"Newbie Bill" wrote in message
om...

"NetMax" wrote in message
.. .
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For your reading interests then : )
http://www.2cah.com/netmax/basics/st...stocking.shtml
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I have read through this page and it is very informative. It does give
me a little better sense of where I am heading.
Couple more questions please. 1) Could you suggest a site(s) which
might give me a better idea of their tank swimming and activity levels?

In a single site, not really, and it might take you a lot if mining. On
my links page, under ID, you will see a lot of the main sites.
Fortunately, general fish behaviour is by family (or genus), with nuances
by genus or species. You can learn a lot by their mouth. Gourami &
tetra mouths open pointing upwards (they feed from the surface, so they
spend lots of time in the top half of the tank) and Oto and cory mouths
point downwards, and these fish are heavier than water (so they are
bottom-feeders which stay on or near the bottom of the tank). Then there
are exceptions, such as Pygmy corys who like to swim in the water and
park in leaves, and some Betta (same family as gouramis) can spend lots
of time hunting along the bottom of a tank, so individual personalities
will factor in too.

2) I'm sure you talk about it elsewhere but how concerned should you
be with fish suggested pH, gH, temp etc? My tap is normally around 7.5
pH and 150 gH.

As I recall, gouramis, tetras, panda corys and otos. I also don't see
any problems with your water. You want to avoid the extremes when the
fish originate from the other extreme. You are more interested in pH, gH
temp etc, when looking for spawning triggers. More problems originate
from messing with the water, than from keeping it where it is and nice
and clean.

3)What's the difference between schooling and shoaling fish?

Already explained by others. Shoaling is to generally behave as a group.

Thanxx
Bill

pleasure : )
--
www.NetMax.tk