Fish Choices?!

[Kevros]

Afternoon all,

I'm into the last stage of my fishless cycle and have decided to start thinking fish! I've got a 220 ltr tank and to start off i am thinking of putting a school of tetras in there (8 - 10), along with maybe a couple of angel fish, a pleco, red tail shark and maybe some platties to start with.

I wanna know if these fish are compatible with eachother? I had a tank when i was about 12 years old and it had those fish in but just want to guage peoples opinions on what would go in my tank hassle free!

I know a lot of people say it's down to personal opinion but i really cant decide on what to put in there so any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

 

[fluttermoth]

Sounds ok; you might have trouble with two angels though; unless they're a mated pair the most dominant is going to bully and possibly kill the weaker of the two once they reach maturity. If you're dead set on angels, you'd be better off starting with six or seven youngsters and letting them pair off.

Make sure you choose one of the larger, deep bodied tetra species as well, or they'll most likely become angel food as the angels grow!

Be careful as to what species of plec you get, as a lot of them will out-grow a 200l.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

What dimensions does this 220l have?

What is the pH; kH; gH of your planned water for the tank?

 

[fishyfeet]

apart from the angels which might quarrel, dont get neons as the angels will eat these, and there some lovely larger tetras to choose from, di

 

[KittyKat]

What dimensions does this 220l have?

What is the pH; kH; gH of your planned water for the tank?

+1, these are all important. Also, are you going to keep plants?

 

[Kevros]

What dimensions does this 220l have?

What is the pH; kH; gH of your planned water for the tank?

+1, these are all important. Also, are you going to keep plants?

It's not going to be a planted tank, well fake ones (which i know arent everyones cup of tea) but no real ones as yet anyway!

PH is going to be 7 and it is very hard water in my area according to my local water board website - 328 mg/l

 

[Kevros]

What dimensions does this 220l have?

What is the pH; kH; gH of your planned water for the tank?

Dims are 120 long, 46 deep, 41 wide (cms)

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

120(l)x46(h)x41(w)

Well that height dimension rules out Angelfish, they need 18" of actual water, which you will not have after adding sand/gravel and I doubt you can fill to the very top of the tank.

That water hardness figure from your local water board is indeed very hard, that is equivalent to 18 gH!

I'm a little surprised the pH is 7 with such hard water... Is that value taken after letting tap water settle for 24 hours (to let carbon dioxide bubble out which can artificially acidify water), or are you planning to make the water pH 7 after mixing in RO water or using a bottled product like "pH down"?

Two schooling species that immediately jump to mind for water that hard in a tank that long are Blind Cave Tetras and Odessa Barbs, they could even be combined, as both enjoy flowing water that has a cool winter period of 20C that could raise to 24C in mid summer.

 

[KittyKat]

Sand or gravel?

I would advise you go for the following:
* 15 rasboras or barbs of one species
* 10 loaches of one species (zebra or dwarf chain, for example) if you have sand OR 1m 2f up to 6-8" plecos (sand or gravel)
* 1m 2f large gouramis (lace of three spot in any colour morph)

Platies are also a good option with the above.

After substrate and a few cm off the top, the tank is a bit on the short side for angels. If you really insist through, do add quite a bit of bogwood to encourage blackwater:
* 15 tetras (or rasboras) of one species
* 6, (breeding) pair or 1 angels (2-5 are a bad idea, but the tank might be too small for 6; I think 1 is also bad because they are social)
* 1m 2f pleco of one species (up to 6-8" sort of size) or up to 3 of different species

Platies would fit less with this stock.

I advise against red tail shark because they are mean fish and will harass angels, loches and gouramis.

 

[Kevros]

120(l)x46(h)x41(w)

Well that height dimension rules out Angelfish, they need 18" of actual water, which you will not have after adding sand/gravel and I doubt you can fill to the very top of the tank.

That water hardness figure from your local water board is indeed very hard, that is equivalent to 18 gH!

I'm a little surprised the pH is 7 with such hard water... Is that value taken after letting tap water settle for 24 hours (to let carbon dioxide bubble out which can artificially acidify water), or are you planning to make the water pH 7 after mixing in RO water or using a bottled product like "pH down"?

Two schooling species that immediately jump to mind for water that hard in a tank that long are Blind Cave Tetras and Odessa Barbs, they could even be combined, as both enjoy flowing water that has a cool winter period of 20C that could raise to 24C in mid summer.

PH is currently 7.5, that is without tampering with it or adding any substances to increase or decrease PH levels.
That is the hardness i am getting from my supplier, Veolia Central http/central.veoliawater.co.uk/index.aspx?pg=304

 

[Kevros]

Sand or gravel?

I would advise you go for the following:
* 15 rasboras or barbs of one species
* 10 loaches of one species (zebra or dwarf chain, for example) if you have sand OR 1m 2f up to 6-8" plecos (sand or gravel)
* 1m 2f large gouramis (lace of three spot in any colour morph)

Platies are also a good option with the above.

After substrate and a few cm off the top, the tank is a bit on the short side for angels. If you really insist through, do add quite a bit of bogwood to encourage blackwater:
* 15 tetras (or rasboras) of one species
* 6, (breeding) pair or 1 angels (2-5 are a bad idea, but the tank might be too small for 6; I think 1 is also bad because they are social)
* 1m 2f pleco of one species (up to 6-8" sort of size) or up to 3 of different species

Platies would fit less with this stock.

I advise against red tail shark because they are mean fish and will harass angels, loches and gouramis.

Its gravel substrate

Definately going to go with the tetras, not really fussed about angels and as my tank is not tall enough i dont want to have anything that is going to be uncomfortable so will prob give them a miss.
The plecos are a definate aswell, obviously making sure i get ones that dont grow too large for my tank!
When you say about the Gourami's (lace of three spot in any colour morph), what exaclty does that mean??

Oh and cheers for the advice everyone, should have pics up in the next couple of weeks when i'm FINALLY done!

 

[KittyKat]

Definately going to go with the tetras, not really fussed about angels and as my tank is not tall enough i dont want to have anything that is going to be uncomfortable so will prob give them a miss.
The plecos are a definate aswell, obviously making sure i get ones that dont grow too large for my tank!
When you say about the Gourami's (lace of three spot in any colour morph), what exaclty does that mean??

Trichogaster leeri (lace gourami) and T. trichopterus (three-spot gourami, gold gourami, marbled gourami, blue gourami) are an option.

So you want to base the stock around tetras? Pick a species!

Platys are not the best mix with tetras, but there shouldn't be any problems there…

 

[Kevros]

Definately going to go with the tetras, not really fussed about angels and as my tank is not tall enough i dont want to have anything that is going to be uncomfortable so will prob give them a miss.
The plecos are a definate aswell, obviously making sure i get ones that dont grow too large for my tank!
When you say about the Gourami's (lace of three spot in any colour morph), what exaclty does that mean??

Trichogaster leeri (lace gourami) and T. trichopterus (three-spot gourami, gold gourami, marbled gourami, blue gourami) are an option.

So you want to base the stock around tetras? Pick a species!

Platys are not the best mix with tetras, but there shouldn't be any problems there…

Think I'll go with neon tetras as I do like the way they look in a school, but obviously don't want them to be food for any other fish I have! Would love some gourami's too! Think I'll add as I go along rather than buying all at the same time, and as always I'll ask advice on here first!
Also are gourami's best bought as a pair or groups etc?

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Definately going to go with the tetras, not really fussed about angels and as my tank is not tall enough i dont want to have anything that is going to be uncomfortable so will prob give them a miss.
The plecos are a definate aswell, obviously making sure i get ones that dont grow too large for my tank!
When you say about the Gourami's (lace of three spot in any colour morph), what exaclty does that mean??

Trichogaster leeri (lace gourami) and T. trichopterus (three-spot gourami, gold gourami, marbled gourami, blue gourami) are an option.

So you want to base the stock around tetras? Pick a species!

Platys are not the best mix with tetras, but there shouldn't be any problems there…

Think I'll go with neon tetras as I do like the way they look in a school, but obviously don't want them to be food for any other fish I have! Would love some gourami's too! Think I'll add as I go along rather than buying all at the same time, and as always I'll ask advice on here first!
Also are gourami's best bought as a pair or groups etc?

If the relative small size of the Neon Tetra is putting you off then why not look into Cardinal Tetra? Alot bigger and tend to show off those red/blue colours alot better, especially if fed correctly. I have 12 together and they look awesome

Terry,

 

[Kevros]

Definately going to go with the tetras, not really fussed about angels and as my tank is not tall enough i dont want to have anything that is going to be uncomfortable so will prob give them a miss.
The plecos are a definate aswell, obviously making sure i get ones that dont grow too large for my tank!
When you say about the Gourami's (lace of three spot in any colour morph), what exaclty does that mean??

Trichogaster leeri (lace gourami) and T. trichopterus (three-spot gourami, gold gourami, marbled gourami, blue gourami) are an option.

So you want to base the stock around tetras? Pick a species!

Platys are not the best mix with tetras, but there shouldn't be any problems there…

Think I'll go with neon tetras as I do like the way they look in a school, but obviously don't want them to be food for any other fish I have! Would love some gourami's too! Think I'll add as I go along rather than buying all at the same time, and as always I'll ask advice on here first!
Also are gourami's best bought as a pair or groups etc?

If the relative small size of the Neon Tetra is putting you off then why not look into Cardinal Tetra? Alot bigger and tend to show off those red/blue colours alot better, especially if fed correctly. I have 12 together and they look awesome

Terry,

The Cardinals do look nice so may have to opt for them! I'm now thinking tetras, a couple of gourami (depends if they're best alone or in a group?), a small pleco, and maybe some zebra danios?!