Amount Of Fish In 46 Gal. Tank...

[mcdanielnc89]

Mollies(4)
Guppies(?)
Platys(4)
Ghost Shrimp(2)
Tetras(6)
swordtails(2)
corydora(1)
danios(3)

this to many?

 

[smmetz]

First off, sorry if you know most of this stuff already, but I'll assume you are new to the hobby.

I would get less different species and more of each in most cases. Corys like to be in groups, I would get at least 3 instead of 1. Danios like to be in larger groups, I recommend at least 5-6. For tetras, 6 is the mininum I would get, so that number is OK IMO. I don't know much about swordtails, but I think they might prefer slightly larger groups, like 3-4 or more.

Mollies prefer brackish water (which you get by adding marine salt, not "aquarium salt"). Since corys cannot tolerate salt, I would skip mollies. (corys are your only bottom dwellers, so I would keep them) Tetras are also sensative to salt, but perhaps less than the corys are.

When you do get your fish, if you are not doing a "fishless cycle" first, then you should only get a few fish at a time. Get the hardiest species first. I would recommend a half dozen danios or platy. It can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks to "cycle" you tank with these fish. For more information, see this article:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=10099

Once your tank is cycled, you can start adding a few fish every few days until you are fully stocked.

Neons and corys are the least hardy of the fish you listed. I would get them last, waiting a month or so after you get the rest of your fish.

Also, be carefull with so many livebearers. You could end up with a rediculously overcrowded tank after a few months, if you allow or encourage the babies to survive. If you have enough small hiding places, sometimes it's hard to stop at least some of them from surviving.

Here is what I might consider from your list:
Mollies(4) - skip, they like brackish water anyway
Guppies(?) get around 7, would count for 7 inches of fish
Platys(4) I would get around 7, counting for about 14 inches of fish
Ghost Shrimp(2) would count for about 2 inches
Tetras(6) would count for about 8 inches of fish, depending on species
swordtails(2) I would get 4 of them instead of 2, counting for 10 inches of fish?
corydora(1) get 3 instead - would count for about 6 inches of fish
danios(3) get 7 instead - would count for about 10 inches of fish

Since this adds up to 57 estimated adult inches of fish, I would still cut another species or two out of the mix. I start by getting rid of one of the livebearer ones(guppy, platy, swordtail), since they might create overcrowding problems in the future through breeding.

 

[mcdanielnc89]

hmm, Thank you ohh soo much. I know very little about swordtials so I'd cut those out. I jsut thought it'd be nice to get some. But thank you! least I know whats good and what's not and how many I should have and all that! Thank you so much!

I've heard that brackish water was just aquarium salt which i have in my tank atm... to reduce the stress for my fish.(which it does do)

 

[smmetz]

Sure, good luck with your selections.

I do not have any personal experience with brackish water, but I have heard that it is definitly not table salt or aquarium salt that creates a brackish environment, it is a lower dosage of marine salt. (lower concentration than a full marine tank I mean). You can skim this pinned thread in the brackish forums for more info.

http/www.fishforums.net/Keeping-a-bracki...ium-t42435.html

Tetra can be sensative to salt, even the "aquarium salt". Corys are even less tolerant of it. Please be carefull when adding any salt to tanks with these fish.

edit: that being said, mollies can survive without any salt in their water, they just probably not live quite as long.