The German Ram has to be one of the nicest looking dwarf cichlids available within our hobby here in New Zealand. With its beautiful blue shimmer, golden face and rainbow tones throughout its fin, I can say without doubt it was one fish that never stuck around long in our shop and for good reason.

Plant selection is a vitally important cog in this whole system, if we pick the wrong plant we are doomed from the second it goes under the water line in your aquarium

For many of us we think having a stunning planted aquarium is going to be a daunting and expensive exercise, well this is not the case at all. It is entirely possible to set up a gorgeous planted aquarium on one simple idea.

These fish can be kept in a community aquarium but it has been noted they can pester other sedentary or long-fined fish. It is best to keep them in groups of 6-10 due to their complex hierarchy but also because they will become withdrawn or even aggressive if kept singularly and have been known to pull eye balls from corydora if group numbers are to low.

Bleeding Heart Tetra (Hyphessobrycon erythostigma) is a tetra from the Upper Amazon Basin. They grow to around 60mm in the home aquarium. These stunning fish get there name from the markings on its body, as seen in this photo it looks like a bleeding heart.

Only getting to between 2-3 inches means these little fish can be adaptable to many situations within your aquarium set from smaller aquariums to the larger, however they do tend to do better when they have a longer aquarium to forage around in.

Without a word of a lie, these tropical fish are amazing.  I have had a couple of groups in the past and I have never found them overly aggressive which is nice for a Malawi Cichlid

Unlike most barbs that can be nippy and aggressive, cherry barbs are the opposite, being very peaceful and suitable for most community aquarium set ups.

The Harlequin Rasbora ( Trigonostigma heteromorpha)is an extremely desirable aquarium addition due to its gorgeous metallic colouration and ease of care

Kuhli Loach are a small peaceful species that suits most tankmates but some bigger fish may predate on them given the chance. They will often pack into a single nook, cranny or cave so a group of at least 5 - 6 should be the minimum purchased. They don't grow too large, reaching a size of approximately 10cm.

Crinums are a part of the African onion plant family, and it is easy to see why when you look down at the bulb structure. I have heard of people slicing the bulbs and unravelling the layers, much like a brown onion, and this can be used as a propagation technique. With only one plant I am not keen on doing this.