L_Plates - Stocking My 240 Litre

[L_Plates]

Hello Everyone, I am currently cycling my Juwel Rio 240 the log can be found here, http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/356800-l-plates-fishless-cycle-log/

While the cycle is ongoing I thought I would seek out the advice of the experts on stocking ideas for when the cycle is complete.

I am planning to have mainly bogwood and plants with a little slate and was wondering if there is a certain species of fish that prefer this type on environment ?

PH: 7.4
PH High: 7.8

I like Clown Loachs but I believe they like a little lower ph ?

I would also like a couple of Algae eaters and maybe a pair of assasin snails.

Really I am open to ideas from you all as your knowledge is far superior to mine.

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to reply.
LP

 

[KittyKat]

Clown loaches need a 6*2*2 ft tank.

Look at stocking along the lines of..
* 20-40 mid water schoolers of one species (for example, rasboras or tetras, barbs if you want to go for a more aggressive community)
* pair of peaceful 5-6" cichlids (like Bolivian rams)
* 10 zebra loaches or 10+ Corys - both prefer sand
* 1-3 8" plecos or 1-5 6" plecos - try to avoid having more than one male, of course

..which would still leave room for a few more fish. The bogwood and plants will probably lower your pH down to 7.0 or so, maybe even 6.0 if your carbonate hardness is low.

 

[L_Plates]

Thanks KK for the reply.

There are some nice looking Rasboras and i think they will make a change from Tetras.

I will look at the alternatives to Clown Loachs that you have supplied me.

I plan on keeping the community as peaceful as possible.

Thanks again KK.

 

[Tizer]

I've got the same tank and its pretty packed out now, enjoy stocking it, highly recommend 15+ Harlequin Rasboras for a mid water dither fish and the Bolivian Rams are geat too, i have 4 in mine, two of which have paired up and bred twice. i've also got a selection of 24 corydoras, deffinately get a sand substrate if you want to keep them, they appreicate it a lot more than gravel, which is often to rough/sharp for them to dig around in, resulting in cuts and infections.

 

[L_Plates]

Hello Tizer, unfortunatly i have Pea gravel in my tank.

http/www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/aquarium-ornaments/natural-gravels-and-sand/natural-gravel-beach-washed/pettex-pre-washed-dorset-pea-gravel-20kg-small-stone.html?ref=googlebase

Never got the gravel from there but its similar stuff.

Thanks for sharing the details of your tank with me.

LP

 

[L_Plates]

also got a selection of 24 corydoras, deffinately get a sand substrate if you want to keep them, they appreicate it a lot more than gravel, which is often to rough/sharp for them to dig around in, resulting in cuts and infections.

Is there anything species similar to the corydoras that will be ok with gravel ?

If i had to i would switch to sand but i am wondering how hard this would be now the tank is filled and in cycle.

Also what sand do you prefer ?

LP

 

[Tizer]

You might be ok with that pea gravel, its very smooth which is key for the corys. The only reason i always bang on about sand is because i sit there watching mine for hours rummaging around in it, sucking it in and blowing it out their gills. Also all the fish mess sits on the top instead of sinking inbetween the gravel to the bottom of the tank. Changing over to sand is very very easy and i actually did it mid cycle, with fish. Lots of people recommend the Argos play sand, its dirt cheap but it does need a LOT of washing, so be prepared to spend 20 minutes on every bucket, washing it around and pouring the discoloured water off until it runs clear. Me personally i used silica sand from an aquatics shop, bit pricey but very very smooth.

if it were me, i would grab a couple of bags from Argos, take them home, spend the evening washing it like a maniac then the next night, just scoop out the gravel into bucket/bag with a dust pan, take you all of 5 minutes. Then gently drop your super clean sand into the tank a scoop at a time. You dont have to turn anything off, and if you are concerned about getting sand in the filter intake, cover it with a stocking for a few hours. It was the best thing i did to be honest. But i did pick some nasty gravel to start with, the pea stuff you have does seem pretty cory friendly.

My Tank, still very new, finding that plants without CO2 are a ***** to grow well.

http/img860.imageshack.us/img860/6571/dsc00982x.jpg

 

[KittyKat]

+1 harlequin rasboras (the more, the merrier) and Bolivian rams, I can highly recommend both!

 

[L_Plates]

You might be ok with that pea gravel, its very smooth which is key for the corys. The only reason i always bang on about sand is because i sit there watching mine for hours rummaging around in it, sucking it in and blowing it out their gills. Also all the fish mess sits on the top instead of sinking inbetween the gravel to the bottom of the tank. Changing over to sand is very very easy and i actually did it mid cycle, with fish. Lots of people recommend the Argos play sand, its dirt cheap but it does need a LOT of washing, so be prepared to spend 20 minutes on every bucket, washing it around and pouring the discoloured water off until it runs clear. Me personally i used silica sand from an aquatics shop, bit pricey but very very smooth.

if it were me, i would grab a couple of bags from Argos, take them home, spend the evening washing it like a maniac then the next night, just scoop out the gravel into bucket/bag with a dust pan, take you all of 5 minutes. Then gently drop your super clean sand into the tank a scoop at a time. You dont have to turn anything off, and if you are concerned about getting sand in the filter intake, cover it with a stocking for a few hours. It was the best thing i did to be honest. But i did pick some nasty gravel to start with, the pea stuff you have does seem pretty cory friendly.

My Tank, still very new, finding that plants without CO2 are a ***** to grow well.

http/img860.imageshack.us/img860/6571/dsc00982x.jpg

Again thanks for the reply Tizer, lovely looking tank.

I think i will leave the gravel in for now as you say it is fairly smooth, But I am known for changing my mind If I do at least I now have some information to go that you kindly type out for me.

LP

+1 harlequin rasboras (the more, the merrier) and Bolivian rams, I can highly recommend both!

I really do like the harlequins aswell. Some nice looking rasboras to

LP

 

[L_Plates]

With the stocking ideas given so far would i be in need of any power heads for the tank ?

If so any recommendations ?

Cheers LP

 

[KittyKat]

You shouldn't need power heads.. if you do, it would be only because of poor circulation.

 

[L_Plates]

Cheers KK, i have been looking at the Tiger Barbs say 6 for a small shoal to go in my tank with other fish such as

15 Harlequins
4 Bolivian Rams
And maybe some Clown Loachs but im worried about the size they can grown to.

Above is just what i have looked at so far.

I know the tiger barbs can be aggressive and its recommended to have atleast 6 to try and stop this im just wondering if it would be worth the risk and has anyone got any Tiger barbs mixed in with similar fish that are listed above ?

Thanks
LP

 

[Tizer]

Tiger barbs are solid little fish and very quick, they are great for putting with Kribs and Bolivian Rams because they get away easily.

I think Kitty Kat and i are both on the same wavelength when suggesting a school of fish, its much nicer to have one type of fish in big numbers than multiple schools of different types.

It wouldnt be bad to get 6 Tigers, but you might find they take great delight in disrupting the Harlequins.

If you have a preference for the Tigers, it might be worth dropping the Harlequins and getting 15 Tigers instead, they do grow bigger and are a little more active.

 

[KittyKat]

Don't.. go.. for clown loaches. They will be stunted in that tank. Please look at dwarf chain loaches and zebra loaches instead.

6 tiger barbs will probably cause problems, but if you go for..
* 10-15 tiger barbs
* 15 harliquins
* 2m 2f Bolivian rams
* 6-10 small loaches of one species
..that is quite good stocking. Still there is a small potential that you may have problems with the barbs, they are known nippers.

 

[L_Plates]

Tizer & KK, thanks again for the help.

I will go back and look over the options you have given.

LP