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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.

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?

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.

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