L_Plates - Stocking My 240 Litre

[L_Plates]

So far i have decided on the following:

15 Harlequin Rasboras
8 Dwarf Chain Loaches

Anyone have some suggestions of some additions to the above ?

I cannot get use to the look of the Rams.

Do you think a shoal of tetras would look lost in a 240l ?

Thanks
LP

 

[Tizer]

Could look at the bleeding Heart Tetra, i have 5 in my tank, i quite like them, would get another 5 if i could ever find any similar size.

Black window Tetras are quite nice, Red Eye Tetras are a little agressive, deffiantely get 5 or more of any.

If you dont like the Rams, you could look at Kribensis, very rewarding fish when breeding, moving and caring for their own fry. I love mine, only had them a few weeks but they are ace. You cuold also look at Pelvicachromis taeniatus, Striped Kribs which are great if you can find them.

How about some corydoras? I've got about 24 in my tank, great little fish, very fun to watch but also quite shy. 6 or more Sterbai's would be good, 10 would look very nice. Trouble is they are an addictive little fish.

Could revisit the Tiger barb idea, still ok with he Harlequins.

I have 12 in my 90 Litre, once its fully cycled i'll probably bump it up to 20 and chuck my Kribs in there too, should look nicely stocked with a few pots and plants:

over to you really, have a mooch around your local fish shops, see what you fancy.

You got options of small plecs too, or bigger if you dont mind the mess they make.

One thing i can say about the Tiger Barbs is that they are extremely bold and curious, they certainly dont shy away from any activity outside the tank. Which is nice, because everything in my big tank buggers off and hides when i walk past or get close.

 

[L_Plates]

Cheers Tizer, so do you think something along the lines of:

15 Harlequin Rasboras
8 Dwarf Chain Loaches
10 Corydoras Sterbais

12 Tiger Barbs or 14 - 20 Tetras of one species.

Just slightly worried about the Barbs pestering the Harlequins.

LP

 

[Tizer]

I think with 12+ of them they will leave the Harlequins alone. I've never mixed that many before personally so i cant really comment too much on them. In a school that size they tend to fight one another instead of other fish, they constantly fight the pecking order chain you see.

I have to say seeing 2 big schools like that in your tank will look really good. Keep an eye out for decent fish when you come to buy them though, have a look in the shops for a couple of weeks, dont go straight in there and buy them outright, they might be new stock and you never know the survival rates.

Make sure you get some pics up if you decide to give it a go.

Do consider other corydoras too, you dont have to get what i suggest, lots of different types out there

 

[KittyKat]

It is possible that they won't get on, but it is equally possible that they will..

I, personally, don't like mixing species much because I find most fish look more interesting in large groups of their own species. So, if I was stocking your tank for you, I would probably move one of the tetra species from the 60 to the 240 and top them up in both tanks (to 6 each in the small tank) and probably move the mollies over too, instead of getting any new species.

Almost any SA cichlid up to 6 inches long should be ok in the tank, do check here first, of course.

 

[Tizer]

Im very much the same in the single species school, but sometimes i get to the point where i think, "humm, something different might be quite nice".

 

[L_Plates]

Thanks again for the replies. Nipped into a LFS and saw some rams, they look so much better than on videos so they may grow on me.

Ok so what about:

12 Tiger Barbs
15 Harlequin Rasboras
6 Corydoras ( which one yet unknown )
And possibly 4 Bolivian Rams

What do you think ? Could be risky with the Harlequins i know but as a whole does it seem ok so far ?

Also what about stocking am i over the limit ?

Thanks
LP

 

[Tizer]

The Rams really do colour up nicely once they are happy, the dark markings, which almost look black, disappear and they take on a lovely yellow colour and their fins turn fantasic speckled reds/pinks. Especially with some nice bloodworm inside them

Dont worry about the Harlequins too much, they will sort themselves out and will be a great dither fish to make the Rams feel safe.

There is room for more, without doubt, but i suggest finding your feet with the current stock you have first, then when you are all settled you can consider other fish you might not have even heard of yet. Remember you have plants and wood and all sorts to cover, it all costs a few pennies and will keep you busy getting it all in the right position.

 

[L_Plates]

Cheers Tizer, as you said i will hold to the stocking idea i have at the moment for now no need going all in at once, leave room for future additions.

I have some Mopani wood soaking for the past week and some slate for hiding spots.

Just need to look into plants.

Thanks for all the help and ideas everyone.

Just for future reference is there a good stocking calculator about ?

LP

 

[KittyKat]

I agree that the stocking is a good start.

No, the only good stocking calculator I know of is called "do your research and use common sense". Seriously, I have never some across one which is even remotely accurate.

 

[L_Plates]

Cheers Kitty

 

[L_Plates]

Just a quick question, what are the recommended Male to Female ratio for the following:

12 Tiger Barbs
15 Harlequin Rasboras
6 Corydoras

Cheers
LP

 

[KittyKat]

You won't be able to sex them probably, just get a mixed group of plump and lean ones.. sexing doesn't matter much with these fish. If you can sex, roughly even for schoolers (I prefer to have slightly more males than females), and 2m:1f is good for Corys (from experience, but I speak as a breeder here).

 

[L_Plates]

Cheers Kitty as always

 

[golfzzin]

Gotta say, im really looking forward to seeing pics of your tank once its stocked