230 Litre Coffee Table Aquarium

[muirhead3574]

How many and what fish do you guys recommend?

 

[Gvilleguy]

Hi Muirhead - welcome to the forum!

Is this coffee table tank already cycled? Were you planning a fish-in or fishless cycle?

Stock Level
For people that do not have much fish keeping experience, the recommended stocking rule of thumb (at least starting out) is to go for one inch of mature fish per gallon of water. Calculate using the adult size of the fish. This rule kind of assumes the standard skinny bodied fish (zebras, tetras, live bearers, etc.). If you were going with wide bodied goldfish that would produce more waste, on average, then you would want to be more conservative.

Another method that you can use is to calculate the surface area of the tank and go with one inch of mature fish per 12 square inches of surface.

Again, both of these methods are only estimates that will not be as important once you have a greater understanding of how well your mature filter and tank handle the bio-load that you have stocked. That just comes with experience, from what I have seen (and I still have a lot to learn!).

Also, with either method you will want to account for the actual gallons that you put into the tank. With gravel and decorations you will not have as many gallons of water as the tank is listed for.

Stock Types
I usually do not recommend specific fish types for someone's tank until I know the general pH and hardness level of the water you will be using. Those parameters can greatly affect the type of fish that will do well in your tank.

 

[Lolly123]

All I would say is that steer clear of fish that are known to be skittish or overly shy, I can imagine that they may possibly get stressed with the amount of movement around the tank and the noise of things being placed on top.

Do you already have the tank or are you planning to buy?

 

[ZoddyZod]

Welcome to the forum!

Have you got a picture or link to the tank you mention?

As said above.....skittish fish will be a big no as they will not enjoy the movement near the tank and also the noise everytime a coffee cup is put down.

 

[lilfishie]

i must say i would love a coffee table tank in the middle of the room although i'd have to kill anyone that used it as a coffee table

 

[muirhead3574]

here's the link to the tank set up http/www.uniqueaquariumdesigns.co.uk/moredetails.php?product_id=125

tank has been cycled for 3 weeks

 

[lilfishie]

i want!

 

[Gvilleguy]

Wow that tank looks excellent! Will look forward to seeing pics of your own setup. Do not see many coffee table layouts on here.

 

[Bobtastic]

Very nice. I like that the table top is raised off the top of the tank. I hope that they've factored in some form of dampening or muffling or padding to limit any noise/vibration transference from the table top through to the tank proper.

 

[Warehouse]

Wow, that is very nice. Please keep us updated on your own tank, pictures would be great.

 

[Lolly123]

It is very nice, I wasn't imagining it to be quite as nice.

If you stock with some nice bold fish i'm sure it will be a joy to look at when you are relaxing with a coffee or a beer

 

[fluttermoth]

There's something to bear in mind; you'll be able to look at the fish from above, which is not something we're used to in a normal tank. A lot of fish, even things like neon tetras, are actually very dull viewed from the top.

I can see an island of rockwork in the middle with Malawis or Tanganyikans looking very good.

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

oh wow what a lovely tank

 

[scotty]

i would avoid fish that are prone to jumping,or they might end up all over the floor!

 

[muirhead3574]

thanks for the comments guys, i'm no newbie as i've kept a tank before but haven't done so for a wile. Forgot how interesting and rewarding it was.

the tank is at p.h 6.8 , temp 25c

the tank lid/table has rubber ringlets that reduce the vibrations / noise. The tank is also self contained with both filters in the ends aand the others housing the cables. The lighting aint the greatest and i'm going to swap it out for a L.E.D system. As its a bit dark at the ends.

Just aquired a few fish 8 inch plec, 6 guppies , 2 clown loaches, 2 balas, 1 red tail , 4 angels, 2 swords, 4 mollies - all introduced over a weeks period.

the fish are doing great and are settling in well with no dramas. all plants are real and i have driftwood and a smallish cave for shelter.

i know balas can jump but i think they will be ok. How do i up load pics?