[theibinyth]

I'm wanting to do a 20 -30 gallon freshwater planted tank with fancy guppy's I would also like to add other fish

I'm debating between ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp I cant decide which one would be best I mainly like the cherry's for their color but I would like to know which one would be best and why.

Also can I put a freshwater puffer with them? Or is it true that they're chompers and will eat my fish?

Almost done...Does anyone know of any good looking lower light plants I don't have a lot of money so I'm going to do this any ideas?

Lastly does anyone know of any really cool exotic fish that would be compatible with the guppies????

Thanks - Ibinyth

 

[lochaber]

On a small tank like that, it is probably hard to beat compact flourescent light bulbs in terms of expense.

Those clip-on shop light dome-reflector things they sell at Home Depot/Lowes (I think they are sometimes called brooder lights/lamps) seemed to work pretty well as reflectors when someone posted a comparison w/ PAR readings. plus, they are like 6-10 dollars.

If ghost shrimp are the same thing that I remember back in the 90's, I'd advise to go with the cherry shrimp. The ghost shrimp never lasted very long in any tanks I had set up, where as a lot of people seem to be able to keep a breeding population of cherry/etc. shrimp.

 

[Diana]

Guppies will often grow well under a wide range of conditions, but originally came from somewhat harder, alkaline water. Salt is optional.
The best Guppies I ever had were in my brackish water tank. This won't work for plants, though.

Do not add a Puffer. They can go along for a while, being OK with the other fish, then one day turn and mangle their tank mates. Puffers are for a species only tank.

Guppies have a slight tendency to stay up higher in the tank, so I would look for lower swimming fish or bottom dwellers as tank mates. Many of the smaller Cats (like Cories) and Loaches could work in a 20-30 gallons (especially if you can do the 30). I would keep the water moderately hard to combine these. Some times the tank mates can be deliberately chosen to eat the Guppy fry. Is this your goal? That sort of a fish is also likely to eat shrimp.

Other small fish for somewhat harder water include many of the Rainbow Fish relatives. Pseudomugil and similar. They are small enough to be shrimp safe, too. Asian Rummynose would be another one to look into.
Mostly these are so similar to the Guppies, though, that I would not bother to mix them.

Try the Ghost shrimp first. If nobody eats them, then go for the RCS.

 

[theibinyth]

I currently have no desire to breed the guppies so I would like for a fish that would eat the frys but overall thats not a concern of mine because the other guppies generaly eat them anyways... I would like a bottom dweller like a cat but I don't know of any cool ones I want something that will tidey up and eat any left over food but I want something exotic and different