My Next Tank

[Ri-Za]

Hi all

I have finally decided to upgrade from my current tank, an arcadia 35 litre to a bigger tank. My sister will be having this so that I can get a bigger tank for a community tank. I have done some extended research and I am interested in getting possiby a fluval roma 90 or 125, any other suggestions or comments are much appreciated I have also looked at the arcadia 60 litre tank but I think that this might be a bit small for what I want. Why is a 60 litre the biggest arcadia tank available? I was very pleased with my 35 litre and would have stuck with them if they did one in the 100 litre range!

I was first considering getting a siamese fighting fish but I am struggling to find any compatible fish to go with him that I like. I no that neon tetras are 50/50 but all the ones in my lfs don't seem too friendly with them so I need some other suggestions. If I could get a siamese fighting fish then I definitely would want too, I just need to find something compatable that I enjoy looking at which currently I am struggling with!

Ideally I will get a tank in the range of 90-140 litres with plants and bogwood to make it an ideal home for a variety of fish. I am interested in getting different types of tetras as there are an immense amount of types out there that would make me tank full of colour and excitement. I need some other suggestions though as a centre piece fish. I was considering a siamese fighting fish or electric blue ram but I am slightly unsure. I would also like some sort of bottom feeder but not a shrimp or snail as I don't find them particularly interesting. I would like a plec but I am aware that they do grow quite big.

Any suggestions and comments would be much appreciated on how I can get my tank set up I hope I have posted this in the right section!

 

[the_lock_man]

My SFF gets on well with all his tankmates, incl Cardinal Tetras, Platies, Zebra/Leopard Danios, Cories and previously Mollies. I believe you need to avoid any nippy barbs, that might have a go at him, anything with long flowing tails/fins that he might mistake for another SFF (guppies is the most obvious example), and I have read several people suggesting avoiding Gouramis.

There is a pinned topic HERE which gives guidance on plecs that don't grow too big.

 

[Louiseness]

Whether a betta will work in a community or not depends a lot on the individual fish's personality (and they do make their opinions quite well known ).

Mine has got along with platies, danios, shrimp (amano, cherry, bamboo) endlers, rasbora, bristlenoses,cories, tetras and he even learnt to tolerate a dwarf gourami but I wouldn't recommend them together personally.

I would recommend being wary with most species of tetra as you just never know whether they'll nip or not until you let them loose together! Mine was with silver tips which annoyed him but never actually took a bite, your mileage may vary.

I did find, however, that when he is in a smaller tank (I've had both 50l and 70l communities) he is much more of a 'centrepiece fish' and shows his personality, but when I put him in a 100L community he hid a lot more and seemed more quiet and stressed. Like I said, it depends on the personality of your fish!

You could maybe go for some sort of gourami (or m/f pair) for your tank though, lovely colours and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes

Oh and as for bottom feeder it depends on what you want them for.

If you want something that will 'clean up' a bit, I'd recommend a bristlenose or two. They only get to about six inches but they're not exactly handsome and tend to just stick on a plant or bit of wood all day. If you want movement and the adorable factor, you can't go far wrong with a nice school of corydoras of any sort (but you will need sand, not gravel).

 

[micko]

You will find your betta (SFF) is a lot happier on its own. Some people, quite a lot actually have them in a community tank. I did the same years ago but when I put him in a tank of his own he was a lot more active and not hiding all the time until it was dinner time.

Just my opinion, others will disagree with me though.

 

[happybarry]

I have a SFF in with several gourami, lace, honey, dwarf, no problems other tank mates include rummynose tetra's, harlequins, panda cories, denison barb, neons. SFF swims freely and is very active. The tank is heavily planted so there are plenty of hiding places, not that they are used, the mix appears to be very tranquil.

 

[Ri-Za]

Thanks for all your help guys, very helpful info, the link about the plecs was extremely interesting too, thanks

I'm very much considering on getting a SFF but everywhere local that I have been don't seem to have very calm SFF which is a bit of a bummer! I need to find somewhere else to have a look, around Bath and Bristol. Ideally I would get a 90/125 Roma tank with a SFF and some sort of small plec. What kind of tetras and how many would you suggest I get? Obviously over time...not straight away.

Also, are their any special requirements that I am unaware of? I was thinking of having lots of plants and hiding spots for my betta just in case and some bogwood for my plec, any other suggestions are greatly appreciated

 

[Ri-Za]

I have also been looking through a long list of different types of Tetras that are available but I am slightly unsure about which ones would be best suited to my tank. Are they any obvious ones to avoid and any obvious ones that are well suited?
My tank would be heavily planted for my betta to hide...just in case from time to time.
Thanks in advanced!

 

[Ri-Za]

So I have basically hit a bit of a blank on what I want to do now, I'm not very sure about getting a SFF, mainly due to its fin being nipped by tetras. What other centre piece fish would anyone recommend for a tank of my size? To be honest I don't really like Angels or Gouramis so I have a feeling that I might be a bit limited!

 

[-FighterFishh]

With a betta you could put in some male livebearers like platies, mollies and endlers. I say male because then you won't get any unwanted fry! They also work pretty well with larger shrimps, like amano shrimp. You can also try them with a shoal of corydoras. I personally like the smaller varieties, but it really depends on how large the floor space of your tank is.

 

[soybean]

You could get a pair or trio of apistogrammas.

 

[Ri-Za]

Thanks for that guys I do like the idea of endlers, thanks FighterFishh! However I thought that the SFF and endlers wouldn't get along due to their colourful tails, or am I just mistaken?
I have an alternative which I wouldn't mind getting, some electric blue ram. I saw some in my lfs and thought that they looked amazing, I don't mind if it means that I wouldn't be able to get a SFF but I am open to suggestions. Many thanks

 

[Louiseness]

Thanks for that guys I do like the idea of endlers, thanks FighterFishh! However I thought that the SFF and endlers wouldn't get along due to their colourful tails, or am I just mistaken?

IMO the problem isn't colour so much as long flowy fins - my betta is totally chilled out with his endlers too.

 

[-FighterFishh]

Thanks for that guys I do like the idea of endlers, thanks FighterFishh! However I thought that the SFF and endlers wouldn't get along due to their colourful tails, or am I just mistaken?
I have an alternative which I wouldn't mind getting, some electric blue ram. I saw some in my lfs and thought that they looked amazing, I don't mind if it means that I wouldn't be able to get a SFF but I am open to suggestions. Many thanks

It really depends on the fishes personality, but my boy is completely fine with 6 endlers in his tank
Even if you got a boy and he didn't get on with his tank mates, you could always put in a divider separating him from the rest of the stocking?

 

[lilfishie]

if your wanting a betta have you considered a group of females? these are generally easlier to work with tankmate wise, and come just as colourful as males

 

[Ri-Za]

Thanks for all your advice guys
I have narrowed it down to two possibilities, either a tank with a SFF, tetra and a plec or a tank with electric blue rams, tetras and a plec. If I was to go with either option then what would be my stocking levels like? I don't want to over do it and end up overstocking my tank before I have even got anything! Thanks