Topic: A new tank. What to put in it?

[Boven]

Really?  Dang.  The Petco near me was awesome when I started my first tank, but over the last year it's gone downhill.  I suspect the high-ups are cutting back wherever they can and it's hit the fish department hard.  12 of their tanks are now empty and just have aquarium background pictures stuck over the front of 'em.  The really helpful and amazing guy there is hardly around any more and it looks like the betta containers are no longer cleaned out daily.  I went in there for some supplies a couple months back and one of the containers was filthy and the betta in it was dead.

It's really disappointing.  Unfortunately, the closest freshwater lfs around me (aside from Petco and Petsmart) is the Centerville aquarium, which doesn't have a lot of stock.

Anyway, I'm now thinking of a bunch of endlers and maybe a couple otos or corys.  I've got time to plan, though.  I should have the tank tonight, but then I'll need to find a place to put it and get the cycling process started.

[QueenFisher]

I always like endlers, I actually need to get some again. I'm in the same boat as you, Boven. I have a Petsmart near me and then a couple of  mom & pop stores, but it's still not easy finding what I want (endlers, for instance ), and healthy stock on top of that. Oddly, though, Petsmart had tiger mickeymouse platies... that was a find, but I had to put off buying them.

A dwarf cray (or maybe a trio?) would be neat, especially in a uniquely shaped tank. I don't know where you are located, but you would almost definitely have to purchase them online, if you really want them. I think smaller tetras might not mind the dimensions... like flame tetras, or some dwarf rasboras if you're lucky to find them local. Anyway... cories are always enjoyable in any tank.

[Boven]

Here's a picture of the tank sitting next to my 20gallon.  (yeah, I know, the carpet is a mess.  I vacuumed shortly after taking the picture, honest!)



It's a 'Nano 180" which is apparently made by JBL Lighting.  At least that's the only company name that was on the manual.  The stand is cheap particle board and I have some concerns as to how stable it'd actually be when the tank is full of water.  I suspect I'm going to sit it on top of something more sturdy.   As of yet, I haven't figured out where the heck I'm going to put it.  I just stuck it in that spot to get a picture.

It has a built in filter under the hood.  It has a bar that apparently sprays onto a floss pad then runs over some containers of charcoal and bio media.  I'm not too sure how well it'll work.  I'm a little tempted to see if I could get away with some kind of submersible filter for it instead as there's really not room to put a HoB on it.

[Nic Obscurites]

Not sure on your filter dillema. But I must echo whats already been said:
Endlers would look awesome in it.

[Boven]

Not sure on your filter dillema. But I must echo whats already been said:
Endlers would look awesome in it.

My biggest concern with the filter is the availability of media for it.  I'd kind of prefer something I can pick up locally rather than some odd media that I can only order from one source.  I need to look at the basket thingies more carefully.  It may be that they can be opened and the contents just replaced when needed.  The floss I may be able to replace just by cutting some to fit.

Looks like I was a little mistaken in my previous post, it's JBJ lighting, not JBL. Here's a link to the JBJ page about it:

http://www.jbjnanocube.com/contents/en-us/d866_nano_180.html

I'm really hoping I can find some Endlers locally.  I figure a lil school of them, plus a cory or two would be pretty danged nice in there.  Would a dark background help the Endlers' colors show up better?  I'm trying to figure out decor and plants now that I actually know how big the tank is.

[Nic Obscurites]

Why dont  you get some shrimp and endlers instead of the cories?

[QueenFisher]

On a small note, I would go with at least three cories.

[Cholly]

I was thinking of some tetras, but wasn't sure whether the dimensions of the tank would be good for them.  It doesn't seem like they'd have much back-and-forth room to swim around.

Ember tetras. Noticeably smaller than neons even. Pretty little fish.

[Boven]

Why dont  you get some shrimp and endlers instead of the cories?

Being a small tank, I'm a bit worried that it might be tough on shrimp if I end up doing a water change late due to work travel or something.  I've never had shrimp before and I thought they're pretty sensitive to water conditions.


I still haven't settled on what to put in there aside from the fish.  I'm thinking of a dark colored gravel and background, since I think it may show the colors of the Endlers better.  So far, I haven't seen any rocks or such locally that would look good in there.  As for plants, I'm thinking maybe java fern.

I'm pretty much set on Endlers as the 'main fish' even though that'll probably result in my first mail-order-fish experience and having to take a day off work so I can be home when they're delivered.

[LittlePuff]

I had cherry shrimp in my pond snail tank, and they bred like crazy. Not the best water quality.