New, hardscape-only tank: need main school fish suggestions...

K

Kurious

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Jan 16, 2012
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Hello all, I re-scaped my 40g breeder planted tank into a hardscape only. Here is my 1st attempt. I know it's not the best photo with some reflection and shadows, but it gives you an idea. Right now I just have 7 panda corys and 6 old neons that were from my other tank. The neons are 4+ years old so will not replace them.

As I wait for some dwarf water lettuce to provide cover, I am trying to decide what type of fish I want for my main school. After researching lots of tetras and barbs, a couple of my faves are Diamond tetra or drape-fin barb. I LOVE the bright Diamonds, but I've read they grow to about 2.5". I was thinking I should get a school of fish under 2" so I can get a large school, about 17-19 fish and not be overstocked. I really like a triangular shaped fish for this setup. I've had rasboras and rummies over the years, so looking to get something different in this tank.


Would love to get your opinions on your fave schooling fish.
 
Wow that is a stunning tank! How about serpaes? The red would contrast beautifully I think!!
 
WOW. LOVE the tank. It has a "winter" feel to me for some reason.

+1 with stephcps on the Serpaes. The color would really pop and contrast well.
 
Wow, that is some amazing wood! Where did you get it and what kind is it? I'd love a piece like that in my 40!

For suggestions, Ember tetras are fantastic. They max out at 3/4" long and are bright little nuggets of coppery red.
 
Thanks for all the positive feedback and fish suggestions. Besides Diamonds, I have considered Black Phantoms (but they might blend too much as the tank's background is a slate gray gel, and substrate is obviously black). White skirts, Rosy tetras and serpaes are on the other list, but a couple fish sites said Serpaes may go after peaceful Corys? Just wanted to see if there were any oval/triangular shaped fish I haven't considered. I love the sparkly Diamonds, but because they can get a bit large (2.5") it's a choice between maybe 15 of them vs. getting 21 of a slightly smaller tetra. I did see the Ornate white fin Bentosi online (1.5"), but finding something like that locally might be hard. Since I already have the Panda Corys, I'd like something bigger than them, so nano fish and their shape aren't on the list. Just don't want to have "buyer's remorse" as I start to build a school. I'm not the type to get rid of fish just because they don't look right, but as this is my first try at this I don't want to get the wrong thing. Maybe I'm making this too complicated!

Taari, the wood is Northern Catalpa. I'm in IL and that's a common hardwood flowering tree. I was walking the dog through a neighborhood parkway and found 2 dead branches on the ground. They looked like they would fit perfectly into my tank and after soaking it for 3 weeks, I set them in after a few minutes of testing arrangements. Went to a local commercial builder/landscaper and picked up 9 pieces of black rock off his gravel parking lot. When I went to pay he laughed at me and said "take it"! I REALLY lucked out and make no claim to tank design. Just tried to emulate some things I've seen on forums like this.
 
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Have you considered tiger barbs or black ruby barbs? Both are larged bodied and colorful and either would contrast the wood very well.
 
Hi, I had considered these barbs, but at their adult size (2.4") they're in the same size range as the Diamond tetras. I guess I keep coming back to the fact that I'd love to find a dwarf Diamond :) The drape-finned barb is about as close a copy to the Diamond as I've found. I'd probably have to mail order them and was hoping not to do that. I think mailing fish would be VERY stressful and result in some DOAs :(
 
You could possibly ask Mizjinxed for the barbs. She might be able to get them for you and her shipping and service are impeccable!!

just a thought,
Roy
 
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