Best Shoaling Fish For A 125l Community Tank

[ALW]

For other fish what about a pair of Cockatoo Cichlids. They will be fin with the other fish you intended to go into the tank. I would get at least 15 Tetras and 15 Harlequins. The best way to wash sand is to pour X amount (depends on how much sand you have, if its only a small bag then pour all of it in. If its a large bag then about 1/3) it to a bucket and then fill the bucket with warm water, stir arround so the water becomes murky, let the sand fall to the bottom and then pur out the water, refill the bucket again, do this about 3 times per X amount of sand. The sand should then be placed into the tank. As for cleaning the sand get a gravel cleaner and do the same as you would for gravel, just remmember to put the sand that was sucked up form the cleaner back into the tank!

 

[Truck]

your tank is going to be heavily over stocked with 15 *2 for the tetras 2 rams and a bn plec.

you have 125 litres so your aloud 125cm of fish so wth the tetras alone your over stocked thats why i said 10 of each

so with 30 tetra 2 rams and 1 bn = 175 cm (shrimps dont count)
with 20 tetras 2 rams and the bn = 125cm of fish your recomended stocking level

 

[ALW]

The dimensions you gave (81x36x50) = 146L 32IMPG 29USG

 

[Truck]

over stocking a new tank is a big no! as you are asking for water problems and water problems lead to disease, and disease if not treated properly leads to death. sounds harsh but is a practicality of over stocking as any one on the forum would tell you

 

[loubega]

For other fish what about a pair of Cockatoo Cichlids. They will be fin with the other fish you intended to go into the tank. I would get at least 15 Tetras and 15 Harlequins. The best way to wash sand is to pour X amount (depends on how much sand you have, if its only a small bag then pour all of it in. If its a large bag then about 1/3) it to a bucket and then fill the bucket with warm water, stir arround so the water becomes murky, let the sand fall to the bottom and then pur out the water, refill the bucket again, do this about 3 times per X amount of sand. The sand should then be placed into the tank. As for cleaning the sand get a gravel cleaner and do the same as you would for gravel, just remmember to put the sand that was sucked up form the cleaner back into the tank!

cheers andy!

so 15 tetra--still to decide
15 harliquins
2 rams
2 cockatoos
1 BN maybe a pair?
4 shrimp? maybe corys instead?

is this not overstocked---im rubbish and working it out!

 

[Truck]

yes but remember you have substrate. if you have 5 cm of substrate that = 15 litres worth of water so you would mminus this from the total volume. is your filter internal. as that will take up space . as will ornaments

as andy said your tank is 146 litres but once gravel and filter are in it is about 125 litres

a full stocking for you tank would be 20 tetras 10 of each specie. 2 rams a bn plec

20 tetras = 100cm
2 rams = 15cm
1bn plec = 10-12 cm

100+
15+
10 = 125 cm. and the rule is 1 cm to 1 litre so using this ratio it works out like this 125 cm = 125 litres

you could either have the cokatoos or the rams you decide not both.

and shrimp dont count when working out stocking unless you plan to have more than ten.
/l\
.l.
so that would be maximum

 

[ALW]

over stocking a new tank is a big no! as you are asking for water problems and water problems lead to disease, and disease if not treated properly leads to death. sounds harsh but is a practicality of over stocking as any one on the forum would tell you

It wouldnt be overstocking. The Tetras have a very low impact on the Bioload for the filter, as do the Harliquins. Yes the stocking wouldnt happen all at once, but slowly over the cource of months. Add new fish every 2 weeks IMO. This gives the filter a chance to increase the bacteria needed to remove the ammonia, nitrates and nitrites. The cm per L is a rough guide to follow in doesnt take into account the waste produced by fish.

An 25cm Oscar will produce much more waste than 5 Tetras at 5cm each. But yet they both = 25cm of fish!

 

[loubega]

yes but remember you have substrate. if you have 5 cm of substrate that = 15 litres worth of water so you would mminus this from the total volume. is your filter internal. as that will take up space . as will ornaments

as andy said your tank is 146 litres but once gravel and filter are in it is about 125 litres

ok cheers for clearing that up,

will reduce the shoals or maybe just get 1 big shoal

then 2 rams as centre pieces, not sure which ones but swaying towards bolivian

 

[Truck]

bolivians are the hardiest. two shoals of 10 will be good. the minimum for a shoal of tetras is 6 anyway. so 10 will be brill.



im guessing andy you use think fish
and it is a guide but even the 1cm a litre is pushing it. but its the treid and tested rule and i have had no failures yet

 

[Truck]

and shrimps are very forgiving with water chemisrty if acclimatsed slowly .you could keep shoals at 15 but you will have to do far more ater changes than a tank at the right stocking level

 

[loubega]

and shrimps are very forgiving with water chemisrty if acclimatsed slowly .you could keep shoals at 15 but you will have to do far more ater changes than a tank at the right stocking level

cheers for the advice, i will slowly stock and wont exceed the 1cm rule!

looking forward to planting first!

 

[ALW]

No i dont use think fish, why would i. Both the inch per gallon and cm per litre are rough guides to follow. The only true way to find out if a tank is overstocked is by testing the water. If all water stats come back ok then the tank is in balance and can be if wanted increased stcoking. The stocking that Lou wanted most are very low waste producers. The Tetras,Harliquins,Rams. The largest waste producer in that tank would be the Bristlenose.

So Truck would say that my tank is overstocked then?

 

[Truck]

good. planting is a very rewarding experierience. i love planting tanks. just make sure you keep us up to date with pics

(andy)becasue the 1cm per litre rule was produced for smaller fish ie anything under 7.5 cm

 

[loubega]

good. planting is a very rewarding experierience. i love planting tanks. just make sure you keep us up to date with pics

becasue the 1cm per litre rule was produced for smaller fish ie anything under 7.5 cm

will do, filter arrives tomorow, and moss arrives later on in week, got the plastic mesh and wire so will start scaping it soon, although its already done in my mind!

 

[ALW]

becasue the 1cm per litre rule was produced for smaller fish ie anything under 7.5 cm

But it is still only to be used as a rough guide