Setting up advice

alpharoyals · Post by **alpharoyals** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:32 am

I am setting up my tank this week, spent a time and a day looking through your threads to decide the best set up, I want a natural looking tank so it looks good too even if its gonna be a bit more work.

I have it all pictured in my head

2'-3' tank (not too sure yet)
external filter to turn the volume about 4 times per hour
sand substrate ( natural not coloured)
slate caves 3-4
straight vallis planted through out
cherry shrimp/crystal red shrimps to clean up
endler guppies to fill the top
oh and going to use RO water just to make sure everything if perfect.

any suggestions/ comments before I start????

want to get it right first time.

TDI-line · Post by **TDI-line** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:58 am

If your going to breed Zebra's, then i'd be down to the bare minimum myself. No substrate or plants, just caves, and no tank mate.

External filter is a must imo.

What temp would you be running?

Post by **Barbie** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:19 pm

Go with the larger tank, more filtration per hour, and keep in mind that most fish and plants don't see the humor in the higher temperatures zebras really thrive at. While it sounds great to want a community set up, in practice, you're going to be spending a fortune on these fish. Making sure they are happy will need to be your first priority or you'll risk losses. I have actually refused to sell fry to people that don't intend to make them the priority in the tank. These guys need to be reproduced, not just kept as showpieces, IMO.

Barbie

alpharoyals · Post by **alpharoyals** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:46 pm

mmmmmmm! didnt think about temps, I just had a look. The Endlers were just an after thought really so not worried too much about not having them, wouldnt mind the plants though to keep the water cycle going and the shrimps to "clean up" what food is left.

NetsuaiAngel · Post by **NetsuaiAngel** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:03 pm

Hi alpharoyals,

You could get algae shrimp that will help clean up a little bit with the food. Other shrimp like the red crystals and filter feeding shrimps are very sensitive to the high water temps. I tried having Singapore/Bamboo shrimp in with my zebras and they could not handle the high temps.

Good luck with your setup!

- Angela