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Corys are certainly a option, given the type of fish your keeping larger corys will be a preferable option, albeit expensive one, but with altums, wild discus, L numbers ect on the list some $40-60 each corys shouldn't offend!
Not trying to be arrogant, we supply (NLS) to over 200 retailers and wholesalers. Almost everything i've purchased are from our customers, this really helped. If it wasn't for them i would have gone for a much smaller tank/setup.
Managed to find 25 Corydoras Aeneus Neon Gold Stripe from QLD, they are on hold till the tank is cycled.
I really like the whip tail catfish, Farlowella Catfish and Clown Plecos (L104). I read about the whip tails and they seem ok for planted tanks. Does anyone keep L104 in planted tanks? Are they safe to keep in my setup?
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I hope you can see that your altum idea is shaping what you can and can't keep in the tank, at full size a school of them us stunning but they are a big fish that is an excellent fast hunter and will take out smaller fish with ease.
If you went discus only then a huge number of smaller fish options open up to you, the altums mean all tank mates must be big and sturdy, but at the same time pose no threat to the altums in fin nipping or bullying behavior. You can count out anything under 6-7cm with the altums, discus more like 3-5cm.
Vebas have some baby altums in there planted tank display I'm waiting patiently for them to get big at which point most of the little fish will disappear. Although I somewhat expect that vebas might sell them on before that happens. It will be alot easier to remove the altums before they remove the small fish than try remove the small fish before the altums eat them.
Something I have experienced with normal angels and discus is that should a angel decide to join in on the discus heirachy battles and fights that are always going on in groups of discus, that the angels always win, and discus can be hurt, possibly bad enough to eventually cause death. I hope you (or anyone else) don't experience this, it might be a idea to have a backup tank as a safe haven should a battle erupt and your discus are hitting the lids and walls of the tank trying to escape the feisty angelfish.
In the wild these fish can easily get away from each other, however they would never be subjected to a scenario where they are forced into each others group heirachy by limitations of space. Should either decide to breed in your display you can expect potential problems, it's unlikely the angelfish will be interested in being chased away by discus particularily when there is no where to go, and simply fight back. Yes they live together in the wild, but not within the confines of a cubic metre. Yes they might swim together or near each other, but they don't go home with each other every night, they don't get involved in each others family squables, but in the confines of a cubic metre glass box they are pissing in each others pockets, literally!
It's not impossible to keep discus and angels together, but consider that you might be able to provide your new pets a better home if they don't have to fight to be top cichlid of there measly cubic metre of earth you have provided.
If you have ever tried to keep discus in a group setting within a display setup where they feel comfortable enough the cichlid nature begins to really shine, the fighting and chasing is constant, although a clear leader of the heirachy is usually quickly formed the 2,3,4 positions are constantly contested in a daily never ending battle, face to face lip locking isn't unusual, constant little chases are always on but can get very serious at times, I've watched my discus pin a newly introduced tankmates hard against the cover glass almost out of the water pecking at the side of it's body I removed the said discus so I will never know where they just telling it who is boss or was the intention death? Generally speaking these little fights are fairly eventless, it's when a angelfish gets involved that things go wrong, angels swim faster, are more agile and far more aggressive so they generally win, even if they are half the size.
I'm looking forward to seeing the tank with fish, it's fun stocking big tanks but I have found out the hard way, decide on the right fish first time, it's not always easy to get the fish back out without tearing the whole tank apart to catch A poorly thought out addition.
Juls
Thanks for your advice Juls:) I'd rather keep Altums and limit what i can keep or not keep them at all. It's more likely i'll get my Discus first, I decided on 12 WC Greens, have spread the word, hopefully they will come soon. There's still two Altums left in a tank at Vebas, soooo tempted to bring them once the tank is cycled, not sure if it is a good idea tho..?! From what i've read it's always best to buy them in large colonies.
I'm hoping finish planting in the next two weeks. Crinum and the Red Crypts will go in this weekend and what ever i can get my hands on..