theotheragentm Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 I have an office tank (see photo). It's a 20L with a Dwarf Sag carpet, a bunch of crypts, lucky bamboo growing out the back, and a dwarf lily. The current inhabitants are a colony of cherry shrimp, a single amano shrimp, about a dozen ember tetras, and pond snails. Recently I've been wanting a different color of fish as the shrimp are already red. Does anyone have any suggestions with the following considerations? My water change schedule is about 12% weekly because the bioload is so small. It's very ideal for me since it's an office tank, so I'd like to keep it that way. The back of the tank is open to allow the bamboo to stick out, so while all fish jump, no prolific jumpers. I don't wait the fish to eat my shrimp. My water is hard here in Southern California, coming out at 8.0 from the tap. I've found most fish adjust okay. I'm not running the tank very warm, currently 72F, but that can be raised, or the heater can be removed if we need to run it cold. I know the shrimp will do fine. Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenFins Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 4 minutes ago, theotheragentm said: I have an office tank (see photo). It's a 20L with a Dwarf Sag carpet, a bunch of crypts, lucky bamboo growing out the back, and a dwarf lily. The current inhabitants are a colony of cherry shrimp, a single amano shrimp, about a dozen ember tetras, and pond snails. Recently I've been wanting a different color of fish as the shrimp are already red. Does anyone have any suggestions with the following considerations? My water change schedule is about 12% weekly because the bioload is so small. It's very ideal for me since it's an office tank, so I'd like to keep it that way. The back of the tank is open to allow the bamboo to stick out, so while all fish jump, no prolific jumpers. I don't wait the fish to eat my shrimp. My water is hard here in Southern California, coming out at 8.0 from the tap. I've found most fish adjust okay. I'm not running the tank very warm, currently 72F, but that can be raised, or the heater can be removed if we need to run it cold. I know the shrimp will do fine. Thanks in advance for your suggestions. You may be able to do a betta. But you would have to make sure the betta is passive aggresive. The betta probably wouldn't eat the shrimp because they can hide in the carpet. A nice school of celstrial pearl danios would also be cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theotheragentm Posted November 20, 2020 Author Share Posted November 20, 2020 I would definitely love a betta if I thought it wouldn't run through most of my shrimp population. I was afraid CPDs would be hidden most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RovingGinger Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 I would do endlers with the bright green or blue coloration. They would love the tank, would do great with the hardness, and would be fine with the temp. AquaBid.com - Item # fwguppies1605939067 - PR JAPAN BLUE ENDLERS / FRY / SHIPPING INCLUDED - Ends: Sat Nov 21 2020 - 12:11:07 AM CDT WWW.AQUABID.COM AquaBid.com: Item # fwguppies1605939067 - PR JAPAN BLUE ENDLERS / FRY / SHIPPING INCLUDED. AquaBid.com - Item # fwlivebearersw1605915069 - PR GREEN LIGHTNING ENDLERS / FRY / SHIPPING - Ends: Fri Nov 20 2020 - 05:31:09 PM CDT WWW.AQUABID.COM AquaBid.com: Item # fwlivebearersw1605915069 - PR GREEN LIGHTNING ENDLERS / FRY / SHIPPING. Something like those? You could do just males for color if you wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Blake Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 I would do a school of Pygmy corys they will add a nice silver. Neon tetras will add a nice blue. Hillstream loaches are going to add a different look and different behavior to the tank all would be shrimp safe and would be the right size for the tank. I would do about a dozen of the Pygmy corys or a dozen neons. I would also have 3-6 hillstream loaches. In addition to the school of your choice. I think with the numbers you have in there now the bio load of 12 more nano fish will be almost non-noticeable. Hillstream loaches are grazers so they eat the same food as your shrimp and are fun to watch. This is one of my Borneo sucker loaches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 a school of about a dozen celestial pearl danios would look very cool swimming around that tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 (edited) spotted blue eye rainbows (Pseudomugil gertrudae) or green neon rasboras (aka Kubotai rasboras) Edited November 21, 2020 by Brandy I can't spell 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonske Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 Very pretty tank. I would add a colorful accent of a single balloon platy or molly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanB Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 I agree with @Brandy, a pseudomogil rainbow species (I am partial or furcatus) would be great and add a lot more activity than the Embers. If you want a fish that is a lot like the Embers but with a different color, the kubotais with their neon green would be great. If you want to go with a bright blue to contrast with both the shrimp and the green plants, I might suggest neon blue rasboras. If it were me, though, I’d take out the heater and add a half dozen rainbow shiners for a really unusual and beautiful aquarium. They are a little pricy and hard to find but a truly amazing fish. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAC Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 Nice looking tank. I like the idea of pseudomugil mentioned above. If it were me I might look at Norman Lampeye Killis. They might really stand out in that setup. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggie Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 Hi @lefty oand @James Black, you both mentioned a school of CPDs and I'm curious about them as I have a "teenaged" school of their close cousins, danio erythromicron (aka/fka dwarf emerald rasbora), and mine stay in hiding most of the time. I have them in a heavily-planted 10 gal right now with a few yellow neocardinia shrimp, while procuring and setting up a 20L and supplies. Once they're moved, I want to get some honey gouramis and cory cats, and am wondering if they'll help my danios come out of their shells, so to speak. Right now I have to sit perfectly still in front of the tank for several minutes to see even one, and they slowly come out but any slight movement on my part sends them running back to hiding. A few of them are getting their gorgeous bluish stripes but I can hardly see the progress! Counting them and checking their basic health is impossible except for a fleeting glimpse. Are CPDs similarly shy and do you havd any suggestions to bring them into view? Thanks!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 they are skittish. larger numbers seems to help though. i originally had 8 of them, when i added another 8 they became less reclusive, though still on the shy side. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenFins Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 I agree with lefty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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