Nano Fusion 20 Stock/bioload

[Alexp08]

Hello, so im about done cycling my tank. Its a nuvo fusion 20. It sold for saltwater but I got it for free so I cleaned it and it's now a freshwater.

The main tank is about 15 gallons with a 5 gallon overflow.

Dimensions of the swimming area are approximately 24x12x12.

It currently has 500g fluval ceramic rings, 200g fluval carbon in bag and course and fine polishing pads.

Can anyone calculate the bioload? I was originally thinking about 10neon tetras and 2 german blue rams m/f pair.

Not sure about the rams though as it may be too small.

But Im now thinking about 20 neon tetras and 2 rams for the center piece and a couple peacock gobys for the bottom

Will that work?
Or what other stock would you guys recommend? Neon tetras are a must, prob my favorite fish.

Definitely want 2 center piece fish, m:F pair. I was also thinking about yoyo loaches instead of peacocks as my bottom fish.

Water parameters. Ph 7.4, dGH 6

Buut anyways, what do you guys got for me?

P.s. im very picky so please don't be offended if i dont like your suggestion. Thanks!

 

[Byron]

We (or rather you) have some issues here, on a couple of fronts.  First on the tank size/fish load, the neons are fine, though 20 would be it on their own, perhaps with a smallish substrate fish (shoaling or other).  A smaller group is possible with appropriate fish.
 
A pair of common (blue) rams would work in this tank per say but only if they are a bonded pair; rams will not accept any spouse, so in a tank of rams a pair will likely bond and that is what you want.  I'll come back to this combination's problem, but first to continue on the tank size/bioload...the loaches are too large.  They need a group, at least five (sometimes four can work, but five is safer, six better still) as they are (like most loaches and certainly all of the botine species) very highly social fish that develop hierarchies within the group.  I would recommend a 4-foot tank, though a 3-foot can work if well laid out and wide enough (18 rather than 12 inches width).  There are no species of Botia or related genera (including the "dwarf" loaches) that will work in anything smaller than 3 feet length.  I'm not sure what fish you mean by "peacocks"...peacock cichlids won't work, nor will peacock eels.  Perhaps you could clarify.
 
Moving on to the second issue, which is temperature.  Rams need warmer water than many tropicals, at least 80F and preferably 82F.  Lower temperatures is generally the cause of this beautiful fish not living long.  Neon tetra will not last long at such warmth; they are cooler water, though still "tropical," and 75F suits them though 76-77F max may be OK.
 
Given the tank size and the water parameters, you have a plethora of options among the small species.  Among the characins, some of the pencilfishes would work, a very few tetra (like the Ember); then there are the cyprinids, the miniature rasboras in Boraras and related genera.  Aside from a pair of dwarf cichlids, there are no other cihclids that would work, but some of the smaller and rarer gourami would.
 
Byron.

 

[Alexp08]

So a mated pair of rams would work along with like 10 other small dither fish?

And by peacocks I mean these

http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/tateurndina-ocellicauda/

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Oh and my main question was about bioload. So 20 neon tetras would fill the bioload?
Even though it's a 5gal filter? I can always add more media. There is plenty of room!

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[Byron]

So a mated pair of rams would work along with like 10 other small dither fish?

And by peacocks I mean these

http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/tateurndina-ocellicauda/

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Oh and my main question was about bioload. So 20 neon tetras would fill the bioload?
Even though it's a 5gal filter? I can always add more media. There is plenty of room!

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Yes, I would consider a bonded pair of rams and then a group each of one or two small shoaling fish.  I would not include the peacock goby because of the space limitations and the "territorial" nature which would likely not suit the rams and vice-versa.  In more space, a different story.
 
Bioload is often viewed from the "mass" of the fish in relation to volume and the filter, but this is actually the small part of the issue.  Of more importance is the inherent behaviour/needs of the fish respecting numbers, behaviours (activity), aggressive tendencies, and of course their interaction with other species which includes where the species tend to swim in relation to each other as well as straightforward aggression.  As one example, a group of sedate fish need less physical space than the same number of active swimmers of the same "mass."  The biological impact of any fish will vary depending upon all the aforementioned factors.  So, a group of say 10 neons in the proper environment (meaning, all their environmental needs are provided for) will have less impact than the same group in an environment that does not provide their needs, and this includes the substrate, wood/rock, plants, water parameters including GH and temp primarily, and other fish species, all of this depending.
 
The filter may factor in, but we must always remember that filtration cannot deal with all of these elements.  Stressed fish produce more pheromones and perhaps allomones, and only water changes reduce these.  With small tanks, I often consider them as having no filter, and if that works with the intended stocking, then there should be no problems.  The filter is then a bonus, not a life-and-death essential.  And, there is more bacteria in the substrate than in any filter, and the various types of bacteria have important roles which is only going to occur outside the filter.
 
Hope this helps, feel free to question anything.
 
Byron.

 

[Alexp08]

Gotcha. So 2 rams, what schooling fish would you recommend and how many of each? Also should i get any bottom feeders? Oh and I was going to toss in 2 nerite snails, that shouldn't be a problem correct?

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[Alexp08]

Maybe 5 dwarf corys?

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[Byron]

Gotcha. So 2 rams, what schooling fish would you recommend and how many of each? Also should i get any bottom feeders? Oh and I was going to toss in 2 nerite snails, that shouldn't be a problem correct?

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To answer on the bottom feeders, I need to ask a question...do you intend raising the fry of the rams?  Substrate fish like corys, plecos, etc. will almost inevitably result in no surviving fry.  Primarily because most substrate fish are nocturnal, and cichlids are not, so the eggs and the shoal of fry are very vulnerable in darkness when the corys are out browsing.  Even so, I once was sitting in front of my 90g tank which had a pair of rams and the female was shepherding her brood quite nicely, when suddenly two corys came upon them.  The fry were gone in seconds, the female just could not deal with both corys.  Upper fish tend to be more controllable from the parent fish's standpoint, depending upon species obviously.
 
I would tend to look for upper level fish, to leave the lower level above the substrate for the rams.  Exception being if you don't mind the fry loss, some corys or small loricariids could work, keeping the higher temperature in mind when considering species.  Pencilfish are often recommended with rams, and here the species Nanostomus equest, N. marginatus, N. mortenthaleri, N. rubrocaudatus come to mind.  These are the more peaceful, and they tend to remain higher.  Hatchetfish of the genus Carnegiella are good, as they remain at the surface almost continually (unlike the larger species in the other two genera) and they are not active.  The popular Marble (Carnegiella strigata), or the Blackwing (C. marthae), or the more delicate pygmy (C. myersi).
 
Two fish that often appear with rams are Paracheirodon axelrodi (Cardinal Tetra) and the very similar but smaller and rarer P. simulans (False or Green Neon).  If you were hoping for neons, these two very similar species will work in the warmer water much better.  The latter is a delicate species, but well worth it; I have a group of 16 in my 40g flooded Amazon forest blackwater tank and they are ideal fish.  A group of 10-12 with the rams, and substrate fish depending, would work.
 
Edit.  You posted about dwarf corys as I was typing...no, these need cooler water, and 75-76F is about as high as you should go.  Nice fish.  I have a 10g which is permanent home to my Corydoras pygmaeus and they spawn regularly and I let nature do its thing, so not all fry survive but many do; I have about 30 of all different sizes in there now.
 
Byron.

 

[Alexp08]

Thanks for all the info! I will probably go with Cardinals since they most resemble the neon tetras.

As far as fry, no i dont intend to raise them. I only have this one tank at the moment. But if they breed and then get scooped up i dont mind.

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With that said, do you know of any bottom feeders that are more colorful that would compliment rams and Cardinals?

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[Byron]

Thanks for all the info! I will probably go with Cardinals since they most resemble the neon tetras.

As far as fry, no i dont intend to raise them. I only have this one tank at the moment. But if they breed and then get scooped up i dont mind.

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Fine, but keep in mind that both cardinals and rams stay in the lower half of the tank, so they will get more in each others' way, but also you will have an empty top half.

Edit...Thought I'd just add here...I have had cardinals that went higher up, sometimes anyway...it might be all down to the tank and other fish...  B.

 

[Alexp08]

Okay, maybe not Cardinals then ahaha

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[Alexp08]

What is an easy to find bottom dweller? I'm having a heck of a time finding dwarf corys

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[Byron]

What is an easy to find bottom dweller? I'm having a heck of a time finding dwarf corys

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Many of the rarer fish will be wild caught and thus may only be available for a specific short period each year, depending upon the collection season in SA.  There are three "dwarf" cory species, Corydoras pygmaeus, C. habrosus and C. hastatus.  The latter seems extremely rare these days, but the other two are available.  Depending what sort of retailers you have, you might see this at some point (the chain type pet stores are less likely to have these, better chance with an independent retailer).
 
I don't know where you are in the US (I'm up in Canada) but there are some online fish dealers that ship within the continental US.  Over on the west coast there is The Wet Spot in Portland, Oregon (they have a website), and there is one in the east somewhere but can't remember details, someone mentioned it on a forum.  There are likely others.  I've never used these (getting live fish across the border is not easy) so no comment on reliability.
 
However, these dwarf species are rather sensitive.  I think I already mentioned cooler temperatures, so if you intend rams, forget these, they will never make it.  They also must have sand.  Sand is better for rams too, as they eat from the substrate and like to sift the sand through their mouths/gills.
 
With the warmer temperature, species like Corydoras sterbai would be better.  These are often housed with discus (also warm water fish).  A group of five would be OK.

 

[Alexp08]

Thanks. And im using national geographic sand from petsmart. Its fairly small but larger than pool filter sand

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[DeanoL83]

I know you've decided on rams but just wanted to agree with one thing that Byron said earlier - a small Gourami group could work. I've had the sparkling Gourami before and a small group of those are beautiful. Very peaceful fish.

Never had rams or cories so can't offer any other help sorry.

Good luck!

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[Alexp08]

I had a group of sparkling gouramis once as well. One was a miserable bully and killed the rest and then started on the other fish. Seriously, it was bad!

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