New planted community setup

[FJB]

I introduced a new fish community into an already well established planted tank, from which all fish had taken out, except for two plecos and 1 cory. Planted tank is a 75g, with pool sand substratum, a large driftwood with major java fern growth, river stones and good growth of Hygrophila sp. along the back.
The new community is 12 Colombian tetras, still young (1-1.5"), and 4 young tiger dollars (2-2.5"), 3 cories and 3 otos.

I had not kept either the colombians or these tigers until recently, these fish recently finished quarantine. And together! I was weary of that but it actually seems to work quite well.
This is the report after week 2 of introducing the new fish. So far so good. What do you think?

 

[tlindsey]

What do you think?

That's a great update. Hopefully nothing changes.

 

[Deadeye]

Looks great! Hopefully the dollars leave the plants alone!

 

[xenacanth9]

Nice
If I can think of any suggestions for plants/decor/fish/etc that would be cool in there, I'll try and remember to tell you

 

[FJB]

Update - (almost 2.5 months later)

Things continue to look good. The young tiger SD's are growing fast. Two are larger and seem to be growing faster, such that now the largest is approaching 2.5 inches.
They do eat some of the plants (mainly the floating frogbit, but also some Hygrophila fronds and some Java fern roots), but thus far not enough to seriously harm the healthy plant growth. The plants seem to grow sufficiently to keep up with grazing upon them. The Hygrophila sp. looks a lot less dense now because I took some out, in a continued effort to fight BBAlgae, now almost completely out.
About a month ago I added a dozen young neon tetras, and the effect is quite nice: 3 independently-schooling fish (neons, Colombian tetras and SDs), doing their group thing separately, but also interacting nicely cross species. I am considering this a successful matching of species I had not prior experience with.
I offer some images for your viewing pleasure/curiosity and would like to know what do you think...
Cheers!

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Very nice vertical barring on those silver dollars. When you mention the following:

doing their group thing separately, but also interacting nicely cross species. I am considering this a successful matching of species I had not prior experience with.

In my opinion, this is one of the best parts of having multiple schooling species in 1 tank because of all the interaction (as you mentioned). I'm hoping to achieve the same with the 5 loach species in my 2022 tank.

Good luck with everything but especially the neons, they're hard to keep alive unless they're wild caught (not overbred). My advice would be always keep a close eye out for any symptoms of neon tetra disease.

 

[FJB]

Thanks.
Neon tetra disease - I know... a big worry and a gamble because it is a killer for neons and can also jump species. But this is my wife's tank (so I could get a 6 footer downstairs), and she really wanted them. I like them too but it is a worry.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Yes, always difficult when you're not the one who has the say in the stocking. Hopefully neon disease won't wipe out that tank, and if it does, I do hope your wife takes a liking to much sturdier cardinals or green neons as a substitute instead of just getting more neons and feeding the fire.

 

[FJB]

"I'm hoping to achieve the same with the 5 loach species in my 2022 tank."

Good luck with that, which sounds awesome!!!

 

[Deadeye]

Though there is no cure, it seems like it is only transferred from eating the fish that died from it. If any tetras show signs, pulling them before they die should keep it from spreading. Of course, no guarantees.