My Aquarium

[Halliwell57]

Hi all, i'm looking for inspiration with my aquarium, it's currently very plain because i can't decide what to do and i'm lacking creativity! I look at my friends aquariums and have big ideas but with my own i can't seem to think of anything.

I currently have a very nice piece of bogwood (to the left of the pic) which looks amazing as a tree or on it's side as like a double tunnel, this is the only thing that i would like to incorporate into my new set up.

Fish wise i have a very random mix and i'm sure some of you would agree that they're not really suited to each other but for some reason they get along well and always have, i would also like advice as to what other fish I can add, if any.

I have...

1x Albino red tail catfish (4")
1x Clown loach (3")
2x Dwarf puffers (tiny!)
1x Synodontis eupterus (4")
1x Armoured catfish (3")
1x Goldy Pleco (6")
1x Dragon Gobi (4")
1x Silver Shark (3")
2x Mirror Barbs (3")
1x Sailfin Pleco (2")

Reading the list back it looks quite full but the tank itself looks very sparse.

Can anyone make any suggestions of what i could do to my aquarium to make it look better? (i'm prepared to do anything except change the substrate or get rid of my beloved Goldy and armoured cat!)

 

[aclockworkorange]

Are we considering this list before or after your red tail cat grows out and eats most of your stock?
My honest suggestions:
-Get rid of the red tail cat. Now.
-Separate the dwarf puffers, they should be in a species only tank IMO.
-Get at least 5 more clown loaches... they are a shoaling fish and need other clown loaches.

Aquascaping suggestions? Move the wood to the center of the tank, and build it out towards the edges with more wood. Add easy to care for live plants on the wood like anubias and java wood. You could arrange some smooth rocks around the wood if you like the look of rocks.

What size tank is this?

 

[CLDarnell]

^agree with every point. The "tree" is the focal point, so it should be more in the center of the tank. You can work plants out towards the sides and maybe add some rocks as well.

Good luck!

 

[Halliwell57]

Thanks for the quick reply, just to pick up on your points... Most of the fish came with the tank (plus more which have already been re-homes) I am looking to re-home most of them either with friends or into another tank soon (I need to convince the other half first )

I have been looking everywhere for an adult clown loach around the same size but i can only find either babies or ones at least 50% bigger, which would you recommend adding?

The puffers and the red tail cat are definitely going soon, i'm would put them in my other tank but as there's guppies in there it's probly not a good idea

The tank above is 190L, running with a 300L external filter.

 

[drlower]

My personal preference is for very natural looking landscapes. I shy away from plastic decor. As for the catfish, its a crap shoot. Personalities very big time.

 

[Halliwell57]

Thanks for the advice, i'll post back with a pic once i decide which way to take it

 

[Columbian Shark Catfish]

Nice pleco

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

The pots kinda look too symmetrical

 

[Halliwell57]

Nice pleco

Thanks

He's my fave fish, i have a great pair of L066's in my other tank too

Spiritofthesoul... I'm a bit of a perfectionist, luckily they're just temporary shelter for the pleco and cats until i get inspired with a design idea.

 

[groovylime]

To answer your clown loach question, they don't have to be of similar size to school together. Get a pack of babies or add some larger ones and they'll all hang out together with your 3 incher. The largest one in the pack will naturally become the leader.