Hello!

[funnibunni80]

I am new to tropical fish I am getting ready to set up a new tank. I want it to be a tropical tank, and I thought while I am waiting for the LONG cycling business to happen, I could join y'all and get some advice I am not completely new, but I would consider myself a novice

I have a goldfish tank right now, and I recieved a Red Finned Shark as a present. Well, he doesn't exactly go with goldfish, so he prompted my tropical tank project. (He is chillin in the QT tank until his home is ready) I want to have a fun tank with semi-aggressive fish. I REALLY want a convict, & a red tailed shark. I would also like a couple more cichlids - maybe a firemouth, and some giant danios (to tone down the aggression.) These will obviously NOT fit in a 26gal, lol. I also thought some plants & driftwood would be nice for them (and pretty!) So those are my ambitious plans!

From what I have read on the internet, my red fin will get to be 6in, and a red tail will grow to be about 5in. I think I read that you need 1gal per inch of grown fish, so that should leave me with about 15 more inches of fish, right? I am netorious for overstocking, and am trying to prevent that by happening. I plan on upgrading later to a larger tank... so hopefully at that time my larger plans can be realized.

Do you think that the two sharks, a convict & a firemouth would be too much for a tank this size? I think they would okay in/gal wise, but I wonder about the whole aggressive/territory thing. I know they each need their own space, so i wonder about that.

Plants - total beginner. I am not very good with plants (land plants) so I am a little nervous about it. But I am willing to learn!

So, what do you think of my plans? And how do you think I can begin to realize them on a smaller scale? Or rather... what is a good begining?

Almost forgot! It is important to me that fish likely to pick on each other (like the sharks) be raised together to cut down on a bit of the agression. I don't want to be throwing anyone to the lions! (Like baby neons to full grown angels!) lol. Oh, and I don't like buying full grown fish, so they will all start out small. (Good thing cut the QT tank is only 10gal!!!)

Thanks in advance! I look forward to being a part of your community!

 

[Boxermom]

Red tail black sharks are pretty aggressive and normally do not get along with any other fish that has the same body type. I wouldn't recommend putting him with your other shark. Raising them together will do nothing to cut down on the aggression, RTBS get more aggressive and territorial with age. Cichlids should pretty much only be kept with other cichlids of the same type.

 

[Gankutsuou]

The sharks, if they're what i think they are (red tailed or rainbow sharks) Will instantly end up fighting.

So yes... I would not do that. Red tailed/rainbow sharks make a tank difficult to build into semi-agressive.

And the inch per gallon only applies to say, tetra/guppy. An oscar would need 75 either way, and he certainly isn't 75 inches (as the example)

I would think perhaps a school of larger tetra (buenos areis or emporer) would best fit for this situation.

And i'm no cichlid expert. That's the only area i stay from, because i know I can't accomidate.... but don't convicts need pairs?

Maybe go with german Rams instead? But those die a lot I hear...

 

[funnibunni80]

Almost forgot! I have a HOB filter that uses carbon... and I would kind of like to get away from it. (the carbon) Any (cost effective) solutions? (Just broke the bank on a 45gal!) Thanks!

 

[funnibunni80]

Gosh you guys replay fast!!! Thanks for the advice. I will stay away from the red tail then. Darn, but oh well.

I DEFINATELY do NOT want two convicts! I'll have far more fry than I can deal with, and I heard the mated pair become really overbearing parents and dominate the vast majority of the tank! I definately don't want a breeding pair! I can't imagine what I would do when them spawning every two weeks, lol!

"Cichlids should pretty much only be kept with other cichlids of the same type."

Does this cichlid of the same body type? Or like Only convicts, only firemouths, ect?

Why larger tetra?

Thanks again guys!

What is RTBS?

 

[Boxermom]

RTBS=red tail black shark

Cichlids of the same type, as in Malawi, Tanganyikan, etc. Basically from the same geographical area.

I would disagree about the larger tetras. They require more swimming space than smaller ones so they wouldn't be as happy in a smaller tank, IMO. Same with giant danios. A 26g tank really isn't big enough for most of the fish you mentioned.

 

[funnibunni80]

Well, drat... back to the drawing board for more research then, lol. Thanks for the input.