Aquired A Mature Tank With A Big Plec!

[loubega]

hi there,

I have recently aquried a 70l hexagonal tank of a mate who was getting bored of keeping and maintaining it ( ) the water was matured and cleaned regularly so there should be no problem in adding fish...

currently there is:
1 big plec
1 clown loach
2 copper tetra
1 black neon

was thinking of getting 6 neon tetra, 6 black neon and another 2 clown loach to go with the one i already have?

do you think i should get get more tetra to make a bigger shoal? or should i maybe get a centre piece fish like gouramis? etc?

cheers for any advice

lou

 

[Scotty001]

hi there,

I have recently aquried a 70l hexagonal tank of a mate who was getting bored of keeping and maintaining it ( ) the water was matured and cleaned regularly so there should be no problem in adding fish...

currently there is:
1 big plec
1 clown loach
2 copper tetra
1 black neon

was thinking of getting 6 neon tetra, 6 black neon and another 2 clown loach to go with the one i already have?

do you think i should get get more tetra to make a bigger shoal? or should i maybe get a centre piece fish like gouramis? etc?

cheers for any advice

lou

How big is the plec ??? do you know what type of plec it is as most grew very very big and needs lots of space, and a 70l is way toooo small, some can grow 1m+

 

[Corleone]

Agree with the above on the plec. There's a few small species that would be suitable for the size tank, but most commonly sold species get upwards of 12-18 inches, some get upwards of 24-32 inches. A 70l is no place for any of the bigger species, it'd be overstocked with just that, let alone the tankmates.

Clown loaches are also too big for the tank at up to a foot. Rehome the plec and them (unless the plec is a bristlenose, clown plec, bulldog/rubberlip, or other species in the 3-6 inch range) and you'll have plenty of space for expanding your tetra shoal as well as more suitable bottom fish (corydoras or smaller loaches, maybe a bristlenose plec) and a centerpiece like a dwarf gourami or dwarf cichlid.

Clown loaches grow slow, but they're also hard to rehome when they get big (a problem common with many big fish). Unless you're willing to commit to their eventual need of a 75 gallon tank, I'd rehome them while they're small enough for another sucker to buy (that's where most of them go, unfortunately).

 

[kewskills]

Sounds like we are all moaning, however the plec and clown loach will need new homes asap, as they are gonna get way too big for a small tank like that. Great that you have taken over a tank when required though

 

[loubega]

Agree with the above on the plec. There's a few small species that would be suitable for the size tank, but most commonly sold species get upwards of 12-18 inches, some get upwards of 24-32 inches. A 70l is no place for any of the bigger species, it'd be overstocked with just that, let alone the tankmates.

Clown loaches are also too big for the tank at up to a foot. Rehome the plec and them (unless the plec is a bristlenose, clown plec, bulldog/rubberlip, or other species in the 3-6 inch range) and you'll have plenty of space for expanding your tetra shoal as well as more suitable bottom fish (corydoras or smaller loaches, maybe a bristlenose plec) and a centerpiece like a dwarf gourami or dwarf cichlid.

Clown loaches grow slow, but they're also hard to rehome when they get big (a problem common with many big fish). Unless you're willing to commit to their eventual need of a 75 gallon tank, I'd rehome them while they're small enough for another sucker to buy (that's where most of them go, unfortunately).

cheers for the advice....yea i think the plec is quite big, but it came with the tank so i guess i will have to consider its future (which is a bit sad)

the water condition is ideal, i recently did a test, the loaches look happy enough and are eating plenty, but didnt realise they needed so much space, my LFS said that the space i had was ample...

 

[Scotty001]

mmmm its not good when an lfs gives out bad advice, did they try to see you more fishe too ??

i know yoh have said the stts are ideal but do you have the actual figures ?? what type of test did you use ??? was it a liquid test kit or was it test strips ??? not trying to get at you but there are a few fish in there and the smaller the water volume the harder it is to maintain the water condition.

as kewskills has said its great tho that you have taken the tank on and doing research to keep the tank going good and the fish happy.

Scott

 

[loubega]

mmmm its not good when an lfs gives out bad advice, did they try to see you more fishe too ??

i know yoh have said the stts are ideal but do you have the actual figures ?? what type of test did you use ??? was it a liquid test kit or was it test strips ??? not trying to get at you but there are a few fish in there and the smaller the water volume the harder it is to maintain the water condition.

as kewskills has said its great tho that you have taken the tank on and doing research to keep the tank going good and the fish happy.

Scott

yea i was happy to take the tank on, espcially as im a total beginner, and the water was fine, my mate did the test - think it was a strip test, the ammonia levels were 0....i hope my LFS will take my plec....

 

[Corleone]

Get a liquid test kit, at least for ammonia if price is an immediate issue. The ammonia strips I'm familiar with are wildly inaccurate. I've never gotten a 0 read from them, in fact. Nitrite and nitrate strips aren't terribly great either, but IME can at least be trusted enough for a 0/not 0 nitrite read in a pinch.

The initial investment is a bit more, but the API or similar test kit will have everything you need for $20-30 US (I've usually seen 25-35 pounds listed for the UK price, not sure where you're from), but for the price you get literally hundreds of rounds of testing (more accurate and reliable, as well), as opposed to usually 25 or so strips in a pack.

 

[Harry83]

Good morning fellow fish lovers.

I have been intrigued by the discussion in this post with regards to which fish are acceptable for certain sized tanks.

I have a 60 litre tetra art tank and have approximately 22-25 fish. I have a most fantastic and beautiful selection of fish including two angel fish, 2 shark fish, gourami and barbs. I would like to aquire several new fish in the next few months and would like suggestions as to what types to put in next.

I currently have:
Neon tetras
Black tetras
Sucker fish
Angel fish
Barbs
Shark fish
Guppies
Gournami

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Harry83

 

[loubega]

Get a liquid test kit, at least for ammonia if price is an immediate issue. The ammonia strips I'm familiar with are wildly inaccurate. I've never gotten a 0 read from them, in fact. Nitrite and nitrate strips aren't terribly great either, but IME can at least be trusted enough for a 0/not 0 nitrite read in a pinch.

The initial investment is a bit more, but the API or similar test kit will have everything you need for $20-30 US (I've usually seen 25-35 pounds listed for the UK price, not sure where you're from), but for the price you get literally hundreds of rounds of testing (more accurate and reliable, as well), as opposed to usually 25 or so strips in a pack.

cheers for the quick reply, i will get a liquid test and see what the results are......do most LFS take unwanted fish then? do they charge etc?

yea i live in England, just done a quick google and looks like i can get liquid testing kits for about a tenner or bit more

 

[Scotty001]

Good morning fellow fish lovers.

I have been intrigued by the discussion in this post with regards to which fish are acceptable for certain sized tanks.

I have a 60 litre tetra art tank and have approximately 22-25 fish. I have a most fantastic and beautiful selection of fish including two angel fish, 2 shark fish, gourami and barbs. I would like to aquire several new fish in the next few months and would like suggestions as to what types to put in next.

I currently have:
Neon tetras
Black tetras
Sucker fish
Angel fish
Barbs
Shark fish
Guppies
Gournami



Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Harry83

Harry83 to the forum, your going to find alot of experinced people here ready and willing to help and from your first post I think your going to need it

Im no expert but you are WAY TOO OVERSTOCKED Is there any room for the fish to swim ??? dont get any more fish you need to get rid of some of what you have or get a much much bigger tank SOON. I started off with a tetra art 60l, and had no more than 10 neon tetras and some guppies, the filter that they come with cannot handle what your asking of it.

what are the shark fish ?? are they black with red tail or silver ???
What type of Gaurami do you have ?
What type of barbs are they ??
How long has your tank been up and running ??
Has it been cycled ??

 

[loubega]

Sounds like we are all moaning, however the plec and clown loach will need new homes asap, as they are gonna get way too big for a small tank like that. Great that you have taken over a tank when required though

will my LFS take my plec do you reckon?

 

[Scotty001]

Sounds like we are all moaning, however the plec and clown loach will need new homes asap, as they are gonna get way too big for a small tank like that. Great that you have taken over a tank when required though

will my LFS take my plec do you reckon?

it depends on the lfs, if its a main big chain or a smaller non chain lfs, but ask around as im sure some one will if nt there is a swap sell or buy section on this forum that u could post on im sure there will be some one somewhere that will be inerested.

 

[loubega]

Sounds like we are all moaning, however the plec and clown loach will need new homes asap, as they are gonna get way too big for a small tank like that. Great that you have taken over a tank when required though

will my LFS take my plec do you reckon?

it depends on the lfs, if its a main big chain or a smaller non chain lfs, but ask around as im sure some one will if nt there is a swap sell or buy section on this forum that u could post on im sure there will be some one somewhere that will be inerested.

cheers, yea pretty sad i have to get rid of him, as he has quite a bit of character....and has been in the tank for about 2 years from what my firend told me....

how would i go around taking him back.....would i use a plastic bag etc...?

 

[kewskills]

Just out of interest, you say big plec, but how big is he, can you get a photo up, i think we are assuming it is a common plec, maybe it is not.