Hellos

[Psytron]

I'm new to the website. Joined because I've finally got my aquarium up and running. This is my 3rd aquarium.
 
My first was a 10 gallon with guppies.
 
2nd was a 25 gallon. Had 5 Buenos Aries Tetras, a red tail black shark, 3 black skirt tetras and the guppies.
 
Those were when I was 14.
 
I recently decided to get myself another fish tank after 10 years of not having one. Mostly got it for decor and to start understanding water chemistry before I get myself into aqua-ponics,
 
Current setup
 
Cascade 700 canister filter with a spraybar
Aquaeon 700 powerhead
Florescent soft white lights
Using a home made CO2 setup with 0.75 gallons of distilled water, 2 cups of sugar, 2 cups grape juice and 1/2 packet of yeast,
Gravel and river rock mix substrate.
 
8 x Otocats
2 x German Blue Rams 1 x Male 1 x Female
5 x Neon Tetras
10 x Glo Light Tetras
20 x Blood Fin Tetras
5 x Clown Loaches 
16 x Roseline Sharks
2 x Rainbow Sharks
 
Anubis Nana
Betta bulbs
Micro sword
Amazon Sword
Argentine Sword
And a few others
 
NH3 = 0
NO2- = 0
NO3- = 3 PPH
Hardness = 40 PPM
pH = 6.9
KH = Unsure since I just added the CO2
 
I keep bringing my water to Petsmart since they do free water testing, The manager has been talking and working with me since he's a brackish water guy and he's been curious about my setup and what I've been doing for his experience.
 
I do alternating water changes every 3 days alternating between tap water and distilled water. To keep the pH low and to keep minerals in the water. 
 
I guess I'm pretty ocd but it works, I know my tank is a little crowded and I plan on getting a larger tank once my fish begin to get larger and jumping to a 150 gallon.

 

[chigwellhammer]

Welcome to the forum matey!

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

Welcome aboard!

 

[fluttermoth]

to the forum.
 
How big is your current tank?

 

[majerah1]

Welcome! 
 
Sounds like quite the stocking, whats the aquarium size?

 

[Psytron]

55g

 

[fluttermoth]

Ah...you're going to need that bigger tank as a matter of urgency then, if you want to keep all those fish.

 

[Psytron]

Yup I know, That's why I'm keeping ahead on the water changes.

 

[Psytron]

What size should I aim for.

 

[fluttermoth]

What size should I aim for.

Honestly, for torpedo barbs and clown loach, at least six foot and preferably eight.

The barbs also need far lower temperatures than your rams; around 22°C for the barbs but at least 28°C for the rams, so really one or the other needs to go, or they'll have a significantly shortened lifespan.

You're probably going to have problems with the two rainbow sharks as well. Even in big tanks they're very aggressive towards conspecifics.

Sorry that's probably not what you want to hear, but it is true

 

[Psytron]

The barbs prefer from a few guides I looked at 16 to 27 c temps and the Rams like 25 to 29. I currently have it at 26. Which seems about right. I'll probably let it be warmer in the Summer.

With the Rainbow sharks I have been watching them for aggression which I haven't seen any between the to for the 3 months they have been together. They are also the same size but I continue to watch their aggression between each other and them to the other fish. Most I've seen is the 2 swimming side by side after I feed them peas. Otherwise they seem to ignore each other.
 
Aggression wise the Male Ram is the most aggressive one in the tank. He beat up all the other rams I put in with him. ( before the bloodfins and the barbs ) which i put 7 rams in at the same time. Which I think he killed the others while I was at work except for the smallest female. Which follows him around all the time so I'm assuming that's the pair and I'm not going to add any other Rams.
 
Thanks for the answer. I did like to see it.
 
Mainly what I'm doing is replicating a beautiful display tank I saw at this store. Had Denison's, clown loaches and african cichlids together doing well.
 
I'm doing rams because I wanted to do planted and I seem to be doing very well with aquarium plants coming as no surprise as I have a thriving garden.
 
Plants have averaged 2 inches of growth in 1 week after adding the CO2. hope in a few more weeks I'll have enough plant cover to get a new tank and have a lot of plants to fill it.

 

[Psytron]

Making an update. 

I am at 24 Roselines now.
 
I'm picking up my 200 gallon tank this Saturday.