40 Gallon Stocking

[David941]

I'm not sure what I want to do with my 40 gallon. I have an axolotl in the 40 right now and a betta and a baby bristlenose pleco in a 20 long until I decided on what I wanted to do with all my tanks (20 30 and 40 gallon). For the 40, I I want a big fish that will always be moving in a barebottom tank, like Urau Joey's arowana. I haven't found anything that I like besides oscars, but cichlids aren't really my thing. I'd love discus but that's just too expensive. I've considered peacock eels but I'm not sure if I want one. For the 40 or 30, I'd like a planted community tank but plants, decor, and the lighting plus all the fish could get a little expensive. I have the sand for it though (maybe some wood too).  I like clawed frogs, gouramis, angelifish, cory, loaches, rainbow fish, balloon mollies, cherry shrimp and a few other things. I'd like to keep the pleco and betta in the community tank if possible. For filtration, I could turn the 20 into a sump for either tanks. 20 might be a little overkill for the 30 but whatever. Thoughts? Ideas?

 

[Byron]

A 40g is insufficient space for an arowana, and discus would be crowded too with a shoal which is how they should be maintained.  The peacock eel would work.  As for the other ideas, knowing your source water parameters will help us narrow things down.  Betta are not community fish, and while some may claim it works, generally it is not likely too, and most of us here don't like risking fish so I would leave the Betta in its own space, a 5g or 10g.

 

[David941]

A 40g is insufficient space for an arowana, and discus would be crowded too with a shoal which is how they should be maintained.  The peacock eel would work.  As for the other ideas, knowing your source water parameters will help us narrow things down.  Betta are not community fish, and while some may claim it works, generally it is not likely too, and most of us here don't like risking fish so I would leave the Betta in its own space, a 5g or 10g.

Yeah I know the arowana needs way more space. I just meant I want something similar but much smaller. I think I'm gonna do the community tank though. I think I can get some wood from my dad's 55 gallon and then just get the plants and cycle. I need to make some modifications to my 40 gal stand to make it fit where I want to but it will look nice. Any sump designs you would recommend for a 20 long? Or should I use the 30 gallon for the sump? Or should I do an internal sump?

 

[Byron]

I have never used a sump filter, and for a planted tank I would think this is too much fussing.  In my fish room I have a 40g, I'll attach a photo.  This has a simple dual sponge filter.  There are over 60 fish in this flooded Amazonian forest set-up, all quite small (mature sizes) obviously.  Sand substrate, lots of wood, and here the plants were just culls from the other tanks that would have got tossed but I used them when I acquired this tank this past May.  I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have on this tank (or other questions).
 
Byron.

 

[David941]

I have never used a sump filter, and for a planted tank I would think this is too much fussing.  In my fish room I have a 40g, I'll attach a photo.  This has a simple dual sponge filter.  There are over 60 fish in this flooded Amazonian forest set-up, all quite small (mature sizes) obviously.  Sand substrate, lots of wood, and here the plants were just culls from the other tanks that would have got tossed but I used them when I acquired this tank this past May.  I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have on this tank (or other questions).
 
Byron.

That tank looks awesome! I might try asking around to see if I can find some plants cheap locally and just keep the filter that I'm already using on it, even though it's overkill. The only question I have currently is do you have any problems with gas bubbles in the sand? I'd prefer a fish or something to stir it for me, but I know they can uproot plants. I'm probably gonna attach most of them to rocks and driftwood above and under the sand so it will less likely be a problem.

 

[Byron]

I might try asking around to see if I can find some plants cheap locally and just keep the filter that I'm already using on it, even though it's overkill.
 

 
I don't know what this filter is, but keep in mind that with planted tanks "no" filter is closer than "more" filter.  I like the sponge filters (I have these in my 10g, 20g, 29g, 33g and 40g tanks simply because they do the only really essential aspect of filtration and that is mechanical, to keep the water very clear.  The plants and bacteria do the biological filtration, primarily in the substrate, though obviously there is biological filtration occurring with any filter including sponge.  Plants, along with regular partial water changes (I do 50-60% of all my tanks every week), will handle things provided the fish load is suited obviously.
 

The only question I have currently is do you have any problems with gas bubbles in the sand? I'd prefer a fish or something to stir it for me, but I know they can uproot plants. I'm probably gonna attach most of them to rocks and driftwood above and under the sand so it will less likely be a problem.
 

 
I have never had issues, and I do not stir the sand.  I had fine gravel for 15 years before I ventured into sand, and now I wish I'd done it sooner.  So long as it is not deep (the sand in the 40g pictured is about 1 inch in front and 1.5-2 inches at the back), though in my 90g it is 2-3 inches overall.  I have lots of wood in all my tanks, and the sand never gets touched under all that.  Part of biological filtration (natural) is de-nitrification, and anaerobic bacteria are a part of this.

 

[Squidney1313]

I have a small peacock eel in a 40 gallon with a pair of gouramis and 5 tetras with no problems whatsoever. if you're wanting an interesting fish, add a peacock eel would be great! they tend to stay to themselves in my experience but can be quite active and playful too.

 

[David941]

 

I might try asking around to see if I can find some plants cheap locally and just keep the filter that I'm already using on it, even though it's overkill.
 

 
I don't know what this filter is, but keep in mind that with planted tanks "no" filter is closer than "more" filter.  I like the sponge filters (I have these in my 10g, 20g, 29g, 33g and 40g tanks simply because they do the only really essential aspect of filtration and that is mechanical, to keep the water very clear.  The plants and bacteria do the biological filtration, primarily in the substrate, though obviously there is biological filtration occurring with any filter including sponge.  Plants, along with regular partial water changes (I do 50-60% of all my tanks every week), will handle things provided the fish load is suited obviously.
 
The only question I have currently is do you have any problems with gas bubbles in the sand? I'd prefer a fish or something to stir it for me, but I know they can uproot plants. I'm probably gonna attach most of them to rocks and driftwood above and under the sand so it will less likely be a problem.
 

 
I have never had issues, and I do not stir the sand.  I had fine gravel for 15 years before I ventured into sand, and now I wish I'd done it sooner.  So long as it is not deep (the sand in the 40g pictured is about 1 inch in front and 1.5-2 inches at the back), though in my 90g it is 2-3 inches overall.  I have lots of wood in all my tanks, and the sand never gets touched under all that.  Part of biological filtration (natural) is de-nitrification, and anaerobic bacteria are a part of this.
 


It's a canister filter that's rated for up to 100 gallons so it's super overkill, but I had 3 axolotls in it which are pretty dirty so it helped a lot. I had sand with them but when I did a water change and stirred it up a little the ammonia went super high so I took it out. It should be cycled still since it's just in a bucket with a little bit of the old water in it. I plan on rinsing it before I use it though. Thanks for all the help! 

I have a small peacock eel in a 40 gallon with a pair of gouramis and 5 tetras with no problems whatsoever. if you're wanting an interesting fish, add a peacock eel would be great! they tend to stay to themselves in my experience but can be quite active and playful too.

I really like eels for some reason, but their tanks aren't all that pretty. I'm sure there might be a way to keep plants from being uprooted but it sounds like a lot of work. I want to make a pretty tank with lots of colors to keep in my room instead of my reptile room. I'll see what kind of fish would be safe with it. I really wanted variety including cherry shrimp and clawed frogs. I think the frogs will be fine but I know they will eat the shrimp. I might try to put a few thick patches of moss or something and try them out but I don't think it will work. Do you think 2 eels would be fine though? I'm thinking it will as long as I provide enough hides. I need cheap hide ideas though. What could I make/buy for super cheap?

 

[Byron]

It's a canister filter that's rated for up to 100 gallons so it's super overkill, but I had 3 axolotls in it which are pretty dirty so it helped a lot. I had sand with them but when I did a water change and stirred it up a little the ammonia went super high so I took it out. It should be cycled still since it's just in a bucket with a little bit of the old water in it. I plan on rinsing it before I use it though. Thanks for all the help!
 

 
You're welcome.  I would consider this filter way too much, personally.  When you have live plants, filtration is sort of competing, and it is unnecessary anyway so long as you don't overstock the tank.  Axolotls were a very different situation.

 

[Squidney1313]

 

 
I might try asking around to see if I can find some plants cheap locally and just keep the filter that I'm already using on it, even though it's overkill.
 

 
I don't know what this filter is, but keep in mind that with planted tanks "no" filter is closer than "more" filter.  I like the sponge filters (I have these in my 10g, 20g, 29g, 33g and 40g tanks simply because they do the only really essential aspect of filtration and that is mechanical, to keep the water very clear.  The plants and bacteria do the biological filtration, primarily in the substrate, though obviously there is biological filtration occurring with any filter including sponge.  Plants, along with regular partial water changes (I do 50-60% of all my tanks every week), will handle things provided the fish load is suited obviously.
 
The only question I have currently is do you have any problems with gas bubbles in the sand? I'd prefer a fish or something to stir it for me, but I know they can uproot plants. I'm probably gonna attach most of them to rocks and driftwood above and under the sand so it will less likely be a problem.
 

 
I have never had issues, and I do not stir the sand.  I had fine gravel for 15 years before I ventured into sand, and now I wish I'd done it sooner.  So long as it is not deep (the sand in the 40g pictured is about 1 inch in front and 1.5-2 inches at the back), though in my 90g it is 2-3 inches overall.  I have lots of wood in all my tanks, and the sand never gets touched under all that.  Part of biological filtration (natural) is de-nitrification, and anaerobic bacteria are a part of this.
 


It's a canister filter that's rated for up to 100 gallons so it's super overkill, but I had 3 axolotls in it which are pretty dirty so it helped a lot. I had sand with them but when I did a water change and stirred it up a little the ammonia went super high so I took it out. It should be cycled still since it's just in a bucket with a little bit of the old water in it. I plan on rinsing it before I use it though. Thanks for all the help! 

I have a small peacock eel in a 40 gallon with a pair of gouramis and 5 tetras with no problems whatsoever. if you're wanting an interesting fish, add a peacock eel would be great! they tend to stay to themselves in my experience but can be quite active and playful too.

I really like eels for some reason, but their tanks aren't all that pretty. I'm sure there might be a way to keep plants from being uprooted but it sounds like a lot of work. I want to make a pretty tank with lots of colors to keep in my room instead of my reptile room. I'll see what kind of fish would be safe with it. I really wanted variety including cherry shrimp and clawed frogs. I think the frogs will be fine but I know they will eat the shrimp. I might try to put a few thick patches of moss or something and try them out but I don't think it will work. Do you think 2 eels would be fine though? I'm thinking it will as long as I provide enough hides. I need cheap hide ideas though. What could I make/buy for super cheap?
 


The tank i have my eel in is quite nice (in my opinion at least). I have plastic plants in my aquarium that have never been uprooted by the eel, i'm not sure how live plants would do with it i'm sure if you had the right type of substrate for the plants and a layer of sand and kept a close eye until they rooted themselves it would be ok. my eel now and the eel i had in the past never seemed to bury themselves in the sand and prefered the thick area of plants or the rock cave i have. for the hides i have some suitable rocks that i made into a cave and just a corner of the tank with lots of plants. you could also use some glass cups that have no sharp edges or look up online some aquarium decoration DIY's