In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Arthur Preston explores the world of community aquariums, sharing tips and insights on how to create a peaceful, vibrant underwater ecosystem. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refresh your tank, Arthur introduces three versatile setups featuring five fish species each - ranging from beginner-friendly classics like Neon Tetras and Corydoras Catfish to algae-eating Otocinclus and fascinating invertebrates like Cherry Shrimp.
Discover how to choose compatible fish, balance your tank's layers, and keep things simple yet stunning.
[00:00:00] Welcome to this episode of The Aquarists Edge, a podcast for home aquarists just like you.
[00:00:06] Learn more about how to keep a thriving aquarium and discover ideas and tips to give your aquarium the edge.
[00:00:12] And now, over to our host, Arthur Preston.
[00:00:18] A whole bunch of busy, colorful little fish all living together in the most amazing ecosystem that you've created in your aquarium.
[00:00:27] This is a community aquarium.
[00:00:29] People talk about community aquariums all the time.
[00:00:32] Most of us, when we start out in our hobby, will develop a community aquarium as we get to know many of the different species available to fish keeping enthusiasts.
[00:00:43] And it's fish of all colors or shapes or behaviors.
[00:00:46] They all come together and develop this amazing underwater world.
[00:00:50] So that's what we're going to focus on today.
[00:00:52] We're going to look at how do you start out?
[00:00:54] What do you need to do?
[00:00:56] What fish can live together beautifully in a community aquarium?
[00:01:00] And I'm going to do this by sharing three sets of five with you.
[00:01:05] And we're going to talk about each of those sets of five.
[00:01:09] You can obviously mix and match as you want to.
[00:01:11] But five is a nice way to get started.
[00:01:13] But let's actually start by asking why community tank?
[00:01:16] Why are they so popular?
[00:01:18] Well, for me, there's something magical about seeing so many different types of fish living together.
[00:01:23] It's like watching a live nature documentary, but in your house.
[00:01:27] The best part?
[00:01:28] You get variety.
[00:01:29] Different colors, different patterns, different sizes, all swimming in the same tank.
[00:01:34] And because many species occupy different levels of the water or layers of the water, you really can build a miniature underwater world.
[00:01:41] Some fish are going to dart around the top of the tank, others in the middle.
[00:01:44] And a few will stay busy down at the bottom, either exploring or peening up.
[00:01:48] Another reason why community tanks are great is because of the interactions.
[00:01:53] And yeah, I think I'm nuts perhaps, but fish have personalities.
[00:01:57] Yep, they do.
[00:01:58] They have personalities.
[00:01:59] And watching them interact with each other is endlessly entertaining.
[00:02:03] You might see schooling fish moving in perfect harmony, a curious little corridor exploring the gravel,
[00:02:08] or a better giving you a look as if to say, yes, I am the king of this castle.
[00:02:13] And one last thing, community tanks are often easier to manage than you think.
[00:02:17] Once you've chosen compatible fish, they tend to coexist quite peacefully.
[00:02:21] And many species thrive better in groups.
[00:02:24] When your fish are happy and stress-free, it's a win for everyone.
[00:02:28] So why then groups of five?
[00:02:30] What is special about five?
[00:02:32] Well, it's all about balance.
[00:02:34] Five is that sweet spot where you can have variety without getting things too complicated.
[00:02:39] If you've got too many different species, you're juggling water parameters, diet preferences,
[00:02:44] and fish that might not get along.
[00:02:46] With five species, you can spread out the action across the tank, the top, the middle, and the bottom,
[00:02:51] and still keep things manageable.
[00:02:53] Plus, it makes feeding time simple, and you can ensure everyone gets their fair share.
[00:02:57] Right, so let's get into the fun stuff.
[00:03:00] What are these sets of five?
[00:03:02] They're going to be broken up into three here.
[00:03:05] An easy starter group, a diverse tank that includes algae eaters,
[00:03:08] and a group with some fascinating invertebrates.
[00:03:11] Right, let's get into it.
[00:03:12] So let's start with set one.
[00:03:14] We'll call this the basic set, the five easiest fish for a community aquarium.
[00:03:18] And again, folks, this is my opinion.
[00:03:21] Others will differ.
[00:03:22] And remember, you certainly can mix and match.
[00:03:24] And I'm going to start with one that we've just done a podcast episode on,
[00:03:28] and that is the Neon Tetra.
[00:03:30] These little guys are like living jewels.
[00:03:32] They have a gorgeous blue stripe down their body with a little pop of red,
[00:03:35] and they're small.
[00:03:36] They're about four centimeters long.
[00:03:38] But they make a huge impact, particularly if you keep them in a school of six or more.
[00:03:42] And you'll notice that in a school, they'll feel safer and look more stunning when they swim together.
[00:03:47] They love planted tanks.
[00:03:49] And their calm, peaceful nature makes them perfect for beginners.
[00:03:53] They're like the classic fish for community tanks.
[00:03:56] Everybody's had them, and lots of beginners will still have them.
[00:03:58] In fact, lots of advanced acarists still love having neons.
[00:04:03] Next up, we'll have the honey garami.
[00:04:05] These fish are mellow, and their golden orange colors add a warm sunset glow.
[00:04:10] They're peaceful, although sometimes the males can show off to each other a bit.
[00:04:14] They can get a little bit aggressive, but it's nothing too serious.
[00:04:18] They are happiest in well-planted tanks with a few hiding spots to explore,
[00:04:22] and they're not picky eaters either.
[00:04:26] The third one in the basic set is the platy.
[00:04:29] Now, if you want something lively, platys are fantastic.
[00:04:31] They're colorful, they're full of energy, and come in many patterns.
[00:04:34] Reds, oranges, yellows, and even speckle varieties.
[00:04:38] And if you're lucky, you might get some fry,
[00:04:41] because platys are life-bearers, meaning they give birth to free swimming young.
[00:04:45] Obviously, if you don't want that, then only buy males.
[00:04:48] Watching a tank with platys is like watching a colorful parade of fish that never stops moving.
[00:04:55] Then you have your zebra danios.
[00:04:57] These are what I would call the athletes of the aquarium.
[00:05:00] They're fast, they're active, and they zip around the tank all day long.
[00:05:04] They're very tough, they're adaptable, and they do best in grooves for at least five or six.
[00:05:09] Their black and white stripes are simple,
[00:05:11] and they add a lot of energy to the middle and the top layers of your tank.
[00:05:16] The last fish in this group is a fish that can survive in a wide variety of conditions,
[00:05:22] and looks great in a group together, and that would be the white cloud mountain minnow.
[00:05:28] These are perfect for cooler tanks, and they're peaceful, they love groups,
[00:05:32] and their shimmering silver and red colors look beautiful under the light.
[00:05:36] So that's our basic set.
[00:05:39] So let's now step it up and look for something more diverse,
[00:05:42] and this time include fish that occupy all parts of the tank,
[00:05:47] as well as a handy algae eater to help keep things tidy.
[00:05:51] Well, we'll first start with the show piece of the tank,
[00:05:54] and that is a betta fish.
[00:05:57] Yeah, bettas can be in community tanks.
[00:06:00] They can be territorial, but they find with peaceful tank mates,
[00:06:03] they stay out of their way.
[00:06:05] And bettas do have personalities.
[00:06:07] So if you happen to get a very aggressive one, then this may not work.
[00:06:10] But generally speaking, most betta males will be absolutely fine.
[00:06:15] They're stunning fish, with their flowing fins and their colors,
[00:06:19] and bettas tend to stick around the top of the tank.
[00:06:23] Then you could add corridors to your tank.
[00:06:25] These little bottom dwellers are adorable.
[00:06:28] My little pet phrase for them is that they're the labradors of the tank.
[00:06:31] They're constantly scavenging along the gravel, cleaning up leftover food,
[00:06:35] and they're just fun to watch.
[00:06:37] They're peaceful, they're active, they look great in groups of four or more.
[00:06:41] Then, of course, the fish that everybody has had at some point,
[00:06:46] and that is the guppy.
[00:06:48] Guppies are like the confetti of the fish world.
[00:06:50] They come in every color imaginable,
[00:06:52] and their tails look like little flags waving as they swim.
[00:06:55] Again, these are live bearers if you don't want to be inundated with little baby guppies.
[00:07:00] Only by those colorful males, put them in the tank together,
[00:07:03] they'll look stunning as they swim together.
[00:07:05] They're very peaceful, they're easy to care for,
[00:07:07] and, of course, they will be readily if that's what you want.
[00:07:12] Fourthly, I would add rainbow fish.
[00:07:14] Now, these are larger fish, they're quite active,
[00:07:16] but they light up the tank with their iridescent colors.
[00:07:19] They're perfect for the middle and the top layer,
[00:07:21] and they add a lot of visual movement.
[00:07:24] The last one in this group is the otto, or otto synchlus.
[00:07:28] If algae is a concern, these little ottos are lifesavers.
[00:07:31] They're small, they're peaceful,
[00:07:33] and they are great at managing around algae,
[00:07:35] keeping your tank spotless.
[00:07:37] Now, they won't eat every type of algae,
[00:07:39] but your basic algae that will form on the glass,
[00:07:41] and on decor in the tank,
[00:07:44] ottoes will sort that out for you.
[00:07:45] So that's the second set of five,
[00:07:48] a diverse community tank with an algae eater.
[00:07:51] Now, the third and last group is,
[00:07:55] for those who want to add something a bit different,
[00:07:57] like shrimp and snails.
[00:07:58] Now, again, there are the wide varieties here,
[00:08:02] there are lots of combinations,
[00:08:03] and certainly you could combine some of these
[00:08:06] with the other fish that I've already mentioned.
[00:08:08] But in keeping with the set of five,
[00:08:10] let's hit these.
[00:08:11] Number one, cherry shrimp.
[00:08:14] Now, cherry shrimp are fantastic for your tank.
[00:08:17] They come in a variety of colors,
[00:08:20] oranges and reds and yellows and blues,
[00:08:22] and varieties of those in between.
[00:08:25] They're great at being a cleanup crew,
[00:08:27] good at sorting out the algae in your tank,
[00:08:29] leftover food and so forth,
[00:08:31] and quite frankly, they're just fun to watch.
[00:08:33] They're very vibrant and they're hardy.
[00:08:36] You can also look at the Amano shrimp.
[00:08:38] These are larger than cherry shrimp,
[00:08:39] and they're basically algae-eating machines.
[00:08:42] Amano shrimp also do not breed in freshwater,
[00:08:44] so if you're worried about your colony becoming too big,
[00:08:47] that won't happen with Amanos.
[00:08:49] And they're quite fun to see in a community tank.
[00:08:52] A little bit bigger than your normal shrimp,
[00:08:54] and yeah, they get busy,
[00:08:56] and they sort out your algae for you.
[00:08:58] Then, endlers.
[00:09:00] Now, endlers are also live bearers.
[00:09:02] They're not to be confused with guppies,
[00:09:05] and they are small, they're colorful,
[00:09:07] they get along very well with most other creatures in your tank,
[00:09:10] get along well with the shrimp.
[00:09:12] And they are just, again, flashes of color
[00:09:15] that dart around your tank.
[00:09:17] Once more, and let me say it again,
[00:09:19] these are live bearers.
[00:09:20] So if you don't want to have loads of baby
[00:09:23] enders in your tank,
[00:09:24] only get males.
[00:09:26] The second to last in this group would be the CPD,
[00:09:30] or the Celestial Pearl Danio.
[00:09:32] These are tiny little peaceful fish.
[00:09:34] They have, look like stars in their bodies,
[00:09:37] hence their name, Celestial.
[00:09:39] And they're just a lot of fun to watch in the tank,
[00:09:42] and they're fairly hardy,
[00:09:43] and they're very peaceful.
[00:09:45] And lastly in this tank,
[00:09:47] I would suggest a near-right snail.
[00:09:49] What's nice about these snails
[00:09:51] is that they don't breed in fresh water,
[00:09:54] so you've got no problem in terms of
[00:09:56] becoming overrun with snails in your tank.
[00:09:58] They are fantastic algae munchers,
[00:10:01] so again, if you've got a need
[00:10:04] to control the algae in your tank,
[00:10:06] near-right snails are fantastic.
[00:10:10] So that's the three sets of five.
[00:10:13] I've mentioned 15 different varieties
[00:10:15] of fish and invertebrates.
[00:10:18] You, of course, can mix and match them
[00:10:19] as you want to.
[00:10:20] There's no set hard and fast rule here.
[00:10:23] You need to find animals and fish
[00:10:25] that work for you in your tank,
[00:10:27] but do try and make sure
[00:10:28] that there's a variety.
[00:10:30] Make sure that you're putting in fish
[00:10:31] that can occupy different levels of your tank.
[00:10:33] It's always a good idea
[00:10:34] to put some cleanup crew in your tank as well
[00:10:37] to help you with the maintenance of the tank.
[00:10:39] That's not an excuse
[00:10:40] not to do your own maintenance,
[00:10:41] but it's always nice to get a bit of help
[00:10:43] from the creatures inside your tank as well.
[00:10:46] So building a community aquarium
[00:10:48] is probably one of the most rewarding things
[00:10:50] you can do as an aquarist.
[00:10:52] By choosing the right mix of fish,
[00:10:54] you'll create a peaceful,
[00:10:55] colorful underwater world.
[00:10:57] It's just fun to watch
[00:10:58] and it's surprisingly easy to care for.
[00:11:00] Whether you start with the basic group
[00:11:02] or mix it up with algae eaters
[00:11:03] or add in shrimp and snails,
[00:11:05] you can do it with what you like,
[00:11:06] but there's something there for everybody.
[00:11:08] So folks, thanks for spending time
[00:11:10] listening to this podcast episode today.
[00:11:12] Pass this podcast on to other fish keepers
[00:11:15] that you may know.
[00:11:16] Please go ahead and subscribe to us
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[00:11:22] leave us a review.
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[00:11:25] and keep this podcast in the feed
[00:11:27] of those who are also in this wonderful hobby.
[00:11:30] So reach out,
[00:11:31] keep the conversation going,
[00:11:33] have fun with the community tanks.
[00:11:35] Until we meet at the next episode,
[00:11:38] happy fish keeping.
[00:11:39] Bye for now.
[00:11:40] That's it for this episode
[00:11:42] of the Aquarius Sedge.
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