My Stocking List, Advice Welcomed

[sjolliff]

Currently doing a fishless cycle
<a href="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=301958" target="_blank">http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=301958</a>

Tank 125L
3FT long, 16" high, 14" deep
Sand
Tetratec EX1200 Filter w/ spray bar
Hydor Nano 900LPH + Hydor 1 1500LPH Powerheads
Pressurised CO2 System (Will be a planted tank)
2 X 20W T5 bulbs

Here is my stocking list which i found from the forum and some websites

Fish List

Flash Pleco X 1
Three Lined Corys X 3
Pearl Gourami X 2
Some Cardinal Tetras

Not sure about the tetras

I want a few more types but not sure on what will go with them etc

Cheers Steve

 

[MOA]

Pull-Out

 

[Leila2]

Hello,

1 Flash Pleco,
3 Three-Lined Cories,
2 Pearl Gouramies, and
12 Cardnial Tetras

This list will make for a fairly full 125L, especially for the first few months (after the 6-month mark you might be able to get more). Nonetheless, I, personally, have never had very good luck with gouramies or cardinal tetras. Gouramies can become territorial with age and can be downright nasty sometimes. That said, pearls are one of the most docile gouramies. Cardinals tend to a bit overly-sensetive, but proper acclimation will usually nullify the threat. In short, your list looks great. I would not consider adding anything to it for a while; try to let the system mature for a few month before you start going for your maximum limit.

IMO,
MOA

If you were to stock up too early, would the main danger be an ammonia spike/mini cycle?

 

[kizno1]

you need atleas 4 corys but the more there is the happier they will be and 6 tetras

 

[sjolliff]

?
i thought the whole ide when doin a fishless cycle is so you can stock fully or at least 80% after the qualifying week where im processing 4-5ppm of ammonia nitrite in 12hours?
stock less would surly affect the good bacteria i built up and causing them to drop
iv heard tetra cant be added straight away they like a more mature tank

 

[arobinson1984]

Sjolliff is correct.

After a fishless cycle you want to be stocking to somewhere between 80-100% otherwise the bacteria will end up dying off down to your level of inhabitants.

Cardinal tetras should really only be put in tanks older than about 6 months, how about harlequins or rasboras as an alternative? both are more hardy.

Andy

 

[rabbut]

Common error made here, but partially touched-on and corrected by Andy already. There is a difference between new, cycled and mature tanks. The first is obvious to anyone that understands the nitrogen cycle. A cycled tank has zero readings for Ammonia and Nitrite when tested for the current load of fish. Mature is when the background levels or various chemicals that are too difficult to test for accurately/cost-effectively settle down and stabilise (things like Silicates, Dissolved Organics and various pollutants from the environment around the tank). It is easy to tell if a tank is cycled, as Ammonia and Nitrite will be nill. It's near impossible to tell when it's matured though, without risking some stock that needs a mature tank. Maturity usually comes about after 6 weeks to 6 months after adding the first fish.

I can't see any glaring issues in your mixing ATM, though a few group numbers may need upping, and some species need one of these new-fangled mature tanks...

Flash Pleco X 1 - OK as a first addition but do best added to a mature system. Fine alone and general with other fish, though semi-territorial to it's own kind. Territoriality is most prominent in the Males though...

Three Lined Corys X 3 - Corries need a minimum group of 4, with 6 being preferable. Being a Corry, they should be well behaved and OK in a new tank, but suitability for new tanks varies by species, and this isn't a species I'm familiar with

Pearl Gourami X 2 - Well behaved, even amongst Males. Easy to spawn and hardy, though raising fry is very tricky, even when you plan the spawn, due to fry size after hatching. Might be better to consider a group of three, 1M 2F, but it's not too important with them. Hardy and fine for a new tank. Prone to being fin nipped.


Some Cardinal Tetras - Need a mature tank, minimum group of 4, 6 being better. Don't travel well and need A1 water quality to keep doing well. Aside from that, they are otherwise great little community fish.

None of the listed fish do well in cycling tanks, so it's a good thing you're fishless cycling considering what you like

All the best
Rabbut

Edited for spelling, grammar and clarity, twice. I need to go away I think, that coffee hasn't helped my typing standards much...

 

[OldMan47]

Like Rabbut, I would up the trilineatus cories to about 6. When it is time to add the cardinals, I think I would go with 6 to 8 of them but, as Rabbut said, it would be better to wait a few months for them. I love the look of pearl gouramis and think they fit in with the rest of your stock plan. I have never heard of that particular pleco but as long as it is one that stays small it should be fine.

 

[sjolliff]

Thanks for you help.
Im not really wanting the gouramis to breed, but 1 male and 2 female gouramis does sound good.

If i forgot about the tetras for now, What else can i get to make a nice addition to the rest?

Would this be too much
Plec X 1
Corys X 4
Gourami X 2/3
Plus a couple of other different species and say 2/3 each of them

 

[sjolliff]

Think i might just see what in my LFS when the time comes lol

 

[sjolliff]

Def going to get some pearl gouramis, saw some today and they look nice

What are suitable fish to go with gourami, corys,and a plec

i like fish with colours

 

[sjolliff]

Right after more research etc,
im wanting


1 male and 2 female pearl gouramis

Bolivian Rams 1 male /1 female

4-6 cories

A plec only a small one 5-8"

and a few other types

* Swordtails
* Tetras
* Danios
* Rasboras
* Rainbowfish
* Barbs
But not sure which and how many


Very close to stocking now

 

[rabbut]

The Rams are going to need a tank that's ad fish in for 6 months plus ideally, rather delicate things they are...

The corries and Gouramis should be OK Ideally, the Gouramis would have a mature tank, but it isn't essential for them.

For plecs, there are L15, L18, L81, Yellow Flash, leopard frogs, clowns, rubberlips and Birstlenoses commonly available round our way, with a few others like L66 and more rarely L85 popping up every now and then. One of the L18/81 will be too big for your tanks, the other just OK, but I can never remember which way around it is...

The tank is too crampt for a lot of Rainbow fish that are commonly available, and you'll need to be careful what Barbs are put with your Gouramis, but everything else you are looking at would be OK. They are all (bar the Sward Tails) going to need a minimum group of 4, 6 being better out of what you have on the other possibilities list, so you are looking at one, possible two, groups of others at a push

All the best
Rabbut

 

[sjolliff]

1 male 2 female pearl gouramis

6 cories

1, 5-8" plec

sailfin mollies 4-6?

6 Rasboras or danios (will decide which one when i see them)

Then in 6 months time say another type (danios) X 4-6 and the 2 rams

 

[Ginga@139]

OK can i drop on to this thread
my tank(65L) has finish it cycle now it goes O Oadding 3.5ml of ammonia every day for a week
plants noe in and planted still getting O O
so i was going to stock tank this saturday

are we now say i show 1/2 stock the tank

i was looking to put in

6 Plateys
6 rummy noses
2 honry gourami
And about 10 Khuli loachs

is this to much to put in the first time??

or wouls i be better starting
with

3 plateys
2 Honey gourami

and adding the rest next weekend