Gourami question

Hiya. I'm new to this group. I've been keeping my 20 gallon long planted
aquarium for about 4 years now. (Two years ago when I moved across
country, I gave my fish back to the LFS where I got them but brought my
plants, many of which survived.) For the last couple of years it's had
some zebra danios and one little otocinclus in among lots of java fern,
java moss, a little anubias, a cryptocoryne, an aponogeton, and some
bacopa (that's gone crAzy in there, ack!) But that's neither here nor there.

The current population is amazingly hardy. Probably because it's
overfiltered and heavily planted, these little guys will let me get away
with anything. I just did a really overdue tank cleaning and water
change (fortunately a 50% water change didn't bug them) and the aquarium
looks SO much better that I'm motivated to keep it up and try some ever
so slightly more difficult (and more colorful!) fish.

I think that gouramis will fit the bill nicely. But, having gotten rusty
on my fishkeeping skills, I need to know:

Which species will fit in this tank? With 8 danios and maybe increasing
the population to 4-5 otos, I figure I should have plenty of room for
one male of one of the larger species (like the giant Colisa sp.?) or a
pair or trio of one of the smaller ones (like the dwarf Colisa sp.).

Any thoughts? Having chosen a species, how do I find a good specimen? I
can't find LFS for the life of me (which is frustrating, having had my
choice in my previous city) so I think I'll have to go into Aquarium
Adventure or RMS Aquaculture with some of my own knowledge in hand. I'd
also be interested in mailorder if it wouldn't be a total
scam/mistreatment of the animals.

Final question: how good are tank testing chemicals good for? I haven't
used mine in ages, they've been sitting in a drawer...

Thanks so much!
-Alison (in OH)

"Alison in OH" <ams58.TakeThisOut@case.edu.invalid> wrote in message
news:ctri95$hcj$1@eeyore.INS.cwru.edu...
> Hiya. I'm new to this group. I've been keeping my 20 gallon long
> planted aquarium for about 4 years now. (Two years ago when I moved
> across country, I gave my fish back to the LFS where I got them but
> brought my plants, many of which survived.) For the last couple of
> years it's had some zebra danios and one little otocinclus in among
> lots of java fern, java moss, a little anubias, a cryptocoryne, an
> aponogeton, and some bacopa (that's gone crAzy in there, ack!) But
> that's neither here nor there.

Welcome to the group Alison.

> The current population is amazingly hardy. Probably because it's
> overfiltered and heavily planted, these little guys will let me get
> away with anything. I just did a really overdue tank cleaning and water
> change (fortunately a 50% water change didn't bug them) and the
> aquarium looks SO much better that I'm motivated to keep it up and try
> some ever so slightly more difficult (and more colorful!) fish.
>
> I think that gouramis will fit the bill nicely. But, having gotten
> rusty on my fishkeeping skills, I need to know:
>
> Which species will fit in this tank? With 8 danios and maybe increasing
> the population to 4-5 otos, I figure I should have plenty of room for
> one male of one of the larger species (like the giant Colisa sp.?) or a
> pair or trio of one of the smaller ones (like the dwarf Colisa sp.).

There are so many choices. Perhaps a pair of Colisa labiosa
(Thick-lipped gourami), easy to spawn, male is very nicely colored, good
temperament. Another option would be 4-5 Chcolate gouramis, very
delicate quietly regal, not particularly hard for an established hobbyist
but water should be relatively soft, neutral to acidic. A trio of Pearl
gouramis would look nice as well, double the size of the Chocolates, but
very good temperament. After that, I would look into the Dwarf, Croaking
& Licorice gouramis, colors vary a bit, but all having similar size and
temperament.

Another option on gouramis is Apistogramma. Small cichlids which will
leave your plants alone. Golden-eye, Agassizi, Ramirezi, Cacatoides etc.

Another option is Killifish. It all depends on what you like : )

> Any thoughts? Having chosen a species, how do I find a good specimen? I
> can't find LFS for the life of me (which is frustrating, having had my
> choice in my previous city) so I think I'll have to go into Aquarium
> Adventure or RMS Aquaculture with some of my own knowledge in hand. I'd
> also be interested in mailorder if it wouldn't be a total
> scam/mistreatment of the animals.

Either works, and depending on your local weather, mail order works fine.
In Canada, mail order is generally avoided during the winter months. In
parts of the States, mail order is hard in the hottest part of the
summer, so it all depends on when & where you are.

> Final question: how good are tank testing chemicals good for? I haven't
> used mine in ages, they've been sitting in a drawer...

There are too many manufacturers, types of reagents etc to advise
intelligently. You would have to look at them individual, and perhaps
email the manufacturer if there is no indication.

> Thanks so much!
> -Alison (in OH)

cheers
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