NOLANANO

That’s why I suggested the borelli. They stay pretty small. Like 2-3 inches max. While the tank is on the small end, I think a pair of borelli would do ok. They are also one of the better looking Apisto in my opinion. i wouldn't suggest any of the other species as some can get as large as 5-6inches and pretty girthy.

Borelli is a small and relatively docile Apisto that has great colors. I'd recommend that one.

in my experience the short answer is no. I would suggest breaking the pellets up into more pieces and spreading it throughout the tank. In addition I would probably feed some sort of flake or slow sinking pellet first to distract the gouramis and then try to "sneak" the algae pellets in while the gouramis are distracted. But unless this is a brand new tank, I don't think you need to worry about the shrimp getting enough food. They graze all the time and they will get enough from the scraps that hit the substrate and the natural food that grows naturally.

I suggest this to a lot of people because I think it’s such a fun addition to a tank but neocardina shrimp come in a variety of colors and are interesting little guys. Get like 10 of them and then watch them breed. now that I am re-reading the OP, maybe you don’t want breeding but they are easy to cull and you can trade the extras into the LFS for credit. They are also really small so it would take a long time before you would have to do anything. a decent amount of the hatchlings will help feed your other fish as well. as far as a good centerpiece fish, pearl gourami are pretty and majestic and are far less likely to be aggressive than angels.

How many do you have and how big is your tank?

Just trying to add to the substrate convo. Imo the most important thing about picking a substrate is making sure you like the way it looks. No matter how effective it is at growing plants, you won't love it if you don't like the way it looks. With that said, you can definitely use the eco complete or anything that @nabokovfan87 suggests as a base layer and then cap it off with a sand or gravel that you like better. But again, no one can tell you what you want or like so if you want/like the look of eco complete or some other aqua soil then that's the right choice for you. I have a base layer in laundry bags like these with black diamond blasting sand as the cap and it looks great. The reason I used these bags is to stop the base layer from surfacing during maintenance. Also Black diamond blasting sand is extremely cheap compared to other sands and I have had mine for 3 years and it still looks amazing.

Are you from Louisiana with a last name like Rougeux? I think you have been given good advice as far as planting goes. I would argue that if the plant list that you gave is your goal, you don't really need aqua soil. You could use sand or gravel and use root tabs for the few root feeders you have. The reason I would caution against aqua soil is that it leaches ammonia like someone mentioned (but that's a short term issue) and that the nutrients in the aqua soil eventually get used up and you will either have to remove the substrate and replace it (which bring sthe ammonia issue up again) or you would have to use root tabs anyway to supplement. If you like the look of aqua soil and don't mind replacing it or just using root tabs then ignore me. As for stocking, there are so many options for a 40 gallon planted tank. The trick is finding the right combination. How experienced are you as a fish keeper? I only ask because some fish are easier than others to keep. But in general some fun ideas would be one or many of the varieties of cherry shrimp (neocardina), maybe a dwarf CPO crawfish (or a group), cory catfish, whip tail cats, most types of tetra, rasbora, or danio. My favorite fish is the German Blue Ram but these need consistent water parameters with pretty much zero nitrates to work. You could also do an electric blue acara. a pair of Apistos would be a good add. They are like the Rams but a bit hardier. honestly your options are vast outside of large south american cichlids or african cichlids. Any type of dwarf cichlid should work as long as they aren't diggers.

Also @Guppysnail where did you source the Laetacara dorsigera from? I can't find them for sale online anywhere.

I do have an air stone so there is some extra oxygen going into the water. I have a backup air pump in storage that I could pull out if necessary. I see in the video you attached that Tiger Barbs at least can be kept with Rams so maybe I can do a little old with a little new. or use the Laetacara dorsigera instead of rams if I can find some. I assume that the Gouramis and Neons would need to go but do you think the Rummynose and Cories would be an issue? Cories kind of keep to themselves and the rummynose are fast so I wonder is they would be ok? @Guppysnail FYI when I googled (well Binged considering my browser defaults to Bing) Laetacara dorsigera, your journal on this forum is the first item that is suggested. You're apparently the world's premier expert on the species!

I just put a heater back in my tank as my previous one broke and during the summer, my tank sits at around 77-78 degrees naturally given that the tank is near the front door but in the winter is fell to around 74-75 degrees which made me replace my heater. Would these fish do OK at 77-78 degrees or will I need to figure that out?

How much do they dig? I have stem plants that will come up if they dig a lot. the toughest thing about planted community tanks is finding the fish that can live together that you enjoy.

This is an interesting idea that I never considered. I always shy away from barbs because they are too aggressive for many tank mates BUT if I lean into that and surround them with like kind then maybe that could work. My favorite part of ram behavior is the territory disputes. More specifically the disputes between equals where no fish gets injured and lines are eventually drawn and defended. Maybe this route would give me that in spades. Would I need a chiller to keep the tank at that low of temperatures? Idk if I want to go this route if a chiller is involved. Could Hillstream loaches do well or are they too delicate? Dang it. I have wanted clown Killis (aka Rocket Killis) for a while but similar to hillstream loaches and pea puffers, they never seem to work with my tank setup. I might have to try to convince my wife to let me have a second nano tank to get these guys.

Basically I need to decide if I want to do the shrimp because that will decide whether I can do another dwarf cichlid. @beastie what are your thoughts on Rocket Killis and Pearl Gouramis in the same tank? Do rocket killis need flow or would they rather little to no flow? @Lennie will the whip tails eat shrimp?

I think so. The LFS had them listed as just Dwarf Thomasi but they looked a lot like these pictures depending on the angle.

I almost got some dwarf tomasi cichlids the other day but I didn't know much about them so I went home to research. turns out the internet doesn't have much to report on these either lol. I always thought Parrot cichlids were relatively aggressive and couldn't be kept in a community unless it was other larger cichlids? I love your Asian tank. The white cloud minnows really pop. Any reason you didn't put your Pearl Gouramis in there considering they are Asian fish?

I am out of my element when it comes to fertilizing. I have a pretty heavily planted tank but I live in south Louisiana and our water is so full of nutrients since its pulled out of the swamp that all I have to do is water changes to get my plants the nutrients they need. And if a plant needs more than the water changes provide, I pitch it and try a new plant. The only fertilization I do is root tabs. Do you have a test kit? What are your water parameters?

I don't think they would directly harm your fish but my thought would be that there is some sort of nutrient overload happening far too quickly. I think these are things that show up in well seasoned tanks when there is a fair amount of detritus and build up to support them and if they are present before any fish are added, I'd worry about my water conditions going haywire once fish waste is added to the equation. Is your substrate, plants, or other decor from a previous set up? That could maybe explain their existence so quickly but even so, to have detritus worms so prevalent that you notice them before adding anything is a red flag imo.

1) Thats kinda where I am at with the bettas. Just not worth the risk and sourcing them would be kind of difficult. 2) My 75G is 120cm across but I am shying away from rainbows because they like to be kept in groups and they are just too big (for the most part) to keep multiple species in a 75G. Maybe I can do a small school of Dwarf Neon Rainbows along with other things but like you said, they like a lot of flow and I have moderate flow at best currently. And the Gouramis don't love flow and what I currently have is probably too much for them. 3) I am afraid of all Barbs for this reason. I also looked up that Odessas really like colder water than what I have so they are out. 4) If I'm honest, I don't want angelfish anyway. 5) My issue with the rummynose is that I have black sand and a black background. It really makes my plants, rams, and neons pop but it makes my rummynose drab. What I pictured when I got them was a fish with a bright white body and a bright red nose. What I have is a fish with a darkened grayish body and a red nose. I didn't realize that their body isn't naturally white by itself but more translucent and it "mirrors" the surroundings. I don't think I am going to add anymore of them. 6) I have been looking into either Harlequin or Chili Rasbora. I love the reddish tone and think they'd look great in the tank. 7) My problem with my pearl Gouramis is that I have 2 females and a male and one of the females is MUCH larger than the other 2 and is the boss. I used to have a mated pair years ago that were wonderful and the male would build bubble nests and show off for the female and had the most wonderful colors. But with these 3, none of them seems interested in pairing and while they mostly get along, the bigger female at times asserts her dominance. Not in any way that harms the other two but she will chase them off when she's in a mood. The male also never shows off to the females either. What temperature do you keep you Gouramis at? My mated pair were kept at like 75ish as opposed to the 80 degrees that my current tank is at. Also how slow of growers are they? I have had the 3 of them for at least a year and probably closer to 18 months and I would have expected the male to grow more than he has. Maybe I need more to spread out the aggression and create some male competition? The idea that I am playing with now is to get some Rocket Killifish, Some of the Rasboras that we mentioned earlier, some different varieties if male Endlers (I loved these little guys) and then getting some neocardina Shrimp for the bottom of the tank as well. Maybe a nice Bamboo shrimp to add something a little different. Plus get more Amanos to help clean up. Either that or get an Amazon puffer or 6. But if I go this route, I would have to rehome/trade in some fish to make it work. I was thinking about Dward Neon Rainbows as an option. How many should be kept in a school? I also like the body shape of Madagascar Rainbows but they don't get very colorful.

I could be wrong but I don't think these should be present in a 3 week old setup without any fish present. I don't have enough experience with these to give any good advice, I just think these are things you usually see in a very seasoned tank and would be worried if they were present in a new setup.

Sorry to get off topic a bit but do your pea puffers get along with the cories, shrimp, and tetra? I have read mixed reviews with most saying don't put tankmates with pea puffers but I want to try it. I have a 75G community tank so there would be plenty of room for everyone to have space.

I have a 75 Gallon planted aquarium and have kind of hit a lull in my hobby evolution and am looking for ideas of what to do next. Parameters: 79-80 degrees 7.5 PH 0 ppm of ammonia, nitrate, or nitrite (thank you plants!) Not sure of exact number but the water is on the harder end. I currently have the following stocking: 11 Neon tetra 9 Rummynose tetra 8 panda cories 3 Pearl Gourami 1 Julii Cory (rescue) 1 Bristlenose Pleco 1 CPO Crawfish 1 Amano Shrimp 1 Gold Ram (last survivor) I have done rams for a while now and they are great but I think I am ready for something else but I am not sure what direction to go in. I have had most of the fish in this tank for 2-3 years and don't love the idea of trading them in and don't have another tank to move them to so I think I want my next feature fish to be able to co-habitate (is that a word) with what I currently have. This eliminates most cichlids African or South American. I eventually want to do an Mbuna tank but right now I feel like I am not ready to abandon the planted tank. Also with my children's after school schedules (dancing, sports, etc.) I don't have a ton of time to do maintenance and rely on the plants to keep the water clean. Current ideas that I am playing with: 1) Betta Sorority - I have never been super into Bettas because you can only keep one in a tank for the most part and it really limits the tankmates and I am really into community tanks with a variety of species. But a sorority might be fun. My fear is that it will go wrong and I will have wasted money to watch fish kill each other. My other issue is that none of the LFSs have a good Betta selection so I would have to order online. This drives the price up with shipping and I have had bad experiences in the past of getting fish that don't have the best coloration that I would not have picked out if I saw them in the store. I'd also have to figure out how to lessen the flow coming out of my cannister filter but I feel like I could figure that one out if I went this route. 2) Rainbow Fish - I have never really been into rainbow fish but the colors are striking and they are active. My main issue with this route is that I can only stock so many in a 75G tank and I'd want a few of multiple varieties but based on research it seems like these are best kept in decent size groups. Could these be kept in pairs or with 2 males of a certain type and no females? The main draw to these is that I think my kids and guests would be drawn to the colors. This idea would be more for others than myself but, who knows, maybe I'm a rainbow guy and don't even know it. 3) Angel Fish - Similar to rainbows, I have never really given angel fish the time of day. They have always seemed pretty boring to me and from what I have read, they eventually pair up and kill each other. But looking for a new direction to go, this could be an option. They would fit well with my current stocking for the most part as well. The only fish they might beef with is the gouramis considering they occupy the same water level. The pro to Angel fish is that I could still do rams if I wanted. Angel fish just don't excite me though. Maybe someone in this thread can convince me otherwise. 4) More schooling fish - Maybe I should abandon the centerpiece type fish idea and get more schooling fish. Maybe I could get some Odessa barbs, Congo tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, and/or chili rasbora. Maybe even add a second species of Cories or stock up on more panda cories. This idea seems fun but my draw back is that schooling fish are kind of mindless. I enjoy watching my rams have territory disputes and search the tank for food. With all schooling fish, I would miss out on that aspect of it. But like I said before, I don't have a ton of time to dedicate to the tank and don't get to watch the happenings of the rams very often anyway. So maybe colorful schools would be better for the time being. Now that I am typing this out, this idea is growing on me. Just looking for anyone's opinion on any of these ideas and maybe some suggestions that I haven't thought of myself.

Someone can correct me if they disagree but I don’t think adding plants is an issue. The bacteria bloom should affect anything. Just don’t do a water change until the water looks clear.

Its likely a bacteria bloom which is completely normal for a new tank. The only thing you can do it wait for it to pass. Should pass in a week or so. If you change any water, you will make the bloom last longer. The basic idea is that you want the bacteria to "eat" all the food in the water column and die off. If you do a water change, you are feeding the bacteria more food. Also this is not the same bacteria as the nitrifying bacteria so it does not affect cycling your tank.

Fred is clearly a plumber. His father was a plumber and his father's father was a plumber before him. Its hard blue collar work but it pays the bills. The sad thing is that Fred always dreamed of being a famous actor in Fish Bowlywood but because of his family's money struggles he never got the chance to follow his dream and instead joined the family plumbing business at a young age. Fred isn't a complainer though and has made the best of his lot in life. He's one of the best at his craft that you will ever meet and always charges a fair price and gives sound advice to his clients. With his free time he volunteers at the local theater acting in plays and helping build sets. He feels like he owes the world to that theater because its how he met the woman of his dreams. Sally also has a liking for the theater but her preferred genre is musicals. Due to her family's wealth she was able to get the best coaching and was a star(fish) on Broadway. After a while though the hustle and bustle of the big city life wore on her and she decided to retire and take over the local theater in her hometown. While its not as glamorous as the life she left behind, she gets so much satisfaction from teaching the next generation of great performers. Plus this decision lead her to meet her Prince Charming. Quite literally in fact, Sally played Cinderella and Fred played Prince Charming in their rendition of the Disney classic. And it was Happily Ever After.

My Amazon Sword is starting to deteriorate and I am wondering if it’s a nutrient deficiency or if my bristlebose plecos are eating away at it? I just put 3 root tabs under it because it seems to be getting worse.