, they would be a bad choice. But I still luv em!

 

[aakaakaak]

IMO penguins could be a nice conversation piece if you compare it to your 20 gal. People would look at the black neons, then the penguins. "Is this what they look like when they grow up?"

 

[bassbonediva]

ROFL! That's too funny, aakaakaak. I'm still not sure exactly where I'm going to move the 46gal to, though, so I'm not sure how many people will actually get to see the penguins. I think it's too big to fit in my son's room. The only reason it's in my bedroom right now is because I set the tank up in a hurry and never did a "real" 'scape job on it, so it didn't matter if people saw it or not.