Advice On Stocking Please

[flanders]

I am a new comer to the hobby, and I am thinking of buying a 65 litre Aqua 1 tank. I live in a hard water area so I thought about either stocking it with a) 4 guppies and 4 platys or b) a small African cichlid on its own.I shall be grateful for help on a number of questions: a) if I put in 4 male guppies will they fight/fin nip? Would it be better to put in 1 male and 3 females? (I am assuming the fry will get eaten). b) Will the platys fight if I put in four males? c) Is there a small, easy to keep, hard water cichlid that would be happy in a tank of this size? d) are there any hard water bottom feeders who would be OK in a small tank like this? Lastly,has anyone had problems with the Aqua 1 tank? Many thanks for your help!

 

[doresy]

I am a new comer to the hobby, and I am thinking of buying a 65 litre Aqua 1 tank. I live in a hard water area so I thought about either stocking it with a) 4 guppies and 4 platys or b) a small African cichlid on its own.I shall be grateful for help on a number of questions: a) if I put in 4 male guppies will they fight/fin nip? Would it be better to put in 1 male and 3 females? (I am assuming the fry will get eaten). b) Will the platys fight if I put in four males? c) Is there a small, easy to keep, hard water cichlid that would be happy in a tank of this size? d) are there any hard water bottom feeders who would be OK in a small tank like this? Lastly,has anyone had problems with the Aqua 1 tank? Many thanks for your help!

The Aqua One tanks are very good value for money. I had an 850 for years and found the canopy filter system excellent at maintaining superb water stats, although major cleaning of the pump proved tedious.

Having no idea of your budget but the old formula of buying the biggest you can afford right off the bat will save loads later if you buy small then upgrade (which you will!)

Having put that idea in your head then thinking about your hard water area, cichlids are your obvious choice and I would suggest a 180 litre minimum (240 even better or go crazy with a 300) with an external filter (something like the Fluval 305 represents good value.)

eBay or this forum could throw up a second hand option

 

[Carlovel1]

How about this:
5 Male Guppys
4 Bumblebee gobys
and 3 Swordtails (1 male, 2 female if you want lots of fry!)

But remember to cycle the tank (fishlessly!)

 

[flanders]

Thanks for the help I will follow your idea flanders