Hi there guys and gals.. was a week into a three week holiday when my friend who was looking after my tank sent me a message that she was very sorry but all my 'colour' fish had died. .
I lost 8 Boesemani, 4 Siamese Algae Eaters, a pair of Kribenis and some Nerite snails. This has left me with one Bristlenose and i'd guess around 100 small snails which were definitely not there when I left for my holidays.This is the second holiday disaster that the Bristlenose has survived, previously my sister in law let the water level drop on a juwel tank so much that the pump burnt out.
I'm gutted about the boesemani, some were fully grown and at least 5-6 years old.The cause of death was overfeeding, I had an auto feeder set up and instructions that all my friend had to do was keep an eye on the tank but it looks like she put in about 4 months of food.. lesson learnt for me to be sure, next time I will just let them go hungry to be on the safe(r) side.
On the positive side the plants look to be in okay condition and I now have the perfect opportunity to do a complete re-scape and restock. Whilst on my holiday I also obtained 8 Bucephelandra plants. I am at a loss as to what direction to take the tank now.. its a 55g corner tank, 406 filter, injected Co2, substrate is flourite and moler clay (which i might as well get rid of as i dont like the look). Im using london tap water so hard, alkaline.
Any stocking suggestions? I've ruled out the following so far:
Discus - i would only have gone for non-imports as i'm not into RO water. Ruled out as they are too time demanding.
Angels - never really taken to them
Oscar/Jack Dempsey - always wanted one but it will be a planted tank and i'd like it to stay planted
I lost 8 Boesemani, 4 Siamese Algae Eaters, a pair of Kribenis and some Nerite snails. This has left me with one Bristlenose and i'd guess around 100 small snails which were definitely not there when I left for my holidays.This is the second holiday disaster that the Bristlenose has survived, previously my sister in law let the water level drop on a juwel tank so much that the pump burnt out.
I'm gutted about the boesemani, some were fully grown and at least 5-6 years old.The cause of death was overfeeding, I had an auto feeder set up and instructions that all my friend had to do was keep an eye on the tank but it looks like she put in about 4 months of food.. lesson learnt for me to be sure, next time I will just let them go hungry to be on the safe(r) side.
On the positive side the plants look to be in okay condition and I now have the perfect opportunity to do a complete re-scape and restock. Whilst on my holiday I also obtained 8 Bucephelandra plants. I am at a loss as to what direction to take the tank now.. its a 55g corner tank, 406 filter, injected Co2, substrate is flourite and moler clay (which i might as well get rid of as i dont like the look). Im using london tap water so hard, alkaline.
Any stocking suggestions? I've ruled out the following so far:
Discus - i would only have gone for non-imports as i'm not into RO water. Ruled out as they are too time demanding.
Angels - never really taken to them
Oscar/Jack Dempsey - always wanted one but it will be a planted tank and i'd like it to stay planted