New Need Help With Community Tank

[fish_master]

Hello everyone i am new with tropical fish and aquariums and need help setting up a community tank if i could get some help and u can tell me wat i need dat would be great

 

[Tempestuousfury]

to the forum.

You activate your account yet?

As for help... I take it you do not have anything. If so, the beginner section is the place for you to go, since there is quite a bit of knowledge for us to impart to you. (Don't forget to check out pinned articles and the index--they're really helpful)

 

[fish_master]

I already no abit bout tanks and filters and stuff because i already keep axolotls so its just i dont no anything about tropical fish

 

[community begginer]

ok for starters. what would you like to know? its a bit hard to help you if we dont know what you already understand about tropical fish.
regards community begginer

 

[fish_master]

well i want to get some bristlenose catfish x 2, kuhlii loach x 1 , opaline x 1 , dwarf goarami x 1 , neon tetra x 10 , and some glass catfish x 2 so wat size tank will i need wat kinda filter and pump will i need and i want imaybe bout 10 plants but i have no idea about plants

 

[bex1]

hi if it were me i would get AT LEAST 2 of every species as i think fish like to have at least one friend of there own kind, imo anyway, happy fish shopping! x

 

[dwarfgourami]

hi if it were me i would get at least 2 of every species as i think fish like to have at least one friend of there own kind, imo anyway, happy fish shoppping! x

I don't think you've quite understood this, Bex.
Some fish are schooling fish and need to be in groups of at least 6-8. Glass catfish, in particular, have been known to pine away and die if kept singly or in pairs. Danios for instance often get aggressive if kept in pairs and may end up killing each others.
Other fish are so territorial that you can only ever keep one in the same tank.
And some fish are in-between.

Of the ones on your list, clay roper, I would say your suggested number for neons is very good; you would need more glass catfish (6-8) or none at all; khuulie loaches also will be a lot happier if you keep at least 4-5; bristlenoses don't mind so much, but you are better off not getting more than one male (the ones with the bristles), though you can get a pair; I would not keep more than 1 gourami, unless you are going for a pair or better still a trio of 1 m, 2 females.

Other factors to consider: none of those fish are hardy enough to cycle a tank so you will need to read the topic on the fishless cycle and start looking for liquid ammonia.

Also, some fish are so sensitive that they should only be kept in a mature tank (one that has been up and running with fish without problems for several months). This includes the neons, the dwarf gourami (if you go for that) and the glass catfish.

So, you will want to first do a fishless cycle, then add your hardier fish: the bristlenoses and khuulies and if you decide on the opaline gouramis. Then after a few months gradually add the neons, then the glass cats.

Now for the maths- and this is going to be my downfall! Assuming a trio of opaline gouramis, 10 neons, 2 bristlenoses, 6 glass catfish, 5 khuulie loaches, I should say a 240 ltr tank (63 US gallons) should do you. I've just been out to look at a tank that size myself, and you can do a lot with that. If you go for dwarf gouramis you may be able to get away with a 55 gallons (210 ltrs) but I wouldn't go much smaller than that. You will need to provide hiding places for the khuulies- funnily enough they show themselves more the more shelter they have; bogwood for the bristlies; a sheltered area for the glass catfish to stand. Gentle water movement and plants will be good.

 

[fish_master]

Ok den i have no idea about the whole cycling thiong i dont no anyting about cycling so some help on that would be good and wat fish would be good dat was just a simple i dea im not realy fussed on wat fish i like all but wat would u advise


and how much would a tank of that size the 240 ltr dat is

how much would it cost

 

[pokagon55]

Here try this site as it gives alot of beginner answers
http/www.ratemyfishtank.com/articles-list.php
http/www.ratemyfishtank.com/freshwater_tank_wizard.php

The tank wizard will takeout the guess work on the setup

 

[dwarfgourami]

Ok den i have no idea about the whole cycling thiong i dont no anyting about cycling so some help on that would be good and wat fish would be good dat was just a simple i dea im not realy fussed on wat fish i like all but wat would u advise


and how much would a tank of that size the 240 ltr dat is

how much would it cost

at the top of this page you will find useful pinned topic, including one on cycling. Basically cycling is when a colony of friendly bacteria, who can deal with the fish's waste, grow in a tank.

I don't know what part of the world you're in. The tank I looked at today was 369 UK pounds for tank AND stand (with a sort of cupboard underneath); this included everything, like heater, lights, filter bits etc (though you'd still need to get gravel). Without the stand it was (I think) about 260.

If you wanted to go smaller, you could for instance give up on the glass catfish. One bristlenose, 10 neons, a trio of dwarf gouramis (1m, 2f) and 4-5 khuulies, you could comfortably fit into a 125 ltr tank. Keeping just 1 male dwarf gourami (don't worry, they are not schooling), and you could get down to a 96 ltr.

A 125 ltr from the Juwel range you should be able to find (if in the UK) roughly 150 pounds ( without stand), a 96 ltr for c 100.