Hey Guys,
I have been keeping and breeding fish for probably close to 20 years, but my being in the military has put a stop to my tanks over the past few years. I am currently deployed, but planning my tank set up to get me going again when I get home. I have to keep it to 1 small tank for now (my wife is sick of taking care of my tanks when I am away). It is going to be a standard 36", 30 Gallon tank. I will be building the set up around Apistogrammas. I haven't decided on the species yet. I have bought from apistodave in the past and they were all amazing!! Now I just have to pick the actual fish I want and get all my facts straight.
Anyway, here is my dilema right now. I am trying to figure out how high tech my set up is going to be. I wanted to do a planted aquarium, almost a biotype aquarium. But, if Apistos don't really care much for bright light, should i just go simple with low light plants that will survive in the Apisto water requirements and not worry about T-5 HO lights and CO2 injection? Is the lighting really an issue, or am I overthinking it all? I had a 75G planted tank in the past, so I have all the equipment. I would just have to change the arrangement for a smaller tank.
As for the fish, the main piece is probably a trio of whicever species of Apistos I decide on. I want a small school of maybe pencilfish or cardinals. How about harlequins?, it's been a while, i don't remember thier requirements. I will have a few otocinclus for the plants, and maybe some small corys.
So anyway, long enough post.. I would really appreciate any feedback on what people think is the best way to go,l or any ideas. If I'm off base with anything, let me know. I get to the point that I read so much I get myself over thinking every detail.
Thanks,
Chuck
I have been keeping and breeding fish for probably close to 20 years, but my being in the military has put a stop to my tanks over the past few years. I am currently deployed, but planning my tank set up to get me going again when I get home. I have to keep it to 1 small tank for now (my wife is sick of taking care of my tanks when I am away). It is going to be a standard 36", 30 Gallon tank. I will be building the set up around Apistogrammas. I haven't decided on the species yet. I have bought from apistodave in the past and they were all amazing!! Now I just have to pick the actual fish I want and get all my facts straight.
Anyway, here is my dilema right now. I am trying to figure out how high tech my set up is going to be. I wanted to do a planted aquarium, almost a biotype aquarium. But, if Apistos don't really care much for bright light, should i just go simple with low light plants that will survive in the Apisto water requirements and not worry about T-5 HO lights and CO2 injection? Is the lighting really an issue, or am I overthinking it all? I had a 75G planted tank in the past, so I have all the equipment. I would just have to change the arrangement for a smaller tank.
As for the fish, the main piece is probably a trio of whicever species of Apistos I decide on. I want a small school of maybe pencilfish or cardinals. How about harlequins?, it's been a while, i don't remember thier requirements. I will have a few otocinclus for the plants, and maybe some small corys.
So anyway, long enough post.. I would really appreciate any feedback on what people think is the best way to go,l or any ideas. If I'm off base with anything, let me know. I get to the point that I read so much I get myself over thinking every detail.
Thanks,
Chuck