My New 65 Gallon! And Stock List

[StanDaManTX]

Hello Every one,

I finally purchased my 65 gallon after convincing my Wife what a wonderful addition it would be to the living room! Anyway I am going to post progress here.

Tank specs - Marineland 48" x 13" x 24"
- Aqueon Quietflow 55/75 (hob)
- Aqueon Quietflow 30 (hob)
- Aqueon 250watt submersible heater
- Aqueon 500 circulation pump

I have all of the fine black gravel and white pebbles in, and my hard scape complete aside from some cichlid stones that have yet to be recieved.
Phase 2 will include setting the plants (silk!) as well as setting up the cave territories.

I will be using media from my established ten gallon to provide the bacteria. I believe my only questions are with stocking. (I keep changing my mind)

12 Cardinal Tetras
5 zebra Otos
2 Apistogramma Cacatuoides (m&f)
1 Kribensis male
6 Boesemans Rainbow fish

I believe all levels are covered, I would really like people to come up with suggestions, comments concerns for my stocking list. I am wanting a peaceful tank with lots of Color, All three levels covered and lots of movement. Please speak up. Nothing is concrete in my mind.

Bad cell phone pictures, I will try to get better ones.

 

[onidrase]

In regards to your stocking list:
12 Cardinal Tetras
5 zebra Otos
2 Apistogramma Cacatuoides (m&f)
1 Kribensis male
6 Boesemans Rainbow fish

-Ime dwarf cichlids (kribensis and apistos) are social with their own species, I don't think you should keep a krib alone. At the same time, when kribs breed, they become very aggressive. I'd take the krib out period, and get another apistogramma, as people tend to keep them in trios of 1 male and 2 females, rather than just a male and female. With a tank that size, you could probably even do 2 male apistos and 6 females. Or you could get a pair of bolivian rams and a trio of apistos instead, as they're not so aggressive.

-Boesemani rainbows, like most rainbow fish, get big, and can be a little aggressive, and I don't doubt they may eat your cardinals as they age. Rather than getting these, I'd highly recommend you up the amount of cardinals in the tank, you have plenty of room for more, you could even go up to 30 or so, and they are stunning in a large school. They even put me in awe while in large numbers, and I otherwise have a strong preference on keeping larger fish species.

-6 oto's is better than five, I find 6 the perfect minimum number for keeping social schooling fish.

You could also add some bottom dwellers such as cory catfish and khuli loaches, with only the oto's as bottom feeders your tank will look pretty bare

 

[StanDaManTX]

You could also add some bottom dwellers such as cory catfish and khuli loaches, with only the oto's as bottom feeders your tank will look pretty bare

Good info, Thanks for the reply! I was unsure about corys and such because of how cichlids hang out at ground level. I didnt want to cause to much quarreling, am I being overly paranoid?

 

[onidrase]

You could also add some bottom dwellers such as cory catfish and khuli loaches, with only the oto's as bottom feeders your tank will look pretty bare

Good info, Thanks for the reply! I was unsure about corys and such because of how cichlids hang out at ground level. I didnt want to cause to much quarreling, am I being overly paranoid?

The cichlids won't pay them any mind. I've never had a cichlid attack a bottom dweller. My bottom dwellers will pester them, if anything.

 

[StanDaManTX]

Scary Hiccup! So come to find out my tank was off level! I quickly picked up some shims to handle the problem and noticed my stand was coming apart at the seams! Plus, the back panel that was load bearing was warped and bowing. Luckily I had drained the tank thinking I was going to be shimming it. The stand and tank came as a set by marineland. (on sale) I was not allowed to substitute the stand at all. I called Petsmart about the problem and the manager was genuinely concerned. He told me to come in right away and exchange it. When I arrived the replacement(same model) didn't look too promising either so, frustrated with the situation, the manager told me I could have my pick of any stand they had! So I now have a stand that is twice as deep, looks nicer in my opinion and feels sturdier. I am much happier and my tank is back up and running again. Onward cycling!!

 

[onidrase]

Scary Hiccup! So come to find out my tank was off level! I quickly picked up some shims to handle the problem and noticed my stand was coming apart at the seams! Plus, the back panel that was load bearing was warped and bowing. Luckily I had drained the tank thinking I was going to be shimming it. The stand and tank came as a set by marineland. (on sale) I was not allowed to substitute the stand at all. I called Petsmart about the problem and the manager was genuinely concerned. He told me to come in right away and exchange it. When I arrived the replacement(same model) didn't look too promising either so, frustrated with the situation, the manager told me I could have my pick of any stand they had! So I now have a stand that is twice as deep, looks nicer in my opinion and feels sturdier. I am much happier and my tank is back up and running again. Onward cycling!!

ah yes. I know which one you're talking about I spent a good amount of time giggling about that stand and how little faith I had in its ability to hold a 65 gallon aquarium.

Which stand did you get in its place? I got a black top fin one for my 75 gallon, it's shimmed underneath cause our house is crooked and it still holds up great

 

[thereverendturtle]

A dozen or two hatchet fish cruising the surface would be nice too. If you really want a rainbow species try neon dwarfs/preacox. Stay small, have that classic rainbow body shape and the males are hard to beat for color. Though they are the same colors as cardinals...

 

[StanDaManTX]

ah yes. I know which one you're talking about I spent a good amount of time giggling about that stand and how little faith I had in its ability to hold a 65 gallon aquarium.

Which stand did you get in its place? I got a black top fin one for my 75 gallon, it's shimmed underneath cause our house is crooked and it still holds up great

I got this one in black
stand

A dozen or two hatchet fish cruising the surface would be nice too. If you really want a rainbow species try neon dwarfs/preacox. Stay small, have that classic rainbow body shape and the males are hard to beat for color. Though they are the same colors as cardinals...

Cool, I am not however really into hatchet fish. They just don't do it for me. What do you know about the hardiness of these particular raibows?

 

[onidrase]

ah yes. I know which one you're talking about I spent a good amount of time giggling about that stand and how little faith I had in its ability to hold a 65 gallon aquarium.

Which stand did you get in its place? I got a black top fin one for my 75 gallon, it's shimmed underneath cause our house is crooked and it still holds up great

I got this one in black
stand

A dozen or two hatchet fish cruising the surface would be nice too. If you really want a rainbow species try neon dwarfs/preacox. Stay small, have that classic rainbow body shape and the males are hard to beat for color. Though they are the same colors as cardinals...

Cool, I am not however really into hatchet fish. They just don't do it for me. What do you know about the hardiness of these particular raibows?

Yep, I got that same stand for my 75 gallon , it'll hold up great for your tank

Rainbows in general seem to be pretty hardy, (I've had some issues with mine, but all the hassle and disease came from the LFS) though I still think you should just get one large school of a single species and some smaller only semi social fish like rams and apistos. It may sound drab, but really, the bigger the school of fish, the better they act and like, I've always wanted to have a giant school of glow lights or tiger barbs or bleeding heart tetras

 

[StanDaManTX]

ok, so I went to the LFS on my lunch break and I really like the melanotaenia praecox I think a school of about 12 of those would be way cool. I might knock the Tetras out of this list all together.

 

[thereverendturtle]

ok, so I went to the LFS on my lunch break and I really like the melanotaenia praecox I think a school of about 12 of those would be way cool. I might knock the Tetras out of this list all together.

I would think in your tank you could get away with more than that if you want. Maybe up to 18-20 of them.

 

[FishFanatic04]

haha I have that stand too. We put an inch of plywood under it to protect the carpet and the bottom....my last petsmart stand warped when water sat near it too long.

 

[StanDaManTX]

Alright, so my revised stocking list is
Boesemani Rainbows
Dwarf Neon Rainbows
Apistogramma cacatuiodes
Bolivian Rams
Bumblebee cories
Now, from all of the info gathered, this community should work fine together.
##150### seems to think that a single dwarf puffer would be fine as well, is this just an ill informed pipe dream? or would that work out ok? I might be willing to scratch one of the rainbow species if it would work. Please be kind as I only understand a small amout from what I have recently read about dwarf puffers. They seem like a hoot though.

 

[StanDaManTX]

ok, here is the revised stocking list
Boesemani Rainbows
Dwarf Neon Rainbows
Corydoras
Apistogramma Cacatuiodes
Bolivian Rams

Now, ##150### seems to think that a dwarf puffer would work fine in this community. What say you? Please forgive my ignorance as I only understand what I have recently read on the dwarf puffer. They seem to be a hoot though. I may be willing to knock out one of the rainbow species if it would be better for a dwarf puffer. please advise. thank you.

sorry, I thought the first post didn't go through.

 

[Fishy friend2]

Dwarf puffers are extremely aggresive, and require special care to keep them, so they are best off solitary, or with more of there own kind.