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I've just been wondering how to get the contents of your tank into my tank - it looks fantastic sandy. I love the pictures of those rams too. I had my doubts about the Bolivians, but after seeing your beautiful pictures I want, I want.
Maybe 2 pairs Bolivians, 2 blue and one gold - if they end up getting aggressive & going to a friend, so be it, but i want to try first - with pleanty of plants, caves & hidey holes.
Hmmm, how many tanks can I fit in here?
Thanks guys! I love the pictures!
Like gingerbeer said, I'd scrap the Bolivians in favour of the Blue rams. But if you are hell bent on Bolivians (some can grow up to be beautiful fish) I wouldn't get the Blue or gold rams.
As for the Emp. Tetras, I have a group of about 8 consisting of 4 male, 4 female. In hindsight I should have got 2 males and 6-8 females. Only the females really school together while the males are too busy showing off and displaying at each other. Other than that I love them.
SAE get too big and lazy as and algae eater. I have one that is 3.5 inch and he thinks he is a male kribensis. Always swimming with my lone female and doing little courting dances. About as effective at eating algae as a kribensis too.
Stick with the peps and the whiptails and give the ottos a chance.
HTH
Thanks Robdog,
I appreciate you coming in on this one.
I might have to re-think the male/female proportions on the emperors - read that these display, but don't do any damage to each other. What are yours up to? I'm not needing them to school so much, as I'm counting on the cardinals doing that. I'm looking to get some more interest/activity at the bottom of the tank. Where did you get yours from?
Do the bolivians compete with the blue/golds? Just wondering why you'd advise that? I saw a display tank in Adelaide at a store that had both, which is why I thought it might work, but it was extremely heavily planted. Maybe that's how they got away with it? Or maybe since it was a store they just kept replacing the casualties?
I'm with you on the rest, although I want to hold off getting ottos & see if I need them with the UV steriliser and the peps and whiptails first. I live in hope. Or denial.
Do you think the numbers are OK? Can I go up or do I have to go down on any of them?
Will there be a vacancy at the top of the tank? If so, what would you suggest?
Thanks again for letting me pick your brain!
:shock: :? It might get them in the spawning mood but probably not necessary! :lol: :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by DiscusEden
Just joking. I reckon your levels would be fine with that many fish in a 6ft. As long as you cycle it properly which it sounds like you already are.
The only reason I steered away from the bolivians was purely personal preference. Wherever I see them they always look scrawny and malnourished and have never really tempted me. But looking at SandyLynne's pictures gives me some hope. If you combine them with the blue/gold rams you'll have plenty of activity at the base of the tank. Especially if some decide to spawn. If that becomes the case then I'd probably allow about 1ft of tank space per pair.
As for tetras, cardinals will take up your middle to bottom strata. I think they go with the 'strength in numbers' rule. The more you have, the higher in the water column they will venture. Emperors however will cover the entire tank and they do look great when they display
Thanks. Oops. And here's me thinking it's a family forum.
And thanks for the fish help too. Now I have a shopping list. When's xtreme open? 9/1/07? Yipee!
Ooh, could I get 30 cardinals and still have a safe bioload? Being very careful about wording now.
25 or 30, not much difference. If you were thinking something like 50+ then maybe I'd think about losing some other occupants. Maybe not for bioload issues but just from a visual point.
Big schools of cardinals in big tanks by themselves look awesome but when combined with other fish they can get scattered around by the other occupants.
Thanks Robdog - I now have a plan. A cunning plan. A plan so cunning you could stick a tail on it and call it a weasel.
I've really appreciated all of your help guys, thanks!
Off to go cycle on the exercise bike in front of the tank now, in the hope the tank will get the idea and cycle faster.
Keep us posted on how it goes. It'd be good to see how it progresses.
Go the Bolivians :wave1
Yay!