150G / 550 Litre Stocking Options

[KateW]

So, as soon as the stand is renovated and the tank all cleaned out, I will be setting up my new (second hand) 150 gallon / 550 litre tank (5 x 2 x 2 feet - calculates to 575 litres, but will work on lower figure for convenience).

All the fish in my current tank will be moved over:

1 x Angel (3 inches top to bottom of fins)
1 x bristlenose plec, male (3 inches)
11 x harlequin rasbora
8 x peppered corydoras
6 x panda corydoras

Water - pH 6.5 with peat filtration, quite soft, and currently heated to about 26C (79F). Filtration for the new tank will be two Tetratec EX 1200, and it will be at least moderately planted with boxwood, red moor and some mopani wood, some rocks and some caves, so plenty of room for hiding places and territories.

So what shall I add to the new tank? I know the existing stock is a little mixed, but it is what I have for now. I quite like the idea of more angels, and also like the look of rams and apistogrammas. I'll increase the harlequins and cories, since there will be plenty of floor space, but would like another colourful, active schooling species.

Any suggestions?

 

[thereverendturtle]

Increase your angels to 6-8 individuals, add 4 bolivian rams and 15-20 emperor tetras. You could also add a pair or a small group of apistogrammas 1m/4-5f.

 

[minnnt]

Stick to one kind of wood also, will look more natural that way.

+1 on everything that thereverandturtle has said, but i would stock 2 male Apisto's with 4 females. Tank should be ample for 2 males. Make sure they're the same species though to cut out the risk of cross breeding.

 

[dbanner]

Once u take into account the substrate and max water line a 5x2x2 is around 500 litres but still more than enough room for the stock you got with plenty of room to add the fish others have mentioned

 

[KateW]

Thanks for the helpful comments all - I shall calculate on 500 litres then

I'm glad to hear that I can have nearly everything I want (makes a change). I know apistos and the rams can be a bit territorial. Does this mean one cave per female, even if they are not breeding? If so I shall buy/make some more, in addition to plenty of shady spots for the plec.

I finally got around to scrubbing all the old muck off the tank itself today (it was formerly a marine set up) and it actually came clean quite easily. Now just to pick off all the silicone he used to stick the background on with.

Hopefully all set up in the next three or four weeks

 

[thereverendturtle]

Yeah, make sure there are more caves than cichlids and plecos. If its a glass tank, use a single edge razor blade to scrape off the silicone, it will come off easier.