New Tank Plan

[Mark Z.]

I am planning on filling my 55-gallon aquarium this week and want to run my plan by you guys to see if there are any suggestions.
 
For the past month or so, I have been running an extra Fluval 406 in my 48-gallon to build up bacteria while I build a stand, run electric, paint the wall, etc. All that is done and I'm ready for the water!
 
Later this week, I plan on cleaning the new play sand and putting it in the tank (my first time with sand), then add some rocks and driftwood, fill it up and install the heater. Friday night I'd like to add the filter. Plants will come later (mostly anubias).
 
This weekend I would like to go to the store and buy a half dozen cories or so to be the first fish added, then eventually transfer over my six rainbows and threadfin acara from the 48-gallon while monitoring the parameters. I have gravel in the 48-gallon, and the whole reason for the new tank is to have sand for the acara. He scoops stones up in his mouth and spits them out and I'm afraid he will someday get one stuck somewhere.
 
Does anyone see any problems? 
 
I am wondering how long the filter bacteria can survive without fish in the tank? I imagine I have to get a few fish right away to keep it going. I have 22 fish in the 48 gallon right now.
 
I don't think removing the one filter from the 48-gallon will be a big deal, because I have two other Fluvals running, the 406 was just temporary to grow bacteria. I'm just a little nervous about screwing something up, so I thought I'd run my plan by the forum to see if anyone thinks I'm doing something wrong. I haven't started a new tank in 30 years!
 
Thanks,
Mark

 

[Byron]

Nitrifying bacteria are hardier than some still maintain.  Depending upon circumstances (water chemistry, parameters, etc) these bacteria can survive for weeks and even months without ammonia/nitrite.  To explain it simply, they go into a sort of dormancy or hibernation.  There is a time limit to this, but it is not going to be a few weeks.
 
I would not put corys into a new tank first.  Corydoras cats are highly sensitive to nitrogen, be it ammonia, nitrite or nitrate.  And then there is the possible fluctuating water chemistry in a new as opposed to established aquarium that will also bother them.
 
Another suggestio would be to add the intended plants before any fish.  Not only does this avoid additional disruption (= stress on the fish) but plants can help with the nitrification/cycling aspect and other water chemistry.
 
Byron.

 

[Mark Z.]

Thanks!
 
I would rather get the plants and the tank all set before the fish, anyway. I was just concerned about the bacteria.
 
I'll hold off on the cories for a while.
 
Would you think the rainbowfish or the acara would be candidates to move first? I also have a few angels I may move.
 
Or, should I just add brand-new fish first? I wasn't planning on many more new fish, if any, other than the cories and a few more rainbowfish down the road and maybe a few swordtails.
 
Mark

 

[Byron]

Thanks!
 
I would rather get the plants and the tank all set before the fish, anyway. I was just concerned about the bacteria.
 
I'll hold off on the cories for a while.
 
Would you think the rainbowfish or the acara would be candidates to move first? I also have a few angels I may move.
 
Or, should I just add brand-new fish first? I wasn't planning on many more new fish, if any, other than the cories and a few more rainbowfish down the road and maybe a few swordtails.
 
Mark

 
You're welcome.
 
There are two primary things to consider when adding fish to a new aquarium.  One is the water stability I mentioned in connection with the corys, and the other is the inherent territorial aspects of the fish.  Some species are more territorially-minded than others of course, and generally the stronger the sense of territory, the later the species should be added.  Cichlids are obviously very territorial, so I would suggest putting the rainbows in first.  Then when the acara is added, it is entering a space already occupied by other fish.  Acara being peaceful are less likely to cause issues compared to some, but it is still worth remembering that they are cichlids and therefore territorial-minded.
 
Same would certainly hold for angelfish, should you decide to move these over.  Personally, I would not; mixing cichlids in the same aquarium is never a good idea (except the African rift lake fish, quite a different story).  Same reasoning...territory.  Even if individual fish appear to tolerate one another, you or I cannot possibly know what may be going on mentally, and thus causing stress; we can however assume the fish will be "normal."  Stress from aggression can occur without any physical signs, something that many do not realize, thinking that if the fish are not at each other, they are "fine."  Not so.
 
I don't know what species of rainbow you have, or how many, but it might not be good to add swordtails.  Thinking for the moment solely of space, if you have boesemani rainbows, a group of these will fill the upper spaces in a 55g tank, if they are in a decent-sized shoal.  And the acara is entering the space too, and this fish attains 8 inches which is significant in this sized tank.  Swordtails are active, and not "small" when they attain 4-5 inches (6 inches is possible).
 
Byron.

 

[Mark Z.]

Right now, I have a pair of Boesmoni rainbows, two Australian rainbows, and one fish that the store called a "red Boesmoni." I would like to get a few more eventually, either more Boesmonis or a few Praecox rainbows.
 
I was thinking the rainbows would be toward the top, the cories at the bottom and the acara would be around the bottom also. I thought swordtails would add some color and kind of move everywhere, but maybe I'll rethink them.
 
The angels can stay in the 48-gallon with my Congo tetras. I was only thinking of moving them because I love neon tetras and even with two big tanks I still can't get them!
 
Thank you for your advice!
Mark

 

[Byron]

Right now, I have a pair of Boesmoni rainbows, two Australian rainbows, and one fish that the store called a "red Boesmoni." I would like to get a few more eventually, either more Boesmonis or a few Praecox rainbows.
 
I was thinking the rainbows would be toward the top, the cories at the bottom and the acara would be around the bottom also. I thought swordtails would add some color and kind of move everywhere, but maybe I'll rethink them.
 
The angels can stay in the 48-gallon with my Congo tetras. I was only thinking of moving them because I love neon tetras and even with two big tanks I still can't get them!
 
Thank you for your advice!
Mark

 
OK, now we can consider just the rainbows.  Being shoaling fish, each species should have a group so they can interact naturally, which will reduce stress and make them healthier, obviously.
 
Boesemani should be in a group of at least six, but preferably more, to avoid skittishness and males will be more colourful with more in the group.  I will accept the "red Boesemani" as probably the same species; I'm not aware of another variety but "species" is what matters here regardless.
 
The Australian Rainbow I will assume is Melanotaenia fluviatilis, a different species so it needs its own group of six plus.
 
The praecox is yet another species, Melanotaenia praecox, so another group of these if you get some.  These are the smallest of the mentioned species, but should be fine with the others.  Except, space is getting tight with the Acara in here...
 
Byron.

 

[Mark Z.]

My tank seems to be filling up fast!
 
The red Boesmani doesn't really look like a Boesmani. He is really colorful. A darkish orange-red with purple stripes. He is the most active of them all. He is usually swimming around with the Australians (yes, Melanotaenia fluviatilis). I will try to balance them all out better in time and maybe forget about the praecox.I also like the Marci rainbow fish. Is that the same species as a Boesmani?
 
I placed my manzanita wood and rocks in the tank today. This week I will clean the sand and put that in and get the filter and heater going. Next week, I will put the plants in and maybe the following weekend I'll transfer the rainbows.

 

[Byron]

From the little I can find, the "marci" appears to be a hybrid.  A hybrid is the result of mating different natural species.  Many aquarists are rightly concerned and do not always encourage or agree with this practice.  And with rainbows it can be serious.  The natural species Melanotaenia boesemani for instance is near-extinction in the wild, listed on the red list of threatened species of the IUCN.  This is a case where aquarists breeding the species could help restore the wild population should it become extinct.  But if there is any hint that the fish bred are not true, this can be disastrous for the habitat and ecosystem.
 
The red may be Glossolepis incisus, another shoaling fish obviously, needing a group.  It can reach 6 inches, so one of the larger.
 
Byron.

 

[Mark Z.]

I have thought that the red one may be a Glossolepis incisus, but I wasn't positive.