Black Phantom Tetras

Lovely photos 

It's always a good moment when the fish settle in and start coming out to see you 

I've concluded that most of the tetras, barbs, danios, rasboras and corydpras are pretty tough and "easy care" fish. That's why I'm sticking to them for my tanks. Most problems, judging from this forum. seem to come from overbred fish, especially livebearers, or the more unusual fish. Unfortunately, it is the latter which often look more appealing in the shop, but in my opinion a nice group of small shoaling fish which have settled in, developed their true colours and interact with each other, are the more attractive and interesting in the long run. You can also get more of them into a normal sized tank.

Hi!

Wanted to give quick update on Black Phantoms.   Got 3 more females today and they settled straight in with the others and they all look stunning!!!

Also discovered whilst looking at the other fish there a celestial pearl danio - yes I did say A celestial pearl danio. All on his own with a Male Betta.  I asked why he was the only one and the chap said he was the last one left and others had been sold.

Anyway, I bought him coz he looked so lonely in that empty tank I felt quite sad for him.  He has joined the Phantoms quite happily and stays in the middle of the shoal (where it's safe!) and they seem to tolerate him really well!!!!!  He's so ickle!!!!

I'm going to get some more so he has mates when the Phantoms are settled in the big tank.  I have a question regarding moving them. Should I move them all together or in two groups??  I don't want to overload the filter and upset things in the big tank.

One other query I have is my GH and KH seem to be high (GH = 14-21/ KH= 15. My PH is around 7)   I asked the chap in MA and he sold me some RO water.  Is this the best thing to do? I've been advised to add it at a ration of 5:1 (5 parts RO to 1 part tap) which I plan to do tomorrow when I do a water change but I wondered if I actually need to worry about these values (KH and GH) or if I could have saved myself some money?

Advice would be gratefully received.

Cheers,

FC

man those lil suckers sure are gorgeous aren't they thats why i have about twenty of them in a 20 gallon tank

I have found that it is quite common for fish to just die within a week or two of purchase. This is why I always buy a couple more than I really want of shoaling fish. I would put it down to that. If the fish wasn't actually wedged in the ornament, that won't be the cause of death - it's only fish like gouramis and bettas that drown. I have noticed over the years that a fish that is about to die will go somewhere they don't need to actively swim, often into a plant. I suspect they find it easier than having to swim to stop being blown around the tank by the filter.