We got a fish tank for Christmas!

[ItsaMetalBand]

Our new joint Christmas present to ourselves this year was a 168l tank. The plan is to cycle it over the next couple of weeks and when it's ready, to start stocking up. We had a 60L a few years back so we are not absolute newbies.

On our wish list so far is a striking betta, a shoal of green neon tetras, DH liked the glass catfish we had before. DS wants both a turtle and a frog in there but I've a feeling they won't be compatible with each other or other fish.

Our brilliant pet shop has gave the website of their stockist, and said if we like anything they can order it in.

So, throw ideas at me!

Also, we live in an extremely hard water area, any advice or tips on that?

a mystery snail may be a good addition! they get along with bettas, live well in hard water, and they'll clean up waste left inside of the tank. plus they don't reproduce asexually so there no there's no need to worry about a sudden surplus in snails.

You can probably get some African dwarf frogs, they’re pretty easy

Dwarf Frogs can struggle in community tanks - they're easily nipped and outcompeted to food. It's also easy to accidentally buy a Clawed Frog instead of Dwarf Frog - who get tennis ball sized plus legs and will eat your fish!

Bettas can work in larger community tanks - but you need to be careful to ensure they're not fin nipped by faster tank mates and, if they have a long fancy tail, they're not buffeted around by powerful filters.

I'm pretty sure you can't put a turtle in with them!

I've not kept dwarf frogs before, but I was told by our local tropical fish stockist that they tend to climb out of the tank or in the filter etc.

I had dwarf rainbow fish with cardinal tetras, they were gorgeous.

Definitely get some snails - they eat all the algae and keep the tank looking amazing.

Thanks!
The pet shop has backed me up on the turtle and the frogs that they aren't the best option for a peaceful community tank. They suggested dwarf crayfish instead - bright coloured lively bottom feeders that kids love.

We like the kubotai rasbora and galaxy rasbora - we had harlequin rasbora before so if they suit we'll add those in to our community. And ember tetra look nice too.
I'll add snails for sure, but it looks like our tank won't be suitable for rainbow fish as it's high rather than wide and it's recommended that they have a wide or long tank. They are gorgeous though... maybe for our next tank

Yes Rainbow fish need a long tank, maybe the dward ones would be ok though.