220-liter Tank On The Way

[nmdelrio]

I just placed an order for a 220-liter - 120cm long x 40cm wide x 50cm high (approx 58 US gals) freshwater tank.

I already have the following fishes to move in:

4 x silver sharks (now 7.5cm/3")
1 x common pleco (now 10cm/4")
1 x common blue betta (who has a very mild temperament)

The sharks and pleco will move out (or back to the lfs) when they outgrow the tank.

I plan to put in addition 6 x tiger barbs.

The tank will have UGF with 2 powerheads, heater, aquaclay layer (22kg in all) and driftwood. I also plan to put in live plants.

The tank gets delivered Sunday, so I will need to cycle it before moving in fish.

Can you please give me stocking suggestions? Any other equipment I should have?

I am quite a newbie, please be gentle.

 

[Alex_]

i do not reccommed UGF at all espeally for planted tanks

one is that they are unstable and the plants roots will

get damaged. i would recommend a HOB filter like a mariland bio-wheel

works good imo, also stock wise if you have the betta with the barbs the barbs

will most likely rip it to peices.

also it hard to answer your Q i need to know more of what you wont

also what plants are you think of and do you have a fertl substence or Co2 or what?


-Alex

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

It will be very difficult to put fish in the tank because of the betta, they are more likely to out compete it for food than anything else, i agree though that the betta would definatly be killed by tiger barbs. If you give the betta its own tank you can drastically increase your stocking posibilitys in such a tank .
What sorts of fish are you interested in apart from tiger barbs? Tetras, corys, livebearers etc ?

 

[nmdelrio]

i do not reccommed UGF at all espeally for planted tanks
one is that they are unstable and the plants roots will
get damaged. i would recommend a HOB filter like a mariland bio-wheel
works good imo, also stock wise if you have the betta with the barbs the barbs
will most likely rip it to peices.
also it hard to answer your Q i need to know more of what you wont
also what plants are you think of and do you have a fertl substence or Co2 or what?
-Alex

Sorry about my lack of information.

I will be using Aquaclay Ground substrate. The manufacturer recommends a minimum of 8cm thick for root anchor. But no, I am not anticipating to do CO2 injection. I am looking at plants with long stems/leaves, like 18" (40cm).

Yeah, I may ditch moving my betta in if there were barbs. Right now he's happy with 4 mollies, 4 platies, 2 goldfishes (2" and 4"), a 4" pleco, and 4 x 5" silver sharks. I will leave him with the mollies and platies.

I am thinking of 2"- 3" (5cm-8cm) maximum size fishes.

I read tiger barbs will keep to themselves if in groups of 5 or more. And they don't grow too big.

It will be very difficult to put fish in the tank because of the betta, they are more likely to out compete it for food than anything else, i agree though that the betta would definatly be killed by tiger barbs. If you give the betta its own tank you can drastically increase your stocking posibilitys in such a tank .
What sorts of fish are you interested in apart from tiger barbs? Tetras, corys, livebearers etc ?

I will ditch the barb-betta idea. Bettas are just my type, nice fins and small, it's a pity they don't even do well with their own kind.

Now that you've mentioned tetras, yes neon tetras!

Or something that looks like a clown loach (adult 30cm ), but something smaller.

 

[diademhill]

i do not reccommed UGF at all espeally for planted tanks
one is that they are unstable and the plants roots will
get damaged. i would recommend a HOB filter like a mariland bio-wheel
works good imo, also stock wise if you have the betta with the barbs the barbs
will most likely rip it to peices.
also it hard to answer your Q i need to know more of what you wont
also what plants are you think of and do you have a fertl substence or Co2 or what?
-Alex

Sorry about my lack of information.

I will be using Aquaclay Ground substrate. The manufacturer recommends a minimum of 8cm thick for root anchor. But no, I am not anticipating to do CO2 injection. I am looking at plants with long stems/leaves, like 18" (40cm).

Yeah, I may ditch moving my betta in if there were barbs. Right now he's happy with 4 mollies, 4 platies, 2 goldfishes (2" and 4"), a 4" pleco, and 4 x 5" silver sharks. I will leave him with the mollies and platies.

I am thinking of 2"- 3" (5cm-8cm) maximum size fishes.

I read tiger barbs will keep to themselves if in groups of 5 or more. And they don't grow too big.

It will be very difficult to put fish in the tank because of the betta, they are more likely to out compete it for food than anything else, i agree though that the betta would definatly be killed by tiger barbs. If you give the betta its own tank you can drastically increase your stocking posibilitys in such a tank .
What sorts of fish are you interested in apart from tiger barbs? Tetras, corys, livebearers etc ?

I will ditch the barb-betta idea. Bettas are just my type, nice fins and small, it's a pity they don't even do well with their own kind.

Now that you've mentioned tetras, yes neon tetras!

Or something that looks like a clown loach (adult 30cm ), but something smaller.

Why not swap out the silver sharks & the plec now as they really need a much bigger tank than 220l & take up most of your stocking caracity.
Then you could have something like this;-
Pentazona barbs are lovely fish and don't nip! You could have a decent shoal - say 7-8 of these, half a dozen congo tetras for the mid level, Botia kubotai -at least three of these which get to about 5 inches, slowly and still have room for another tetra species or some harlequins & the betta can rule the top!.

 

[nmdelrio]

Why not swap out the silver sharks & the plec now as they really need a much bigger tank than 220l & take up most of your stocking caracity.
Then you could have something like this;-
Pentazona barbs are lovely fish and don't nip! You could have a decent shoal - say 7-8 of these, half a dozen congo tetras for the mid level, Botia kubotai -at least three of these which get to about 5 inches, slowly and still have room for another tetra species or some harlequins & the betta can rule the top!.

You have a nice selection there. I like the pentazona barb, botia kubotai, and the harlequin (real nice little fishy). Frankly, I am not too keen on the congo tetra (maybe the picture I saw didn't do it justice).

You really know your fish.

Thanks.

 

[diademhill]

Frankly, I am not too keen on the congo tetra (maybe the picture I saw didn't do it justice).



Thanks.

Congos are a species that is often overlooked in shop tanks but are stunning in an established tank and this holds with a lot of the photos I found on a quick google search - http/images.google.com/images?q=congo%20...rch&sa=N&tab=wi

The females are quite pretty but the males are beautiful and they swim midwater, as a shoal, and get to a lovely size of ~ 3".
They aren't silly money either - about £3.50 at my lfs - which is not known as a budget place.

 

[pcmthmes19]

Or something that looks like a clown loach (adult 30cm ), but something smaller.

Queen Loach; about 1/3 the size, similar markings though darker