steely Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 hi i had ciclids but have died looking for hardy colourful fish as work away abit and cant clean tank every fortnight thanks any ideas would be great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azedenkae Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 (edited) Bristlenose Catfish. That or Red Cherry Shrimp. Not a fish, but you basically don't have to do anything if you have a planted tank and it's established and stuff. [EDIT] Bristlenose Catfish are not colorful, my bad. >< Red Cherry Shrimp is the only thing that I can think of that is colorful and can survive a lot of neglect atm. Edited December 27, 2012 by Azedenkae Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steely Posted December 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 thanks for the ideas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unheatedtank Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 How about danios as you can have a few types and get some native as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frontosa keeper Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 Tangs mate. Best fish out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braddo Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 Sorry mate but ou havent mentioned tank size this will help to let us know what you may be able to keep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pk333 Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 Better reread the original post. I don't know if I'd like to keep any fish in a tank that can not even be cleaned once a fortnight due to work commitments. johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steely Posted December 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 4ft tank with cannister filter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadFishFloating Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 lol buy some peacocks off me mate. They may be cichlids, but they are hardy as all hell. Can pick ya out a nice dozen of (approx 5cm) peacocks for $60, that will be fine with a water change every 2 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azedenkae Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 4ft... canister. Fill it up with Cherries mate, and Apple Snails. XD They will provide red and yellow and maybe some other colors depending on if you can get the other color variations. Very low upkeep, and you don't have to worry about them starving. Any fish that can't really survive off of the algae growing in the tank, will just cause too much stress for ya. Those that can include bristlenoses, but obviously they're not that pretty tho. I dunno about L-numbers - they are pretty, but not sure how well they'd survive tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brock Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 most American cichlids are pretty hardy mate and colourful lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braddo Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 I agree with pk on this one you really got to look hard on whether fish are really important. Not being nasty but 4fter really isnt that big when it comes to lack of maintenance so personally I wouldnt have fish until your ready to put in time for thee required maintenance. I work a 12 day on 2 day off shift so 1 day is for my family and 1 day for my fish room. The only other way you could really do it is over filter your tank. But then there is feeding dont listen to the rubbish on algae feeders and living off algae for long periods of time, yer this is good once in a while like if you go on hols, but is not good if the fish are expected to do this regularly unless you invest in a good quality automatic feeder. Just giving you something to think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
028NVD Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 Why get a pet when your 1st admittance is that your not going to be able to care for it? Dont mean to sound like an ass, but it is what it is johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steely Posted December 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 my partner will be feeding the fish daily and can wipe the tank down and top it up as needed, it is just the cleaning of the filter that won't get done until I'm home every four weeks. It's a four foot tank with a canister filter. thanks, Steely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grubby Posted December 27, 2012 Report Share Posted December 27, 2012 Rainbows, hardy and easy to look after.Amazing colours too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pk333 Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Well a canister filter doesn't need to be cleaned too often. Obviously it depends on the stocking level of the tank, but a canister filter really only needs to be cleaned once every two to four months. With fish, the main concern would be the need for water changes. If your partner could do a small water change once per week, that would be a good start. Then when you are home, you can do a larger water change. Or, if you have the cash, there are tank maintenance services, where some one comes out, cleans and water changes your tank. I know forum sponsor, Pet City used to offer this service (not sure if they still do). johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unheatedtank Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 If you are desperate, you can minimize the stock, put as many plants in as you can. Of course, choose the easiest ones, or hang a bunch aluminium on top with timer light, put more sprong filters, Fill 3/4 and ask your partner to top up weekly, it will be fine when you get back to do a big WC, and do a quick cleaning of the glass... i suggest not to use any gravel, and get a auto gravel cleaner, yr partner will soon see many p.... and will be angry enough to take them out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadFishFloating Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 4 weeks without a water change? too easy man 6 peacocks feed spectrum add in a powerhead like an otto 800 teach Mrs to clean powerhead (IF she needs too, and she likely will not) start with young ones and once full adult you will still be able to get away with 4 weekly water changes. Have setup many such tanks before where family could only afford a callout to clean once a month and thus I would setup tanks that would get to 80ppm nitrate in those 4 weeks then do a double 50% water change + filter clean. result was nitrates below 20ppm yea its not perfect buuuuuuuuuuuut it works well. mbuna are even better heck get shell dwellers and you would usually be doing monthly water changes anyway shell dwellers like multis are awesome as they build civilisations and tribes in tanks that large let them be the bosses and ye shall be entertained! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pk333 Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Interesting. Never thought you could double like a post. johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadFishFloating Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Either......... but I can see an upside to it, from where I am standing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unheatedtank Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Tried again and failed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
