Advice On Stocking Options For New Tank

[therack38]

I am in the process of setting up a 375 litre planted tank, and would really appreciate some advice from experienced fishkeepers on stocking levels and suitable tankmates. (I am getting so much conflicting information that I'm more confused than when I started! )
My main interest is plecos, how many can I comfortably acommodate in a tank this size? My ideal tankmates would be 4-6 silver dollars, a shoal of tetras such as cardinal or glowlight, a group (8-10?) of corydoras such as adolphi, panda or agassizi, a couple of angelfish and some synos such as upside down catfish. Is this realistic? Also in what order would you guys suggest I introduce them into the new tank?

 

[big mick]

Firstly silver dollars will tear through plants like pac man so they might be a bad idea if you want your tank planted. Angels you will be fine with and you could keep a good few corries in there, maybe even 3 of each you mentioned would be fine but dont get groups of less than 3 each kind.

As for the tetras, angels will tend to chase smaller ones so I would definatly go for the cardinals, not only are they bigger they are much nicer.

Not sure about the synos as Ive never kept them.

Plecs I would go for bristlenose ( I have heard people complain that they destroy plants aswell but my 2 have been fine), they dont get too big, look great and are very good for eating algae......you could have 2-3 maybe, you can get albino and golden aswell which will add a bit of variety and if they have a small cave they will breed quite readily.

As for adding the fish in an order I would add the bristlenose first as they are very hardy, then the corries, then angels and finally the cardinals but as long as the tank is cyled properly they should all be fine.

How long has the tank been set up?.....I assume you are doing a fishless cycle or do you have any filter material from a cycled tank?

With 2 angels, 10 cardinals, 3 bristlenose and 9 corries you still have plenty room to play with, you could get silver dollars (maybe only 3-4 though as they do get quite big quite quick) but I would recomend using artificial plants if you do, it wont look as attractive as a real planted tank but no real planted tank looks good with silver dollars in it because the do just munch everything.

I would go with a planted tank and forget the silver dollars.....instead either get more angels or what about gouramis?

Hopefully someone else can advise you o the synos though.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Just adding that if you are doing a fishless cycle you will not want to add too few fish at the end of the cycle; else the tank will partially uncycle again and you will have a minicycle. I would add some of the corys (but not the pandas) and maybe the glowlight tetras (if you're going for glowlights) at the same time as the bristlenoses.

 

[red-devil0602]

try this for fish compatabilty


Sorry, but I had to edit out the link you gave because it required membership in order for anyone to use it.

Inchworm

 

[therack38]

thanks for your suggestions. I have not even started fishless cycle yet, tank arrives thursday. I wanted to start asking questions now though, give me time to research the various possibilities. I have a 72 litre tank set up, which is planted, and has two silver dollars in. they don't seem interested in the plants at all, and don't even peck at the zuccini, lettuce or peas that I put in for the pleco. I am suprised to hear that they might devour a planted tank. Mine must be weird. I am aware that the cycling process can be speeded up by adding some bacteria from an established tank, but one of my gouramis has a swim bladder infection which I am treating, but this has played havoc with the water quality. I am a bit scared of seeding the new tank with bacteria from the "sick" one. Anyone got any advice on this? Also I mentioned 3 species of corydoras, but I only intend to stock one type of the three suggested, as I thought that the fish were happier in groups of thier own kind. how many would be the optimum for a 375 litre tank with its various other inhabitants?

 

[big mick]

Also I mentioned 3 species of corydoras, but I only intend to stock one type of the three suggested, as I thought that the fish were happier in groups of thier own kind. how many would be the optimum for a 375 litre tank with its various other inhabitants?

Thats what I meant, Ive got 6 in my 300ltr with 3 clown loach and ghost shrimp, the clown loach will probably need to be moved to the bigger tank when we get it but you could have 3 of each I would say since your tank is bigger than mine.....maybe someone else might think thats too many but in a 375ltr tank Id say trhe would be fine.

 

[therack38]

Thats what I meant, Ive got 6 in my 300ltr with 3 clown loach and ghost shrimp, the clown loach will probably need to be moved to the bigger tank when we get it but you could have 3 of each I would say since your tank is bigger than mine.....maybe someone else might think thats too many but in a 375ltr tank Id say trhe would be fine.
[/quote]
thanks, it would be nice to have some variety, do you think that they would feel 'safe' in groups of three, being such little guys in a large tank? I am striving for happy fish

 

[osteoporoosi]

I would probably leave the silver dollars out, since they grow up to 20cm.

My suggestion:
1 pair of angels
1 peckoltia sp.
1 zebra pleco
1 para pleco
10 bleeding heart tetras
6 upsidedown catfish

 

[big mick]

yes, 3 is a good number to keep them in....they will tend to hang around with eachother sometimes and other times they will do their own thing.

Ive kept a mix before without problem but if you want to make sure they are as happy as they can be then 3 is the magic number.