Newbie With Stocking Questions !

[pat1]

Hi all,

2 months ago I bought a 60 litre biorb, primarily for our 3 year old son. I've actually got quite into it myself. I bought the Biorb then started reading a bit. Biorbs obviously aren't the best environment for some fish, but,, touch wood, over the past 2 months I've populated the biorb with 2 mollies and 4 platys (spelling ?) at roughly 1 a week. We've undergone a filter/water change and all fish look to be healthy and swimming around happily.

Other than sell it, what should I do now ?

I was thinking maybe some neon tetras, but will the other fish munch them ?

Then I thought maybe some shrimps to help clean things up, I believe bottom feeders (catfish etc.) are out because of the sharp volcanic substrate. But can the shrimps put up with substrate and filter ?

Please feel free to suggest anything else

 

[dave_oddballs]

molly's may get a little big for the tank, with a normal shaped 60 litre you may get away with some of the smaller variants but a think a little big for the biorb, were you will get away with the platy's they are quite boisterous fish and may attack or cause stress to shrimps.
i would go with something like, shrimps, maybe khuli loach's, a small group of neons or other smaller tetras.
you are limited with the biorbs but no reason why you can't have it looking really good! good luck with it!

Dave

 

[pat1]

Thanks for the advice Dave.

 

[pat1]

Bump !!!

Are biorbs hated that much that people wan't offer advice ??

 

[indigoj]

I think many people just don't know much about them if they have not had one, they are not very popular though. I think there is a thread in the 'members aquariums' section from a member who has several - might give you some ideas.

I agree on the mollys - they can get to about 4" so a bit big really. Khuli loaches could be a nice addition and if you were to swap the mollies then maybe a pair of honey gouramis or 5 or 6 small tetras like neons (but do some research there are other hardier tetras of similar size) Or perhaps some cherry barbs. The mollys would really limit you though if you really want to keep them.

 

[waterdrop]

Neons would be fine, they are a beautiful fish and the other fish you have currently shouldn't bother them at all. The catch is that we advise that neons not be introduced to a tank until its aged 6 months. I know that sounds odd but it seems to have been born out numerous times here on the forum, there's just something about aging a tank that causes some change that the neons need and its not just the cycling of the filter. You could try some time after 4 months, but 6 seems to be the best, statistically.

I agree that a pair of Honeys would be nice and that mollies need to be thought about.. some of them need water that is quite high in mineral content.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Truck]

no species of catfish or bottom feeding cyprinid should be kept in a biorb...the media will rip their barbels or/and skin to shreads

 

[pat1]

Thanks for everyones replies. Looks like I'll leave the Neons for a few months then. I really didn't realise that the mollies would grow to 4 inches, that's quite scary. How quick do they grow ??

Might have to look into buying a bigger tank next year, (looks like the Biorb was a mistake) I wouldn't like to see two 4" mollies in a Biorb.

 

[indigoj]

LOL multi tank syndrome strikes again!

To be honest Pat if you got a nice 100l or so tank off ebay you could probably sell the biorbe and cover the cost of tank and new filter

 

[Floyds mum]

my dads had the 30L biorb tank for years, he's never had any problems with it (apart from not cleaning it as good as he could) all his fish have been fine and ive given him some cherry shrimp that are living alot better in his tank.
The biorb from reading recently doesnt seem to be as good as alot of other tanks but it is a really good tank in its self.

How about some harlequin rasboras, my dad had loads for years, his guppies are doing great, i have white cloud mountain minnows and they all stay fairly small.