How Any Fish In A Hex Tank

[BooBraker]

Help I have used the aquarium calculator but it does not work out for hex tanks can anyone help. I have a 21.6 tank with each side 16cm long and it is 33cm tall. how many fish can i have?

 

[fourthtimelucky]

If it is 21.6 litres then not very many, that's about 5-6 gallons. Because the tank is taller than it is wide you need to bear in mind there will be less surface area for gas exchange than a rectangular tank of the same volume. Also anything that is remotely territorial or bottom-dwelling won't have much space to stake out. So the usual "one inch of fish per gallon" is a bit unreliable with tanks like this.

I have a hex tank about the same size. I have it planted up and I just keep a betta and an apple snail in there. I did have five male guppies in it for a while but I felt they were overcrowded and they are now in the bigger tank. I think these little hexes make lovely planted tanks, almost like an underwater houseplant, as you can see right round them.

You could try a small group of endlers, they are smaller than guppies usually, or a betta, possibly with a few cory pygmaeus or ottos as tankmates (although this would depend on the betta's personality). Other people might have some more ideas for you.

 

[BooBraker]

Thanks for that. I was hoping to have neon tetras and guppies. I have never seen Endlers, are they widely available? I like the idea pygmy corys though. I thought Betta's a bit difficult to care for as a newby?

 

[catxx]

a have a 5 gal hex which is planted with a betta only.

i think anything shoaling would have a cramped time in there, i wouldn't keep tetras in anything less than a 15 gallon long tank.

if you went for endlers you'd have to get males only, if you have no tank for babies to grow on into you could find yourself with too many babies. males are half the size of females.

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Neons are notoriously fragile, I wouldn't recommend them as a first fish. And as catxx says they are shoalers, so they need to be in a nice big group in a nice big tank to be happy.

Endlers are similar to guppies but tend to be smaller, the females are fairly dull looking but the males are very pretty and stay small. If you use the search function you can probably find some pics.

Bettas aren't particularly difficult to care for. They are very pretty, intelligent and happier in a smaller tank than most fish their size.

Before you put anything in the tank, you need to get it cycled. There's lots of info in the pinned threads about that.

Good luck

 

[dortiz24]

Aquarium calculator? Where'd you find that? Sounds very useful!

 

[Davo86]

Aquarium calculator? Where'd you find that? Sounds very useful

Top right of page ^

you could also look at perhaps a single red honey gourami, or a small group of spotted rasbora, and a few shrimp

 

[BooBraker]

Neons are notoriously fragile, I wouldn't recommend them as a first fish. And as catxx says they are shoalers, so they need to be in a nice big group in a nice big tank to be happy.

Endlers are similar to guppies but tend to be smaller, the females are fairly dull looking but the males are very pretty and stay small. If you use the search function you can probably find some pics.

Bettas aren't particularly difficult to care for. They are very pretty, intelligent and happier in a smaller tank than most fish their size.

Before you put anything in the tank, you need to get it cycled. There's lots of info in the pinned threads about that.

Good luck

Sorry for the repost i pressed the wrong button.

Dont worry forthtimelucky I have started fishless cycling this morning using the info from this site.

Thanks

Boo

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Good luck with your cycle then Boo, remember you can spend the time decorating & planting the tank so it's all ready when you can finally get your fish!