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so you're addicted to colour, huh?

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Duncan A. McRae

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May 4, 2003, 12:01:18 AM5/4/03
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Let's pretend for a minute that I have the money to set up JUST ONE MORE
aquarium. What would be good choices, given the following?
- I'm not afraid to lose *a few* to aggression.
- I'd like to see spawning every once in a while.
- I am ADDICTED to colourful fish -- bland ones are not interesting.
- the tank would be relatively small, perhaps 27g.

Suggestions?

Thanks;
Duncan


John T. Waisanen

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May 4, 2003, 12:47:13 AM5/4/03
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"Duncan A. McRae" <no.sp...@mcrae.ca> wrote in message
news:ig0ta.91354$kYH....@news01.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...

i think most people would agree that yellow labs might be a good choice;
kribs might also be something you like (both of these fish are common
breeders, although not a rare species). it's too bad that you're
constrained by a small tank, because a large tank gives you many options.

good luck,
john


Flash Wilson

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May 4, 2003, 4:30:14 AM5/4/03
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I know they're common but... Green tiger barbs.

Kribs are pretty too and more likely to spawn.

I guess you're looking for something else though - since you
suggest you already have a few aquariums *grin*.

In my "pretty" tank I have cardinals, black neons (maybe a
bit dull for you :), guppies (they'll breed lots, though I'm
only keeping males for that very reason) and harlequins, all
common fish but hits the spot of being pretty and colourful,
especially with loads of greenery, black gravel and a black
background.

Are you after lots of little pretty fish or a few dramatic ones?

--
Flash Wilson fl...@gorge.org http://www.gorge.org
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Duncan A. McRae

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May 4, 2003, 7:48:28 AM5/4/03
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Thanks!

I've been looking at labs on the 'net. I'll check the kribs.

D

"John T. Waisanen" <jwai...@umich.edu> wrote in message
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Duncan A. McRae

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May 4, 2003, 7:48:47 AM5/4/03
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Drama. Thanks!

"Flash Wilson" <fl...@gorge.org> wrote in message
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Amateur

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May 4, 2003, 11:47:40 AM5/4/03
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"Duncan A. McRae" <no.sp...@mcrae.ca> wrote in message
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Duncan,
There are a couple of fish that can fit the profile you're looking for,
but if you already have aquariums, you know trying to do water changes when
water parameters need to be changed can be a pain. Could you list your water
parameters for us. It would make it easier to look at a few specific
geographics as opposed to listing 30 species only to find that 17 of them
would be unhappy and lose their color giving you the exact opposite of what
you're looking for. :)
Amateur

(pH and hardness being the main factors)


Bob

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May 4, 2003, 2:35:56 PM5/4/03
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2 discus would fit okay. I'd buy 3 medium sized ones, and see what
happened...you'd probably have to get rid of 1 eventually.
check out http://www.wattleydiscus.com/pictures.htm

but like Amatuer said, post the hardness and ph of your water, and weather
or not you would be willing to filter / treat it.

Bob
"Duncan A. McRae" <no.sp...@mcrae.ca> wrote in message
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Duncan A. McRae

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May 4, 2003, 4:48:19 PM5/4/03
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Out of the tap, my pH is about 8.5 and kH is about 9. I've taken to buying
RO water for my cardinal tetras, however, planting my tanks and injecting
CO2.


"Amateur" <ama...@snet.net> wrote in message
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Bob

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May 4, 2003, 5:09:21 PM5/4/03
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well, I was recently converted to peat prefiltering...I was wrong about how
hard I thought it would be...you may want to give it a shot, I got setup for
under $50 and really, now the ro unit is just for drinking water.

discus do fine with ro and planted tanks, or the peat water -- it does take
soft water of ph 7 or less to keep them happy, but lower ph would be better
imo.

they aren't hard to keep, but ime, they are peaceful and maybe a little
boring...but mine don't breed so maybe that is why I feel that way. But it
is nice to have them, they sure are colorful, and most people seem to like
them more than my africans. I will say they have a bit of a personality, and
like to beg for food.

Bob


"Duncan A. McRae" <no.sp...@mcrae.ca> wrote in message

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Amateur

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May 4, 2003, 5:47:20 PM5/4/03
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"Duncan A. McRae" <no.sp...@mcrae.ca> wrote in message
news:n0fta.99847$kYH....@news01.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...

> Out of the tap, my pH is about 8.5 and kH is about 9. I've taken to
buying
> RO water for my cardinal tetras, however, planting my tanks and injecting
> CO2.
>
>
Perhaps with such a high pH level you'd be more interested with some
type of Rift Lake setup. A trio of Altolamprologus compressiceps or calvus
would be ok in that size tank and can be colorful. Or you could go with a
trio of the smaller peacocks. Aulonocara lwanda are very colorful and
beautiful fish, however only the males are colorful. The Tanganyikan shell
dwellers would do well in a small tank like that and are very interesting to
watch breed and interact. But, they typically don't meet your colorful
requirements.
Here's a fish to check out pictures of while doing your research:

Julidochromis
Eretmodus
Neolamprologus (shell dwellers or Fairy cichlids)
Altolamprologus
Aulonocara (smaller species only lwanda, steveni, saulosi)
Labidochromis (some species may be too aggressive)
Copadichromis (virginalis, ilesi, jacksoni, Kawanga, mbenjii)
Iodotropheus
Gephyrochromis
Cynotilapia (some of the more peaceful species)
Lethrinops (yellow collar)
Chalinochromis
Spathodous
Tanganicodus
Telmatochromis

Cheers,
Amateur


Duncan A. McRae

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May 4, 2003, 9:29:52 PM5/4/03
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"Bob" <rbo...@rREMOVETHISaustin.rr.com> wrote in message
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> well, I was recently converted to peat prefiltering...I was wrong about
how
> hard I thought it would be...you may want to give it a shot, I got setup
for
> under $50 and really, now the ro unit is just for drinking water.

I picked up a massive thing of peat moss at the garden centre. I put small
amounts into each tank. I haven't yet started pre-filtering yet -- I
suppose that's the logical next step. The only reason I have RO is that,
with pH of 8.4 out of the tap, I don't think even peat can drop the pH all
the way to the high fives where I'd like it.

> discus

Yes, I've been looking at those -- there's a fellow in Montreal (I'm going
this weekend) who's got some really lovely ones.


Duncan A. McRae

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May 4, 2003, 9:33:32 PM5/4/03
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Fantastic, thanks for all the suggestions.

In most of my tanks, the pH hits a "perfect 7" after CO2 injection. Though
not all tanks are planted yet, they will be soon; perhaps a few more months.
I'm really hoping to pull the carbon out of my filters and go mechanical
only. I'll let the plants and a recent crop of ghost shrimp handle the
wastes, if possible.

Oh, and I'll continue to keep RO water for top-ups.

Given that the "normal" pH is 7, are the fish below still good choices?
That's quite a list, btw -- thank you!


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Amateur

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May 5, 2003, 3:56:02 AM5/5/03
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"Duncan A. McRae" <no.sp...@mcrae.ca> wrote in message
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> Fantastic, thanks for all the suggestions.
>
> In most of my tanks, the pH hits a "perfect 7" after CO2 injection.
Though
> not all tanks are planted yet, they will be soon; perhaps a few more
months.
> I'm really hoping to pull the carbon out of my filters and go mechanical
> only. I'll let the plants and a recent crop of ghost shrimp handle the
> wastes, if possible.
>
> Oh, and I'll continue to keep RO water for top-ups.
>
> Given that the "normal" pH is 7, are the fish below still good choices?
> That's quite a list, btw -- thank you!
>

That list was for leaving the water at a pH of 8.4. With a pH of 7 you'd be
better off checking out the German Rams, Kribs, Anomalochromis thomasi,
Bolivian rams, Apistos, Flag Cichlids and Keyhole Cichlids.
Amateur


Duncan A. McRae

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May 5, 2003, 1:09:52 PM5/5/03
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Awesome! Thanks so much.


"Amateur" <ama...@snet.net> wrote in message

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Rich Conley

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May 5, 2003, 3:34:30 PM5/5/03
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My opinion, I' dsay Pseudotropheus Saluosoi over the labs, or maybe
Cynotilapia Afra..but the afra females arent as great looking as the
saluosoi females...

Rich

Duncan A. McRae

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May 5, 2003, 4:54:44 PM5/5/03
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Thanks -- I'll check those out.


"Rich Conley" <rcon...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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