Hey all. The more I think about it the more I want to try my hand at some craigslist rescues in the 125 on my patio. But I have no idea what to use as "dithers"... Not that goldies are normally *******s haha but they are voracious and would probably eat some dudes.
Any idea of what can go with them? I was thinking the goldies would be a mix of a few big commons with some orandas or something. Got an fx6 and I can slap both my hobs on so filtration is no issue. Orandas are derpy and I want them. Can fancies take a temp down to 40 worst case scenario? I'm sure commons would be fine.
Would mosquitofish work if I can find some big females? I know they are gambusias, and I swear there's like a dalmation color variation. Would platties do well also? Any other livebearers or kilifish that would do well over winter but could also take summer temps? Swordtails maybe? A cold resistant strain of vicious killer guppies??? Haha. Fast swimming barbs would be a cool choice too. Any cichlids maybe? I've heard texas and apistogramma borelli can handle pretty low temps, not sure how true that is. I will be keeping the 125 as a goldfish/unheated tank until I can move out again and that may take a year or so.
The main issue is that I'm insulating the tank with foam boards, and with an inkbird/ 200 watt heater I'm only planning to heat the tank to 55 or 60 at the most once it gets super cold over winter. Unless I can get some solar panels set up on the roof just for the heater, my dad won't be happy with the power bill heating that sucker to the min temp for my salvinis. Male salvini really hates low temps, this winter wasn't kind to him the poor prissy thing.
I would sell the majority of my cichlids and maybe keep the salvini pair or a few other dudes indoors if I can afford a nice 55 by winter. Thoughts?
Any idea of what can go with them? I was thinking the goldies would be a mix of a few big commons with some orandas or something. Got an fx6 and I can slap both my hobs on so filtration is no issue. Orandas are derpy and I want them. Can fancies take a temp down to 40 worst case scenario? I'm sure commons would be fine.
Would mosquitofish work if I can find some big females? I know they are gambusias, and I swear there's like a dalmation color variation. Would platties do well also? Any other livebearers or kilifish that would do well over winter but could also take summer temps? Swordtails maybe? A cold resistant strain of vicious killer guppies??? Haha. Fast swimming barbs would be a cool choice too. Any cichlids maybe? I've heard texas and apistogramma borelli can handle pretty low temps, not sure how true that is. I will be keeping the 125 as a goldfish/unheated tank until I can move out again and that may take a year or so.
The main issue is that I'm insulating the tank with foam boards, and with an inkbird/ 200 watt heater I'm only planning to heat the tank to 55 or 60 at the most once it gets super cold over winter. Unless I can get some solar panels set up on the roof just for the heater, my dad won't be happy with the power bill heating that sucker to the min temp for my salvinis. Male salvini really hates low temps, this winter wasn't kind to him the poor prissy thing.
I would sell the majority of my cichlids and maybe keep the salvini pair or a few other dudes indoors if I can afford a nice 55 by winter. Thoughts?
