Hi Everyone

[fishy_momma]

Hi there,

I've been stalking the boards here for a couple weeks doing research for our tank. We "inherited" the tank from my husbands parents that decided it was too much to keep up with. My hubby has kept a 25gal tank for several years but never really did much with it other than put some fish in it and keep it clean. I really would like to keep a pretty planted aquarium.

We currently have a 46 gallon bow front with a plant friendly light(still trying to figure out what kind)and a filter that rates for 90 gallons.

Right now we have...
1 bala shark (about 5 inches)
1 clown loach (about 6 inches) --- right now he is MIA, we can't find where he's hiding.
1 koi angel (about 3 inches)
1 dwarf pleco
1 juvenile gold colored pleco
2 tetras (they are silver with a couple black stripes)
1 rosy barb
3 mickey mouse platys (my 2 year old picked them out)

I'm working on getting some plants in there. Right now I have some java moss. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I'll post a pic soon. Right now the light is off for the night.

 

[colleen0309]

Good morning and welcome! The bala sharks will get 14"- 16", and they should be kept in a group of 5 or more. Clown loaches get 8"-12" and should be kept in a group of 6 or more. Depending on the species of gold pleco you have, they can get VERY large. I'm afraid your 46 gallon won't be big enough for very long. On the up side, it gives you an excuse to get a bigger tank! The tetras would like to be in a group of 6+ also. No one tells people this when they buy fish. I think we've all had it happen atleast once.

 

[fishy_momma]

Do you think the existing tetras would be ok with adding juvenile tetras? I don't want them to start picking on each other.

I also plan on adding some more platys. We don't really have many top swimmers and my son likes watching them.

 

[fluttermoth]

Adding tetras to a shoal (or pair, in your case, lol) is no problem; they'll mix in straight away.

You really do need to look at re-homing that bala shark before he gets stunted though...

 

[ZoddyZod]

Do you think the existing tetras would be ok with adding juvenile tetras? I don't want them to start picking on each other.

I also plan on adding some more platys. We don't really have many top swimmers and my son likes watching them.

Adding tetras of the same species should not be a problem, however I would look at rehoming your unsuitable fish first before adding any more, then you can start to build a suitable community within the tank

 

[fishy_momma]

Well, the bala shark is gone. He died today. My hubby bought him about 7 years ago when he first started his 25 gallon tank. No one ever told him how big it would get. We still can't find the clown loach, who is also about 6-7 years old. He's hidden himself and refuses to come out, even with lights off. He's done it before; we assumed he was dead and then he just showed up one morning. Weird.

Also, what I thought was a gold pleco is actually a gold algae eater.

I think I am going to concentrate on planting our tank for now. I personally like the smaller fish like tetras and platys but I don't have enough plants for them to play in.

I plan on buying some java fern and maybe some hornwort for something taller in the back.

When I do go get more fish, should I just stay with the 5-6 black tetras and 5? platys? Or could I add some other fish too, for some variety?

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum fishy_momma.
For a nice tall but undemanding plant for your bow front you might try some valisneria or even some of the taller growing cryptocorynes. These tend to be undemanding plants that even I can't seem to kill.
As far as fish selections, in general you will have a more dramatic display if you stay with larger groups of a smaller variety of fish. In your case that would probably mean adding to the platies and tetras that you already have with more of the same variety.

 

[CrazyAirborne]

hey welcome to the forum, you've come to the right place! if youre after a nice planted tank, check out the planted side of the forum, the journals there could give u some ideas!