12 gallon long stocking suggestions?

[Austy16414]

Scooped a 12 gallon Mr. Aqua from Thien (standup guy), now trying to figure out some options. I've decided to embrace our tap water and go with a hard water setup. I picked up some aragonite sand and I've got some nice black lava rock on the way, now I'm looking for some livestock suggestions. What would you stock with?

[ptran]

I think that is perfect size for a colony of Shellies.

[Austy16414]

Dude, I was thinkin the same. Might go with some Meleagris. I'm torn between shellies and killies, but I think the shellies will fare better in the hardwater and I won't have to worry about a killie making a jump for it

[barrettsline]

Live plants,
Lots of twiggy branches
The laval rock you have ordered
OEBT'S
Boraras brigittae

OR

Lots of twiggy branches
the lava rock you have ordered
breeding pair or trio of plecos

I'm struggling for ideas here cause I haven't had a small tank in years.

[ptran]

Might go with some Meleagris

Yep. Lamprologus occelatus ‘Gold’ got my vote. Those guys are awesome to watch.

[Austy16414]

Live plants,
Lots of twiggy branches
The laval rock you have ordered
OEBT'S
Boraras brigittae

OR

Lots of twiggy branches
the lava rock you have ordered
breeding pair or trio of plecos

I'm struggling for ideas here cause I haven't had a small tank in years.

I'm diggin the pleco idea, and those boraras are nice too. Option #2 is probably more in my ballpark. Not looking to mess with plants this go around

[ptran]

Live plants,
Lots of twiggy branches
The laval rock you have ordered
OEBT'S
Boraras brigittae

OR

Lots of twiggy branches
the lava rock you have ordered
breeding pair or trio of plecos

I'm struggling for ideas here cause I haven't had a small tank in years.

Long fin super red BN plecos would be my second choice.

[Austy16414]

Yep. Lamprologus occelatus ‘Gold’ got my vote. Those guys are awesome to watch.

Gold occies are another good option, but I haven't kept the Meleagris yet. Tough choices

[Austy16414]

Long fin super red BN plecos would be my second choice.

Might have to stop by Thien's again!

[ptran]

Might have to stop by Thien's again!

Lol. I'm actually looking for the super red BN myself. Maybe you can hook me up.

[barrettsline]

If i had a small tank, it would be strictly a pleco tank or Axolotl (There is one of these setups in my future).

The nice thing is with a small tank, you can setup a 55 gallon drum for water changes and condition it for softer water if need be and your set for over a month.

[Austy16414]

Lol. I'm actually looking for the super red BN myself. Maybe you can hook me up.

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/showthread.php?66281-Freshwater-livestock-clearance-sale

Same sale I got the 12 long from. He's got a lot of awesome stock and he's a super nice guy

[Austy16414]

If i had a small tank, it would be strictly a pleco tank or Axolotl (There is one of these setups in my future).

The nice thing is with a small tank, you can setup a 55 gallon drum for water changes and condition it for softer water if need be and your set for over a month.

Very true. Roy shared some invaluable softwater tricks at one of the last GHAC meetings, but to me it just seems easier not to fight my tap water, especially since I'd have to buy new substrate at this point. Definitely gonna get into an acidic, low pH setup at some point, just not sure when

[barrettsline]

Nice thing is just about everything can be placed into a canister filter if you wish not to visually see it in your aquarium.

[Austy16414]

Nice thing is just about everything can be placed into a canister filter if you wish not to visually see it in your aquarium.

How would you go about that with a small heater? Inline? I want the clean look so I'll be using a nano canister with clear tubing and lily pipes