Addition To Tank Upper Level?

[Danbarb]

Hi there, I currently have a 180 litre tank. It is holding 170 litres with the decor and plants - Did the math on this, as the manufacturer has been quite conservative with litre estimation.

I have the following fish; 2 Platinum tiger barbs, 3 albino barbs, 4 tiger barbs, 4 green tiger barbs, 5 bristlenose catfish, 2 apistogramma agassizi, 3 yoyo loaches, and 4 dwarf neon rainbowfish. (Also have about 5 ramshorn snails as far as I can tell)

I would like to get some upper level fish, but previously tried some boesemani (not upper level I know) and they were not good with tiger barbs/barbs... Am wondering what choices I have for upper level fish. Someone did suggest to me hatchetfish however, I checked AQ advisor and it said they are not compatible with barbs. My upper level of my tank is feeling a little empty... I am growing plants up and over the top of the water a little bit though but this will take time. Any suggestions please? My nitrates are looking healthy as I have an eheim 2215 external canister, and an eheim HOB liberty 2014 with DIY co2 diffusing through it. So my filtration is pretty good. Help! =) I think I have space for about 5 upper level fish, as I also do 50 percent water changes 25% twice weekly (RO + Tap water with conditioner as a half half mix).

 

[KittyKat]

So current stocking is..
* 13 tiger barbs
* 5 bristlenoses (you want to be careful here, we normally recommend only 1m 2f for a tank that size or they may start fighting)
* 2 Apistos
* 3 yoyo loaches
* 4 dwarf neon rainbows

(I find reading it broken up by colour morphs and in a line a bit difficult.)

I would say your priority should be to get the loaches and rainbows into schools. This would benefit the fish much more than the addition of another species, but if you insist on getting more.. then probably a single large gourami would be the best choice, such as lace gourami or any colour variant of three-spot gourami.

 

[Verminator89]

Agree with whats been said. Wanted to add one point though.

Take whatever Aqua Advisor says with a big pinch of salt. As apparently i can't keep ANY of my fish with my Jack Dempseys, and previous tank mates yes i've never had a problem. Also the stocking approximation is pretty much useless IME.

 

[Danbarb]

Thanks for the help guys, will think about reducing my stock of Bristlenoses down. Am getting a 80 litre tank soon, so I think I'll put two of them in there. (The bristlenoses are juveniles still by the way). Would it be advisable to put bristlenoses in a breeding tank for tiger barbs though? They'll probably eat the eggs and fry? Basically I don't mind if they eat some fry, but it would be nice if some of the fry survived by natural selection as it were.

Decisions decisions!!! I could up my stock to 8 dwarf neon rainbowfish I guess... and they do look rather nice when they are bunching together.

Do you think the upper level probably won't look bare once the plants grow over? Also how big do dwarf neon rainbowfish get as adult size?

Thanks for the advise so far, it is really helpful as I find that you can find so much differing information on the internet... and I did think AQ advisor was a bit "strict" with the advise it gives... It was telling me I needed to do HUGE water changes and the current water changes along with the filters keep my nitrates below 40ppm constantly.

Also point taken about listing colour morphs not really necessary if it's the same species as it makes more sense to see 13 tiger barbs rather than list all of them.

 

[KittyKat]

Thanks for the help guys, will think about reducing my stock of Bristlenoses down. Am getting a 80 litre tank soon, so I think I'll put two of them in there. (The bristlenoses are juveniles still by the way). Would it be advisable to put bristlenoses in a breeding tank for tiger barbs though? They'll probably eat the eggs and fry? Basically I don't mind if they eat some fry, but it would be nice if some of the fry survived by natural selection as it were.

Unless it's a 3ft, an 80 litre would be a bit too small.. maybe while they're still young, it will work. They will definitely eat the eggs, but won't bother the fry. If you, for example, use two rows of marbles over part of the tank, the eggs will fall through those and the adult fish won't be able to get them easily.

Decisions decisions!!! I could up my stock to 8 dwarf neon rainbowfish I guess... and they do look rather nice when they are bunching together. Also how big do dwarf neon rainbowfish get as adult size?

They would be more confident it you did. Do make sure to have 2 females per male so the boys don't beat each other up. They grow to 6cm, or just over 2". Also they're easy to breed so you could take turns spawning them and the barbs.

Do you think the upper level probably won't look bare once the plants grow over?

I think this will be the case. Also fish tend to venture there more if there is plant cover as that would make them feel more secure.

Thanks for the advise so far, it is really helpful as I find that you can find so much differing information on the internet... and I did think AQ advisor was a bit "strict" with the advise it gives... It was telling me I needed to do HUGE water changes and the current water changes along with the filters keep my nitrates below 40ppm constantly.

I have never used it, but from what everyone says, it sounds a bit.. unhelpful. Common sense and experience are always better

 

[Danbarb]

Thanks Kat. You have made the decision for me!

I've decided to take the rainbowfish up to 8, to make them feel more secure and wait for the plants to grow over the top.

Another odd thing I've noticed... My three albino barbs don't shoal with the other barbs. They're a new addition and it's only been a day and a half... I don't mind if they don't whatever feels natural for them is fine. I just find it a bit odd - perhaps they are getting used to the enviroment?

You gave me a lot of info there Kat, thanks for that. It is appreciated muchly, as I am learning as much as I can all the time and know a bit but it helps to get advise from people with experience!

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Im glad you took the Boesemani Rainbowfish back before it took too much damage. Shame they are great.

The bristlenoses will grow quickly and they poo loads. I have two in a 350L and they are messy!

 

[Danbarb]

Haha already noticed they are quite messy, I do gravel cleaning with a syphon twice a week as part of my water change duty so it helps a lot. It is a shame, I miss the boesemani rainbows =*(. My next project is a 350 litre with boesemani rainbows, I want about 12 of them in a tank.

I'm getting a bit of a multiple tank disorder coming, I can feel it!