205 gallon Amazon blackwater tank

[Kinbote]

12 spotted metynnises
maybe 14 hatchet fish
30-40 rosy tetra
30-40 black phantom tetras
30-40 cardinal tetras
18 catfish of some sort. corys

really why the heck do you want to understock it so much

Those were just my initial stocking numbers. But I want to keep it low partly to look more natural and partly because even the cheapest fish on my list is $7.50 each.

silver dollars would destroy the whole planted look in a matter of hours very nice fish thought

No doubt. I've heard mixed reports on whether the spotted metynnises are less destructive, guess I'll find out.

 

[Burto]

If spotted Metynnis are less destructive, they're still destructive enough to strip a tank of plants in short order.

With the list, I think you need a centrepiece fish. I don't think any of your stock are likely to show much personality. I'd consider 6+ angelfish, or some discus, or some Mesonauta festivus, or maybe a pair of severums.

 

[Kinbote]

If spotted Metynnis are less destructive, they're still destructive enough to strip a tank of plants in short order.

I've known people who've had them and said they only occasionally nibbled plants, and others who said they demolished everything. Figure I'll risk it and if they eat everything I'll swap them for something else.

With the list, I think you need a centrepiece fish. I don't think any of your stock are likely to show much personality. I'd consider 6+ angelfish, or some discus, or some Mesonauta festivus, or maybe a pair of severums.

Yeah, that's partly a problem with what's available in my country. I'd been thinking black ghost knife but I guess it's likely to eat my tetras and hatchets.

 

[bgourami320]

I've only got one bleeding heart left and I think I'll offer it to a good home once the quarantine's over, rather than restocking them.

Anyone want to recommend some tetras that can keep up with rosies and will look good in blackwater?

How about congo Tetra's?
Do you add salt to this type of tank? I would keep a brackish water tank just for Mono's, I love those.

 

[Kinbote]

How about congo Tetra's?
Do you add salt to this type of tank? I would keep a brackish water tank just for Mono's, I love those.

Those are my favourite tetra but it's gotta be amazon origin fish only.

I'm not planning to salt it atm. Monos are pretty cool though.

 

[Burto]

Mixed experience with spotted Metynnis may be due to the types of plants being kept. Mine ate my Rotala and Hygrophyla first, then my Vallisneria. I suspect they would have moved on to swords and Ceratopteris after that. But in a tank with java fern and anubias they may just leave those plants alone.

With your stock list, if you added a ghost knife I'd only be worried about the cardinals. In my experience they leave larger tetras alone. I wouldn't worry about the hatchetfish, they should be safest of all with their tendency to stay at the surface.

 

[fishfanatic46]

you should stock that beauty tank with some veija argentea!

 

[Pandamania]

WOW! The price tags on fish for you are really high. That sucks! I wonder if it's import tax or just the sellers are taking advantage of the hobby lovers? At those kinds of prices I think I'd try to set up all my tanks for mating purposes! Are the fish foods expensive too?

 

[matthew1000]

i say oscars or SA cichlids. some bright colored ones maybe.

 

[Kinbote]

WOW! The price tags on fish for you are really high. That sucks! I wonder if it's import tax or just the sellers are taking advantage of the hobby lovers? At those kinds of prices I think I'd try to set up all my tanks for mating purposes! Are the fish foods expensive too?

I don't know why the prices are high. A fair number of fish must be bred locally, but I presume most are imported, so perhaps they're able to set the locally bred prices high as well since we're used to paying for imports.

Not sure what you'd consider expensive for fish food. Spectrum is $23.90 for 2.7oz.