Doug_E Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 I just moved to a 40g tank and have plenty of room for more fish. I prefer smaller schooling fish, low maintenance, and community/non-aggressive. My water is hard (12) and pH is high (8.0-8.2). Tank is planted, no CO2, no heater (67F to 75F) but would bump that up with a heater if I need to. Current stock: 8 White Cloud Minnows 6 Eastern Blacknose Dace (local minnow from the creek...very hardy and will school with the White Clouds) 7 Amano Shrimp 4 Nerite snails I'd like something darker with color. I'm not looking for bottom feeders (Cory/Oto), guppies, platys, or anything over 2". Some I'm considering: Celestial Pearl Danio (may also breed them) Rummy Nose Tetra (may need warmer water and lower pH than I can provide) White Cloud Minnow (I plan to get more, but probably want a second species along with them) Harlequin Rasbora (my pH may be too high) Most of them (and anything really) prefer lower pH. I'm told they adapt and consistency is more important. Thoughts on that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawn T Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Is the tank planted? Does it include driftwood? I ask because those elements will naturally buffer the pH some as the tank ages - i.e. decrease it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binkysmom Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 male endlers are nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug_E Posted January 19, 2021 Author Share Posted January 19, 2021 7 minutes ago, Dawn T said: Is the tank planted? Does it include driftwood? I ask because those elements will naturally buffer the pH some as the tank ages - i.e. decrease it. Yes. moderately planted. Just one medium spiderwood piece. I also have Sieryu (spelling?) stone which will increase pH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug_E Posted January 19, 2021 Author Share Posted January 19, 2021 6 minutes ago, binkysmom said: male endlers are nice. Thanks, I was looking at those and forgot to list them. Why Male? I wouldn't mind some breeding, unless females make the males aggressive toward others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Socqua Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Just curious, why no to guppies but endlers make your list? Male guppies/endlers are much prettier, so people often get just a male tank. If you mix you generally want 3F to 1M to help with aggression from the male. Also, they breed abundantly and rapidly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug_E Posted January 19, 2021 Author Share Posted January 19, 2021 1 minute ago, Socqua said: Just curious, why no to guppies but endlers make your list? Male guppies/endlers are much prettier, so people often get just a male tank. If you mix you generally want 3F to 1M to help with aggression from the male. Also, they breed abundantly and rapidly. I prefer quick sleeker athletic looking fish to “flowy” floaty fish if that makes any sense. Guppies just look funny to me and I have an irrational bias against them. Endlers look different enough but are a bit on the “flowy” side. Looking into them More I’d say they are off the list. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeltz Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 White Cloud Mountain minnows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeltz Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug_E Posted January 19, 2021 Author Share Posted January 19, 2021 3 minutes ago, Jeltz said: White Cloud Mountain minnows? Yes, Already on the list and I have 8. Hoping for something else in addition to more white clouds. leaning towards CPDs to contrast with the WC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirsten Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Yeah if you have high pH and hard water, live bearers all the way. I love my endlers with a fiery passion and I think you will too. Totally fine to have just males, but they are quite *quite* small. The females are bigger and have great appetities and kind of look like alligators with their flat heads and wide bodies. And they never stop makin babies, which is rad if you're into that kind of thing. Shame you don't like platy because they're a hoot. Wouldn't call them "flowy" at all, just wriggly little frat bois partying all the time. Food? FOOD! Ahggrhvbrhbhber. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeltz Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Dwarf Neon rainbows? I have 6 with my flock of clouds. 4 Swordtails, 3 sailfish, ~20+ cherry shrimp and 6 corries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeltz Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Sailfin mollies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenFins Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 -Threadfin Rainbows -Forktail Rainbows Its more important to keep your ph stable then to keep on chasing it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug_E Posted January 20, 2021 Author Share Posted January 20, 2021 17 minutes ago, James Black said: -Threadfin Rainbows -Forktail Rainbows Its more important to keep your ph stable then to keep on chasing it I don’t mess with pH so it’s been pretty much 8.2, or a bit lower after water change. Tap is 7.8-8.0 for now. We may get a water softener. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theresa_M Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 My pH is 8.2. (Also using natural ways to bring it down.) I have neon and black tetras and Harlequin rasboras. I didn't think I would like any of those fish, but together with everything else in the tank, they are so great together and just different enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAC Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 Cherry barbs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stowcenter93 Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 I am SO jealous of the black nose dace. One of the first fish I learned to identify at work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonske Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 Danios? Zebra, leopard, or other varieties? Darker with a bit of color, schooling, non-aggressive, pH and hardness tolerant, unheated, very low maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Billy Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 I agree with Mac, I love cherry barbs for that splash of red, and despite being a barb they are actually quite shy compared to their aggressive cousin the tiger barb. James Black is also correct, it is more important to keep a stable PH vs trying to chase it, as PH swings from water changes cause more harm than a straight high PH. Overtime your fish will acclimate to your PH. Im sure there are some online resources that can help show you a safe and easy way to acclimate your fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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