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AS900- restart and rethink.

Strange the link did work when first posted

https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/trigonostigma-truncata-2/

If it fails again, it’s worth using Google “Trigonostigma truncata” just to see Frank Schäfer’s photos :)

(Looking back at one of Mark Evans journals, where he noticed his harlequin rasboras were not uniform in appearance, from the photos I suspect these fish were T truncata)

14 should be enough for a small shoal (though I found mine were much more active with more interesting shoaling behaviours when I kept ~25 fish)

You could easily add more in this size tank, or add other fish - I’d add another rasbora rather than cardinals ;)
 
Turns out the Harlequins are breeding so that could that be the cause of the erratic behaviour?
What are you seeing as erratic behaviour?

Mine spawned frequently but no babies survived, fish were brilliant when spawning - and looked “joyful” rather than “skittish”
:)
 
What are you seeing as erratic behaviour?

Mine spawned frequently but no babies survived, fish were brilliant when spawning - and looked “joyful” rather than “skittish”
:)
In my ignorance i put it down as adjusting/struggling with the new tank and co2 concentration. Hiding between the Cryptocoryne, 'flashing' upside down frequently, and darting around the tank in pairs or solo.

I was thinking about adding more, would you add more and then another small shoal of rasbora? If so any recommendations?

Or a group such as Puntius titteya to inhabit the lower areas?
 
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Fish choice is so subjective :)

I prefer less/fewer red fish, so as your harlequins are already hitting the red spectrum, I’d choose a blue or green or silver etc fish to compliment them

Some of my favourites (BUT I have soft acidic water)
M kubotai
https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/microdevario-kubotai/

Sundadanio “blue” & “green” (now known to be different species)
Note these fish are quite sensitive and should be netted and transferred very carefully, spending as little time as possible exposed to air
(I find the males will croak very loudly, and then may seem almost exhausted when released into the tank - I now guide them into a container when moving between tanks etc)
https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/sundadanio-axelrodi/

Sundadanio margarition is the “green”
http://junglemikey.blogspot.com/2018/12/sundadanio-margarition-jewel-from.html

Sundadanio “red” - if you want to keep going red ;)
https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/sundadanio-retiarius-2/

Michael Lo’s photo shows the iridescence these fish develop as they mature, and settle (happily)
Both M. kubotai and Sundadanio sp. are active throughout the tank, and competing males will spar and display for female attention
They also seem to have a higher oxygen requirement so not really suited to a high CO2 levels (30ppm and higher)

@Sammy Islam has Sawbwa resplendens and mentions their activity in a recent post, these are definitely more hardy than the above sp.
https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/sawbwa-resplendens/


Black phantoms are always a favourite, they are readily available and tend to be easy keepers that will occupy all areas of the tank, and are usually very forward/relaxed

Sometimes I just scroll through Aquarium Glaser fish posts for ideas - many aren’t available locally but Frank Schäfer photos are always worth looking
eg, the dwarf glass fish
Parambassis lala
https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/parambassis-lala-2/

Gymnochanda ploegi
https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/gymnochanda-ploegi-2/
 
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Thank you @alto, really interesting fish suggestions. Not ones I've seen or heard of before. I would be worried about my moderately hard water (160ppm), and also I'm guessing they would mostly if not all be wild specimens, which again just guessing could be very skittish in the aquarium within my very active dining room/kitchen (kids) and may end up with more on the floor than in the tank.

The Asian rummynose I have considered a few times as they look like really interesting fish and a great contrast to the Harlequins.

With regards to Black phantoms, would they not be a possible problem with the associated nipping and slight aggression? Especially with shrimp? As they are particularly handsome fish.
 
How and when would you guys recommend I start ramping up my lights? They are on 50% at the moment and have been for about 3 weeks now.
 
Dont know how ive missed your updates mate I'd go 5% a week from now on till there at 100 % mate
Just a thought on fish ivee got 30 harlequins in my 1200 and there shoaling really well I'm now trying to decide what others to add and was thinking M kubotai to compliment the blue and red i do love the green of them hows the mc coming along has it recovered between the rock ?
 
With regards to Black phantoms, would they not be a possible problem with the associated nipping and slight aggression? Especially with shrimp?
I’ve never had issue with black phantom aggression (though the red phantoms can be rather more belligerent- they are different species rather than just color variants despite the common name implication)

It’s not unusual to hear of more aggression issues with long time tank bred stock vs the wild stock (body shape often changes as well), so it’s possible your local black phantoms may have developed more of a “rep”

One of my favourite journals @Chris Jackson ... starring ... black phantoms ;)

Island Shore - 60 x 30 x 45 Rock, grass and hopefully class!
https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/island-shore-60-x-30-x-45-rock-grass-and-hopefully-class.34254/
 
Dont know how ive missed your updates mate I'd go 5% a week from now on till there at 100 % mate
Just a thought on fish ivee got 30 harlequins in my 1200 and there shoaling really well I'm now trying to decide what others to add and was thinking M kubotai to compliment the blue and red i do love the green of them hows the mc coming along has it recovered between the rock ?
Thanks Jay, I will add some more Harlequins to help calm them. The mc has pretty much melted away, few strands left. Not sure why it's melted TBH, but I have 2 more pots that I'm planning on using.
 
I’ve never had issue with black phantom aggression (though the red phantoms can be rather more belligerent- they are different species rather than just color variants despite the common name implication)

It’s not unusual to hear of more aggression issues with long time tank bred stock vs the wild stock (body shape often changes as well), so it’s possible your local black phantoms may have developed more of a “rep”

One of my favourite journals @Chris Jackson ... starring ... black phantoms ;)

Island Shore - 60 x 30 x 45 Rock, grass and hopefully class!
https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/island-shore-60-x-30-x-45-rock-grass-and-hopefully-class.34254/
Thank you, I will look into them, my LFS has them and seem to be a relatively decent supplier. Your knowledge of aquarium fish really is quite impressive.
 
Yea I need to re-read his journal, can't remember if he glued it to the rock. I think my problem was that it kept getting disturbed and pushed back between the rocks.
 
Just plant the MC in soil close to rocks and encourage it to overgrow in that direction, or once you’ve some MC established in other areas of your tank, cut up and lift portions and transplant to the rock crevice
 
Top view of the stems. Taking shape I think. First real time growing stems like this.
ec655f404534ea7d310a5dc5180b13af.jpg
 
Guys is there anything I can do to stop buce melt. My bucephalandra theia has literally started melting, think it started on Saturday. Melting rather fast and I have quite a few in there. Can I help it?
0ad7bc68df52a9daaae8c71c4d4a9310.jpg
 
Can I help it?
Not sure you can do anything about, I had that issue with my Anubias a few melted almost by half, the remainder has grown fine since. Just adjusting to your conditions, my buces did not melt though.
 
Not sure you can do anything about, I had that issue with my Anubias a few melted almost by half, the remainder has grown fine since. Just adjusting to your conditions, my buces did not melt though.
Thanks, I'm more worried it's something I'm doing and whether I should replace them? Ive upped water changes during to remove excess waste.
 
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