[Draginduster]

Hey guys, I'm putting together my first planted tank and designing it around a Rainbow species. All of them actually. But I still need the ones who will take care of the tank. Shrimp are out as Rainbows will eat them with in a few minutes ( I know this the hard way). I think snails will do ok, but I need fish. Golden Algae eaters and Otos are a likely candidate. But I am here for your info. So what do I need to keep a moderatly to fairly heavy 180 gallon tank with low/medium T-5 lighting clean? And as for that, how do I figure out my fert amounts and schedules?

 

[Draginduster]

Ok, I'll set the tank up and see what kind of flow I can get out of the FX5 and a possible added pump. They are a very interesting fish, that's for sure.

 

[Draginduster]

I am in a debate with myself on which species. I have a large tank I'm setting up and had an idea of rainbows, then I went to the Denver aquarium and they have a large display of rainbows. It sealed the deal. Melanotaenia trifasciata, Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi, Melanotaenia lacustris, Glossolepis multisquamatus are planned. I am still researching fish and have seen all these in the same tank, but they all ask for a slightly different water setup. I'm honestly having a hard time with the a fleeting thought of Angels. We will just have to see.

 

[Draginduster]

FarCanal, are you saying that the Otos are the Rainbows or the Rainbows ate the Otos? I've actually think that I have decided on setting it up with a single spices. I'm leaning toward Melanotaenia lacustris, or for the NORMAL people who like real names that one can understand (like me), the Lake Kutubu Rainbowfish. I have one now and love the color. I can only imagine a tank full of these!! I have wondered how these would do with shrimp and snails. I was told by azgardens.com to use snails. Have any of you had issues with shrimp and rainbows?

 

[Draginduster]

Well, after some more browsing and hours in the net, I found this sweet sweet page. http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Melano.htm It's the species of just about every Rainbow in existence. Of course, it is Australia. And we all know that nature has an amazing imaginations there.