How Close To Fully Stocked Am I?

[Brujah]

Hello all! I have what is sold as a 55 US Gallon aquarium. I have measured it from outer dimensions, and the dimensions are 48 x 19 1/2 x 12 1/2. I cycled with 5 Tiger Barbs, and it worked out perfectly because I did frequent water changes and kept them in the best possible conditions. After the cycle was done, and my Ammonia was down to 0 as well as Nitrite, I added 3 more Tiger Barbs to bring my total up to 8. Then, I added an Opaline Gourami, 5 Black Neon Tetras and 3 Juli Cories. Unfortunately, the Tigers were super nippy to the Corydoras and they all died within 48 hours. Everything else was fine, and the Tigers didn't even notice the Black Neons, but the Neons sat still most of the time. So I thought they could deal with some company. So I added 5 more Black Neons and 2 male Platys.

Everything went well, but I felt like I wasn't fully stocked and still had quite a bit of room. So tonight, I added 2 Gold Gouramis (both female) for the male Opaline, and 3 female platys for the 2 males. This makes my total stock look like this:

1 Male Opaline Gourami
2 Female Gold Gourami
8 Tiger Barbs
10 Black Neon Tetras
5 Platys (2 Male and 3 Female)

I like my current setup, but I am thinking that I could use something for the bottom of the tank. According to a couple different fish calculators, I still have some room for the tank. My Tigers didn't like Corydoras, and I was surprised at that seeing as they are good to go on most compatibility charts. So Corydoras are out of the question. I was thinking that maybe some German Blue Rams would finish up the tank nicely. A group of maybe 1 male and 2 females. What do you think? Do I have room for 3 German Blue Rams? Will the Tigers just rip them apart like the Corydoras? What could I put in there to keep the bottom clean that the Tigers wouldn't kill if not Blue Rams?

 

[JustKia]

Opaline gourami - 5"
Gold gourami - 6" *2
Tiger Barbs - 3" *8
Black Neons - 1.5" *10
Platy - 2.5" *5
Gives about 68.5" of fish.
If filter hasn't yet matured (give it at least 6, pref 9-12 months from cycling) I would say wait a while. Let the filter mature first then revisit your stocking.
I'm going to guess the barbs and gouramis are not yet fully grown and you have to plan for their adult size not their current size.
I think, with a mature filter, you will be able to add more fish - just give it time and don't rush =)

 

[Brujah]

Opaline gourami - 5"
Gold gourami - 6" *2
Tiger Barbs - 3" *8
Black Neons - 1.5" *10
Platy - 2.5" *5
Gives about 68.5" of fish.
If filter hasn't yet matured (give it at least 6, pref 9-12 months from cycling) I would say wait a while. Let the filter mature first then revisit your stocking.
I'm going to guess the barbs and gouramis are not yet fully grown and you have to plan for their adult size not their current size.
I think, with a mature filter, you will be able to add more fish - just give it time and don't rush =)

Thanks for your reply! The filter has been maturing for about 3 months since the end of the cycle. I definitely plan on letting these fish settle before I put anything else in. I will wait at least another 3 months before putting anything else in. I don't want to overdo it and send the tank back into a cycle. I actually read a quote on here the other day that I really liked. "Nothing good happens fast in this hobby". So I am going to take my time.

With that said, does anyone think that the Tigers would handle Blue Rams well in a few months? I'm a little bit afraid of putting the little guys in there and them getting the same treatment that the Corydoras got. Does anyone have experience with Rams and Tigers in the same tank?

 

[hensonc4098]

Blue rams are pretty sensitive fish so they could get picked on by your barbs, although I'm surprised about the corys - they're usually pretty tough fish. If it was some bottom feeders you were after, maybe 4 or 5 kuuli loaches (sorry, don't know if that's the right spelling or not lol ) or other similar kind of loach. They like to be in small groups but they are usually pretty active and do a good job of cleaning up any food your other fish have missed. You can also suppliment their diet with algea wafers or other sinking food designed for loaches or plecs.
That's presuming it's bottom feeders you want!

~ C ~

 

[Brujah]

Blue rams are pretty sensitive fish so they could get picked on by your barbs, although I'm surprised about the corys - they're usually pretty tough fish. If it was some bottom feeders you were after, maybe 4 or 5 kuuli loaches (sorry, don't know if that's the right spelling or not lol ) or other similar kind of loach. They like to be in small groups but they are usually pretty active and do a good job of cleaning up any food your other fish have missed. You can also suppliment their diet with algea wafers or other sinking food designed for loaches or plecs.
That's presuming it's bottom feeders you want!

~ C ~

Thanks for the reply! Yeah, I was surprised about the corydoras as well. I had heard that a lot of people kept Tigers and Corys together without any problems, so when my Tigers went crazy on the them, it was very surprising. The corys were definitely juveniles, so maybe they just weren't at the peak of their toughness yet.

Khuli Loaches (that might not be the right spelling either) sound pretty cool, and it's certainly bottom feeders that I'm looking to add in a few months. I had heard that Rams were pretty delicate, so I figured if my Tigers went after the cories, they'd probably kill the Rams too, but I just wanted to make sure. Seems hit and miss with Tigers in the tank. I had heard recently that they might pick on Neons, but they leave my Black Neons alone altogether. It's like they aren't even in the tank to the Tigers. They chase my platys every once in a while, but nothing major. My gouramis don't take any crap from them though...lol.

I'll have to research some loaches. I've heard that clown loaches go well with Tigers and will even shoal with them, but I don't think I have nearly enough room left for loaches of that size. Are Khuli loaches substantially smaller?

 

[hensonc4098]

Hey

Yeah, Kuhli Loaches (I looked up the spelling ) stay pretty small I think. I have seen many people with Kuhli's or similar loach species in a tank similar sizes with yours, and although loaches.com tells me they grow to a max of 4 inches, they should be fine in your size of tank.

Maybe have a browse in the loach section and ask around there - the people there know everything there is to know about loaches lol

~ C ~

 

[JustKia]

Kuhli's do grow upto 4" but they stay really narrow and their bioload is next to nothing.
I count my 6 Kuhlis as 1 regular 4" fish in terms of stocking.
Kuhli's like to share space with other Kuhli's - the more the better.
The more hiding spaces you give them the more you see them. If they don't have anywhere to hide they will try to all pile up on each other to hide that way.
Fine, smooth substrate is a must as they love to burrow. I've never seen mine in the act but they do do it and of course they spend a lot of time on the substrate snuffling around in it.

 

[scoliofish]

Kuhli's do grow upto 4" but they stay really narrow and their bioload is next to nothing.
I count my 6 Kuhlis as 1 regular 4" fish in terms of stocking.
Kuhli's like to share space with other Kuhli's - the more the better.
The more hiding spaces you give them the more you see them. If they don't have anywhere to hide they will try to all pile up on each other to hide that way.
Fine, smooth substrate is a must as they love to burrow. I've never seen mine in the act but they do do it and of course they spend a lot of time on the substrate snuffling around in it.

wowthis is gr8 that means i can get 28 more in my 20 gallon i have 8