Ok guys and gals, I'm just about finished cycling my newly rebuilt 40 breeder setup and would really like some suggestions on what fish you would keep in the setup described below. Individual suggestions are fine as well as complete stocking ideas!
Tank is as follows:
40 Breeder
8x turn over
GH - 150
Alkalinity - 40
PH - 6.8 (this may buffer down a bit after adding more plants)
Temperature - 72/76f (no heater, so I'm guessing I'll see some fluctuation, current, temp is 73f)
PFS substrate varying between 1"- 3" deep
Driftwood and light planting (Anubius, Ludwigia and I'll probably add some Java fern)
The tank is being filtered by an aquaponic plant bed as well as a sump dedicated to polishing. The plant bed will be growing one indeterminate tomato plant, basil and if I have the room, I will add some strawberries as well.
...So, needless to say, the traditional lightly stocked, smaller planted tank rules do not apply here. I will need these fish to make a fair amount of waste to keep all the aquatic and terrestrial plants happy (not too much of course).
I'd really like the tank to be "busy", in fact I had originally planned to use 40+ neon tetras and a group of cories but since deciding to ditch the heater, that doesn't look like it'll happen. The fish will have to be plant friendly and I'd prefer not to have to feed live or frozen food in this setup, as I really want to make it as low maintenance as possible. I will also need something that stirs the sand up; I haven't ruled snails out but I'm concerned they may get into the overflow and make their way into the plant bed.
Thanks to everyone for any ideas; I'm so used to keeping ca/sa cichlids that I'm drawing a blank when it comes to stocking this cooler water tank. It's hard not to throw a heater in the sump and stock what I'm used to but I figured by taking the heater outta there I'd be able to mix it up a bit and try something new!
Tank is as follows:
40 Breeder
8x turn over
GH - 150
Alkalinity - 40
PH - 6.8 (this may buffer down a bit after adding more plants)
Temperature - 72/76f (no heater, so I'm guessing I'll see some fluctuation, current, temp is 73f)
PFS substrate varying between 1"- 3" deep
Driftwood and light planting (Anubius, Ludwigia and I'll probably add some Java fern)
The tank is being filtered by an aquaponic plant bed as well as a sump dedicated to polishing. The plant bed will be growing one indeterminate tomato plant, basil and if I have the room, I will add some strawberries as well.
...So, needless to say, the traditional lightly stocked, smaller planted tank rules do not apply here. I will need these fish to make a fair amount of waste to keep all the aquatic and terrestrial plants happy (not too much of course).
I'd really like the tank to be "busy", in fact I had originally planned to use 40+ neon tetras and a group of cories but since deciding to ditch the heater, that doesn't look like it'll happen. The fish will have to be plant friendly and I'd prefer not to have to feed live or frozen food in this setup, as I really want to make it as low maintenance as possible. I will also need something that stirs the sand up; I haven't ruled snails out but I'm concerned they may get into the overflow and make their way into the plant bed.
Thanks to everyone for any ideas; I'm so used to keeping ca/sa cichlids that I'm drawing a blank when it comes to stocking this cooler water tank. It's hard not to throw a heater in the sump and stock what I'm used to but I figured by taking the heater outta there I'd be able to mix it up a bit and try something new!
