Diving back into the hobby

[Pjv81]

Hey guys, as the post says I’m starting back into the hobby after approximately 5 years of no real fish keeping. I picked up a 125g (4ftX2ftx25”) off of market place and hooked up an FX5 I had from an old tank.

After much research I went with a dirt bottomed tank capped with sand on top. I dropped root tabs all throughout the bottom before capping it with sand. I have some plants in there for now and hoping to get a dwarf hairgrass carpet going. I purchased a fluval LED plant light for the top and waiting for my lids to come in


I plan to do a more community oriented tank as I have 2 sm angels with an electric blue acara now in the tank to help cycle.
I plan to add Cory’s, Otto’s, a bristle nose plecto and hopefully a school of rummy nose tetras if I can ever find them.

 

[Deadeye]

Welcome to the forum!
Sounds like a good plan! The Eba may turn on the smaller tetras, so I’d personally go for taller bodied tetras like serpae or diamond tetras.
Otos tend to do poorly in tanks, I’ve never had luck with them and others have the same experience. Not that it’s impossible, but I’ve given up trying them.

 

[Pjv81]

Welcome to the forum!
Sounds like a good plan! The Eba may turn on the smaller tetras, so I’d personally go for taller bodied tetras like serpae or diamond tetras.
Otos tend to do poorly in tanks, I’ve never had luck with them and others have the same experience. Not that it’s impossible, but I’ve given up trying them.

I have had Otto’s in my sons 20 gal a few years back and they also didn’t last unfortunately, I have seen some at a LFS that were devouring a slice of cucumber on a plant weight so I will try my luck once more with them.

 

[tlindsey]

Otto’s

Welcome aboard
I suggest letting the aquarium age a bit until you notice biofilm or algae. That may help with longer success.

 

[Pjv81]

Welcome aboard
I suggest letting the aquarium age a bit until you notice biofilm or algae. That may help with longer success.

Yeah I’m letting the tank cycle with these for now, been checking the water parameters every day, so far after a week and a half everything is reading 0 except nitrates are 5ppm

 

[Pjv81]

*update*

Water is finally cleared up and sand settled. Water parameters are reading ammonia, 0 nitrite and 5ppm nitrates