looking for suggestions

[Witchlight]

First off WOOT! My tank is now fully cycled! ;)
I know its not much but hey its my first tank and I didnt kill anything!:SwimmingFish:

So my question now is what tank mates do I want in there?
I currently have my redwag plattys and want something to compliment them. I also want a bottom dweller that wont grow too big.

I only have a 20g so I cant put that many more in there I have 3 plattys already. I was looking at some white mollies that I thought would pop nice with the redwag and get along well but I also like the idea of a dwarf or similar gourami. I have no idea what to do for the bottom fish. :confused:

So I'm taking all suggestions! I wont be heading out till sat maybe friday(if I get impatient) to get them.

[Melody]

Dwarf Cory's for the Bottom, a nice Ivory and/or Gold snail or two. Any community Livebearer or Tetra would go with Platy's. For Tetras I favour Red Cardinals. If you go with white Mollies, I'd get the Sailfin Lyretails to create some shape interest. Lotsa plants.

Congrat's on the cycle - it IS a big thing!

[Jonesy]

Great advice Mel...Now here is where i come in. For a bottom feeder, you need a pleco. Not all plecos will reach sizes of a foot plus....If you plan on using driftwood in your aquascaping, a clown pleco would be cool, or even a bushynose.....Basically, if you see one that you like a LFS, go home and research it's diet and size BEFORE you buy it. A great site for that is Planet Catfish.
If plecos don't tickle your fancy, maybe some Khuli loaches or Weather Loaches.....Both a very entertaining to watch and scavenge the bottom for uneaten food......

Just my two cents......
Let us know how you make out!!!

Jonesy

[Melody]

Definitly some good suggestions. That's the problem with filling a new tank - too many choices, not enough tank. :laugh:

Someone to contact for BN Plecos or snails in Ontario is member 'Pamelajo'. I've had the pleasure of dealing with her several times - always fantastic livestock & as reliable as the day is long :smile: .

[Witchlight]

Thanks alot for the ideas ppl.
Got till the weekend to figure it out Ive read alot and still am so should be good.
Scouted a couple shops last weekend but still have a few to hit up.

The clown plecos were it at one shop and I liked them.

Melody your so right about not enough tank! :smile: I almost got another one last weekend. So many nice fish to pick that just wont work with my plattys so Im all I need another tank! :twitcy:

[Melody]

Keep your eye on the Classifieds - you can often get full set-ups for a song. Buysell.com, Craigslist.com....

I'm not allowed to go to those sites anymore :wideeyed: .

[Witchlight]

Well I got new fish! :D
The clown plecos I wanted for the bottom were all sold out :( So I'll have to get them later.

Ended up getting something different than what I'd thought I would. The Mollies were were a close second once I found these.

http://witchlight.homelinux.net/images/dnr1.jpg

http://witchlight.homelinux.net/images/dnr2.jpg

http://witchlight.homelinux.net/images/dnr3.jpg

There Dwarf Neon Rainbows. Everything I read on em says they should be ok in my tank. :D

[Melody]

They should be just fine in a 20G. Keep an eye on your parameters - loading the tank quickly can send you into a mini cycle. Good choice!

[CACAdmin]

They're beauties. How many did you get? It's probably good that you have to wait a bit for the clown plecos because as Melody said, too many fish added at once can send you into a mini-cycle. Having the patience to wait is the hardest part (especially with a new tank).

[Witchlight]

Ya thats what I thought. Too many too fast would = a minicycle.
I only got the 2 you see in the pics mostly for that reason.
I figure I'll wait a week or two then go back for the clown plecos. Turns out an old roomy from just before my son was born works at the Als here in town and he told me who to bug to get em in. :smile: Kinda nice to have someone on the inside.

So currently the tank has

3 redwag platies
2 Dwarf Neon Rainbow

So if I do only 1 clown pleco then I should still have a little wiggle room on fish load in the tank.

O and about getting extra tanks... I've already been told no fish room. :err: :laugh:

[CACAdmin]

O and about getting extra tanks... I've already been told no fish room. :err: :laugh:

:( Sounds like you let 'somebody' see the pics posted here showing some of the fantastic fishrooms our members have. :laugh: But.... you don't need to have a fishroom to have more tanks.;)

[Melody]

Exactly - the strategy is to have tanks & equipment all over the house until she starts thinking that having it all in one room would be divine. :laugh:

[CACAdmin]

Looking for an update on your tank, Witchlight. Wondering how things are going. A new tank is always more challenging to keep on top of than an established tank. It's more prone to spikes, etc. So, I was wondering how it has gone for you?

How are the dwarf neon rainbows doing? Did you eventually go and get a clown pleco? Any other additions to the tank? or have you started on tank #2. :;):