Empty Tank

sjones_1

Member
Mar 4, 2010
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0
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Midlands and Cambridge
Hi everyone,

A tank i was using for growing up some fry has recently become free (fry moved to larger tank).

I have been keeping the water soft with RO water but local tap water is v.hard and slightly alkaline. I recently moved to this area (from a soft water area) and would like to keep some hard water species. Something i have not been able to do easily before.

The tanks not huge but would take a shoal or trio of species easily. It would be nice to try a less commonly found species that i could really try and breed. I'd like a challenge as i see this as a long term commitment rather than a short term thing.

Does anyone know of any species that might fit this set-up?

Sam
 

sjones_1

Member
Mar 4, 2010
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Midlands and Cambridge
Both pH and GH/KH can be anything i need them to be with some clever calculation and mixing. For example i take the local tap water and on a mix of 3:1 (Deionised:Tap) i can get the GH/KH down to 1-3 and pH 6.5-7 (with the help of some bog wood).

The tap water is 20+ (the shop stopped trying once they hit 20) KH i.e v.hard and pH about 7.5. I don't know the exact dimensions somewhere around 18x15x12. It's small but as long as i don't go for a massive species is adequate for most things, especially considering the amount of water changes i'll do and hence the amount of water the fish will ultimately see.

Sam
 

sjones_1

Member
Mar 4, 2010
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Midlands and Cambridge
It's funny you should say that, i posted this same question on the pfk forum and that was the first suggestion. The only thing is that i have kept them before and wanted something a bit more challenging.
 

Doodles

Retired Staff
Apr 8, 2009
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If it was me, id be trying some peckoltia:yes: or even corydoras but you will need to have slightly softer water esp for corys.
Everyone is breeding hypans and bns.
 

GrubbyGirl

Member
Nov 18, 2009
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Kent
How about something really different - a figure 8 or green spotted puffer? You'll have to move them gradually from freshwater to low brackish but that's not hard to do. They are great characters
 

dw1305

Global Moderators
Staff member
May 5, 2009
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Wiltshire nr. Bath, UK
Hi all,
Shell dwelling african cichlids.
my choice as well. If you don't want N. multifasciatus, there are a few less common ones.

If you are into planted tanks? there are some Killis that would do (Nothobranchius rachovii? below), or some of the more unusual C. American live-bearers. Some of the Australian Pseudomugil species would be another option.



cheers Darrel
 

sjones_1

Member
Mar 4, 2010
31
0
6
Midlands and Cambridge
If you are into planted tanks? there are some Killis that would do (Nothobranchius rachovii? below), or some of the more unusual C. American live-bearers. Some of the Australian Pseudomugil species would be another option.
Seems we think along the same lines. I used to be a member of the British Killifish Association (BKA) and the Rochovii is one of my favourite species of killi's. I found them a little difficult to maintain what with drying eggs etc and i was really looking for a more long term project.

Both the C.American Live-bearers and pseudomugil were the only two species i liked the look of at my lfs. They had some micropoecillia picta 'red' which looked nice and were reasonably priced. And some pseudomugil which is another species i've wanted to keep for sometime but these were a little more expensive.

Gonna have to go back and have another look, i've got the bug to buy some fish,

Sam