Fish for my non-filter tank

[andrephua]

Hi all

I'm currently setting up a non-filter/non-water pump tank, with some aqua plants.

Would like to find out what fishes can I put in.

I'll be having shrimps as well. Thus, would certainly appreciate if the fishes won't go round hunting the shrimps.

I'm looking at getting killies. Where can I get a pair of them? What other fishes are there that I can put in such tank?

[wasabi8888]

Hi Andre

You need to let us know how big the tank is. Regardless, it's not good to have a tank without some sort of filter/aeration. The only fishes that can happily survive would be bettas aka fighting fishes as they take oxgen from air. I have personally tried guppies and they are OK as well.Unfortunately, the bettas would go for the shrimps (depending on what type of shrimps). I would definitely not go for killies. Killies are pretty sensitive fishes.

[celticfish]

vey very general question you have...
i've done a 4 ft no-tech planted tank under shade.
sunbeam of about 3" runs through half the tank over 3 hrs.
you can literally see bubbling of plants that get the sunbeam.
only DIY CO2 and EI method.
water change 50% weekly.
only complain is mulm build up is very quick as you don't have a filter.
also, build up of biofilm on surface.


fauna:
rummy nose x 20
yamatos
oto's


points to watch are:
bioload - low.
surface area maximized for gas exchange.
water change often.

[corydora]

not sure if this would work... but have you considered other labyrinth fish besides bettas? paradise fish? gouramis? assuming your tank is big enough...

other than that, i think aeration of the water would be a problem.

[andrephua]

Hi all

Hi Andre
You need to let us know how big the tank is. Regardless, it's not good to have a tank without some sort of filter/aeration. The only fishes that can happily survive would be bettas aka fighting fishes as they take oxgen from air. I have personally tried guppies and they are OK as well.Unfortunately, the bettas would go for the shrimps (depending on what type of shrimps). I would definitely not go for killies. Killies are pretty sensitive fishes.

The tank is 2ft.
Yup, I believe betta is the best, except that since it would hunt the shrimps that I would be getting, i believe it's not a good choice. Where did you get guppies that can survive without filter/aeration?
I thought killies are ok, i.e. not hardy, not that sensitive fish. But I believe I need to take note that they might jump out of the water. Nevertheless, I might just get a pair to try out. i understand that the female are rarely being sold. Anywhere I can get a male-female pair?
I'm considering catching some 'longkang' fish as well, any recommendation?

vey very general question you have...
i've done a 4 ft no-tech planted tank under shade.
sunbeam of about 3" runs through half the tank over 3 hrs.
you can literally see bubbling of plants that get the sunbeam.
only DIY CO2 and EI method.
water change 50% weekly.
only complain is mulm build up is very quick as you don't have a filter.
also, build up of biofilm on surface.


fauna:
rummy nose x 20
yamatos
oto's

points to watch are:
bioload - low.
surface area maximized for gas exchange.
water change often.

I intend to keep cherry shrimps (7-10 nos.), and perhaps 2-3 nos. of other type of shrimps, and a pair of fishes. I don't think the bioload is heavy. I intend to change about 500ml water a day. Is that okay?
I also intend to add yamato when I start having algae prob.

not sure if this would work... but have you considered other labyrinth fish besides bettas? paradise fish? gouramis? assuming your tank is big enough...

other than that, i think aeration of the water would be a problem.

I'm open to suggestion and ideas, provided that they don't go feasting on the plants and shrimps in the tank. Of course, if they can problem such as worms, hydras, etc. that would be good...

[Quixotic]

Not sure if you missed this but I repeat myself again...

Generally, shrimps and killies aren't exactly a good mix, dwarf shrimps may end up as snacks for the killies. If you really want to keep shrimps with killies, Yamato shrimps may work, but then again, mileage may vary. Or go with Pseudepiplatys annulatus (clown killies) or Aplocheilichthys spp. (lampeye killies) which are considered "shrimp safe".

Bettas and the other labyrinth fishes mentioned will do the same. If you want to keep shrimps, plant VERY heavily with MANY hiding places.

IMO, I don't think killies are any more sensitive than other fishes, but bear in mind that there are many species of killifish and they have very different requirements. They can range from the relatively cool water in Argentina to the hot tropics of Africa, from brackish to fresh water etc.

[corydora]

i agree, plant heavily.

if it is a 2 ft tank, maybe you can consider a group of female bettas.