"humBill" wrote in message
om...
I did not repeat my post from just above this one and unintentionally did
not repeat, perhaps the most important fact. This tank is just 15 gals.
Could I get away with 6 lemons and 6 black neons with good pet keeping
practices. I Really like the sound of that. I currently only have the
mini Aqua Clear in here, but I can eventually move a Penguin 170 if the
flow is not too strong. Don't remember if flow rate on the 170 can be
adjusted by moving the intake tube.

Yep, but don't add too much more as your near the maxium with 12. Just for
the record I had 18 Tetras, a sucker and 2 Paradise Fish in a 10 Gal tank,
to start with. It was a loy of maintinence, I can tell you and I never was
sure if the fish were happy or not. I do know there were quite a few spats
over territory.

I really like the looks of this little tank. I just kinda stumbled on it
with misc freebies and left overs, but the black background and quite
subdued lighting of the hood light are very tranquill. According to your
suggestion the lighting is fine I think. I could look into trying Black
water but don't really want to mess much with the pH. I think I'm doing a
pretty good job, but with only 7 months experience I don't feel
comfortable with driving down the pH. It normally runs around 7.4. Too
high for these fish?

Most tank fish are tank raised. Unless the LFS says they were caught in the
wild, or they demand soft water, then you'll be okay.

My pH is about 7.2 atm, but the old tank had a pH of 6.4 and I still have
all the tetras and they are even randy as hell, so pH isn't a major factor
in keeping these critters

Oz

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My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith