Any Ideas For Stocking A 180 Litre Tank :)

[minnnt]

Angels would be ok in there, but you will have to keep an eye on them and judge for yourself whether they have enough space or not when adult.

Apisto's do well in pairs or trio's of a 1 male to 2 femalf ratio. Research the ones you want or the ones your lfs has in and find out if they are a hareem species or not as not all of them are.

 

[Corrine]

My LFS has..

Apistogramma Cacatuoides, double red
Apistogramma agassizi fire red xl
Apistogramma sp Viejeta II xl

I like the look of the cacatuoides, double red .. Ive read somewhere that this type of apisto does get on better in harems so 2 females one male it is

oooh its getting exciting .. im picturing my tank already ..

Im currently attempting to aquascape, which is even harder !! Go me.. hehe!!

Thanks minnnt.. btw ive seen your tank on the TOTM page and its REALLY REALLY nice.. if mines a patch on yours ill be delighted

 

[minnnt]

My LFS has..

Apistogramma Cacatuoides, double red
Apistogramma agassizi fire red xl
Apistogramma sp Viejeta II xl

I like the look of the cacatuoides, double red .. Ive read somewhere that this type of apisto does get on better in harems so 2 females one male it is

oooh its getting exciting .. im picturing my tank already ..

Im currently attempting to aquascape, which is even harder !! Go me.. hehe!!

Thanks minnnt.. btw ive seen your tank on the TOTM page and its REALLY REALLY nice.. if mines a patch on yours ill be delighted

Why thank your very much. Didn't take much work in all honesty, just kind of worked from the off. The key is to start with enough plants rather than a few. I know that easy to say as plants can be quite costly, but it's worth it in th elong run and you get an instant effect so you don't lose interest early on. I keep adding to the moss carpet every now and then when i can be bothered to tie some to some slate, but other than that it's pretty self sufficient other than dosing ferts daily. The tank will be broke down sometime in the coming week as i am having a re-shuffle so a new scape will be on the cards. It will be a pretty basic setup as it will be for my shrimp tank so the main aim is breeding them so plenty of moss will be used.

If you're looking for a few idea's and a little bit of inspiration then why not check out the planted journals further down the forum. There is some cracking ones on there at the minute.

In fact, start a journal of your own with plenty of pics so we can follow your progress.

 

[Corrine]

My LFS has..

Apistogramma Cacatuoides, double red
Apistogramma agassizi fire red xl
Apistogramma sp Viejeta II xl

I like the look of the cacatuoides, double red .. Ive read somewhere that this type of apisto does get on better in harems so 2 females one male it is

oooh its getting exciting .. im picturing my tank already ..

Im currently attempting to aquascape, which is even harder !! Go me.. hehe!!

Thanks minnnt.. btw ive seen your tank on the TOTM page and its REALLY REALLY nice.. if mines a patch on yours ill be delighted

Why thank your very much. Didn't take much work in all honesty, just kind of worked from the off. The key is to start with enough plants rather than a few. I know that easy to say as plants can be quite costly, but it's worth it in th elong run and you get an instant effect so you don't lose interest early on. I keep adding to the moss carpet every now and then when i can be bothered to tie some to some slate, but other than that it's pretty self sufficient other than dosing ferts daily. The tank will be broke down sometime in the coming week as i am having a re-shuffle so a new scape will be on the cards. It will be a pretty basic setup as it will be for my shrimp tank so the main aim is breeding them so plenty of moss will be used.

If you're looking for a few idea's and a little bit of inspiration then why not check out the planted journals further down the forum. There is some cracking ones on there at the minute.

In fact, start a journal of your own with plenty of pics so we can follow your progress.

Thankyou I might just do that ... ill wait for my bacteria bloom to clear first as not very attractive .. hehe

 

[minnnt]

Lol, yeah it's not the best stuff. I used a product by interpet called filter aid. WOrked a treat within 24 hours. That and also some new filter floss.

 

[Corrine]

Lol, yeah it's not the best stuff. I used a product by interpet called filter aid. WOrked a treat within 24 hours. That and also some new filter floss.

Oh my LFS did mention a chemical.. not sure what it was called.. but i was apprehensive about adding anything coz im a whimp lol.. he said it just makes the particles stick together so the filter would remove them ?? ! Is filter floss the white sponge in the top of the filter?

Sorry for all the questions youve been a great help

 

[minnnt]

Lol, yeah it's not the best stuff. I used a product by interpet called filter aid. WOrked a treat within 24 hours. That and also some new filter floss.

Oh my LFS did mention a chemical.. not sure what it was called.. but i was apprehensive about adding anything coz im a whimp lol.. he said it just makes the particles stick together so the filter would remove them ?? ! Is filter floss the white sponge in the top of the filter?

Sorry for all the questions youve been a great help

Sounds very much like filter aid. I had success with it, but it will clear on its own in time. I jsut got fed up of waiting.

And yes, floss is the fine white layer usually at the top of the filter.

 

[Corrine]

Been thinking some more about my stocking and seem some more fish that i like .. what do you think?

So far i have decided-

4x Platinum angels
10-20x Rummynose Tetras
2x Apistogramma Cacatuoides, double red
2x Hypancistrus sp. (L201)
2x Leopard frog pleco (L134)

I like the look of the pentazona barb, the columbian tetra and the firemouth Would any of these fit into my current stocking plans? If so how many etc. ?

Does my current stocking plan look to be suitable so far in your opinion, would they have enough room & use the whole tank ?

Thanks again

 

[Corrine]

Any comments or suggestions anyone !

(I can't beleive how inpatient I am.. as someone always comes along and gives great advice hehe, i just cant help it )

 

[minnnt]

Sounds good. I believe Pentazona Barbs are usually quite laid back compared to others within the Genus. They need a well planted tank as they can sometimes be shy. I would leave the Firemouth out and let the focus of the tank be the Angels. And CRFT's can be a little boisterous so would probably leave them out also.

 

[Corrine]

Sounds good. I believe Pentazona Barbs are usually quite laid back compared to others within the Genus. They need a well planted tank as they can sometimes be shy. I would leave the Firemouth out and let the focus of the tank be the Angels. And CRFT's can be a little boisterous so would probably leave them out also.

Minnnt your really helpful Thanks for replying to my million + 1 posts !!

I thought the firemouth would be out the question .. thats a shame ! Im gutted about the CRFT's too as i prefer the look of them over the pentazona barbs.. but i suppose i have to make some sacrifices for my angels and apisto's (favourites) lol.

Do pentazona barbs like to be in a group of around 10-20 also?... does a 180l tank usually do okay with 2 schools of fish?

 

[blackops]

you could try some sterbai corys lovely fish

 

[minnnt]

Have you looked into Rosey Tetra's? Other options could possibly include Red Phantom tetra's and possibly Bleeding Heart Tetra's. Harlequin Rasbora's are great too. The best shoalers i have ever seen are Penguin Tetra's, absolutely awesome... But can be a bit bland.

I had 2 main schools in my 180 litre tank (3ft) and they were fine. I have moved them to a 4ft now though and they are far more effective with space to swim.

I would have thought you could have got away with maybe 6-8 of them. They're about 3.5" when fully grown soyou don't want to be filling your tank up.

I would probably go with something like 10 Harlequin Rasbora's and 10 Rosey Tetra's as Rummynoses aren't my favourites, but it's your choice. The Barbs would make a nice addition though probably at the expense of one of the forementioned schools.

I think i am rambling now though...

 

[Corrine]

Any other comments on my stocking list... So far i have decided-

4x Platinum angels
10-20x Rummynose Tetras
2x Apistogramma Cacatuoides, double red
2x Hypancistrus sp. (L201)
2x Leopard frog pleco (L134)


Thanks again everyone

 

[Corrine]

Have you looked into Rosey Tetra's? Other options could possibly include Red Phantom tetra's and possibly Bleeding Heart Tetra's. Harlequin Rasbora's are great too. The best shoalers i have ever seen are Penguin Tetra's, absolutely awesome... But can be a bit bland.

I had 2 main schools in my 180 litre tank (3ft) and they were fine. I have moved them to a 4ft now though and they are far more effective with space to swim.

I would have thought you could have got away with maybe 6-8 of them. They're about 3.5" when fully grown soyou don't want to be filling your tank up.

I would probably go with something like 10 Harlequin Rasbora's and 10 Rosey Tetra's as Rummynoses aren't my favourites, but it's your choice. The Barbs would make a nice addition though probably at the expense of one of the forementioned schools.

I think i am rambling now though...

lol i missed this post the other day .. don't worry i don't mind rambling .. i do enough rambling myself!

Do you mean 6-8 pentazona barbs?

I really like the rummy nose tetras so think im gonna stick with a school of them

Thanks for all your advice