Room For More?

[jkarlson]

[font="helvetica][size="4"]I'm trying to convert my tank into a African tank. It is 55 Gallons and measures 4 foot X 1 Foot by 2 Foot. It currently houses:[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica] [/font][/color]
[color="#43413A"][font="helvetica][size="4"]2 Angelfish(both around 2.5-3 inches)[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica][size="4"]2 Ctenopoma Acutirostre(3 inches and 2.5 inches)[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica][size="4"]1 Ctenopoma Weeksi(1.5-2 inches)[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica][size="4"]1 Ctenopoma Fasciolatum(1.5-2 inches)[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica][size="4"]1 Mollie(2 inches) also is temporary.[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica][size="4"]1 Platy(1 inch) also is temporary.[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica][size="4"]7 Ghost Cats(around 2-3 inches and seemingly do not grow).[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica] [/font][/color]
[color="#43413A"][font="helvetica][size="4"]I'm looking at [/size][/font]
[font="helvetica][size="4"]6 Madgascar Rainbows(Really like the colors).[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica][size="4"]or[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica][size="4"]8 Congo Tetra[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica][size="4"]or[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica][size="4"]8 African Fire Barbs(Puntius Fasciolatus)[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica] [/font][/color]
[color="#43413A"][font="helvetica][size="4"]All the Ctenopoma are very tame and haven't had a problem with new additions. Eventually I want to narrow it down to the Ctenopoma and 2 of the above mentioned species. Which should I go for, and when should I add them? Do I have enough room to add them now or do I need to do some rehoming?[/size][/font]
[font="helvetica] [/font][/color]
[color="#43413A"][font="helvetica][size="4"]I apologize in advnaced for this stocking thread but I'm terrible at being able to determine space and bioload requirements. [/size][/font]
[font="helvetica] [/font][/color]
[size="4"]The tank is being replanted, and the filtration is 2 internals that equal 750 GPH. I may upgrade it to 800 GPH around Christmas. [/size]

 

[BerryAttack]

angelfish will get huge.. around 5+ inches and not including the fins...

if you really want to know if you have enough room, know the full size of your fish (not including fins) and do one inch to one gallon.. that'll help from over crowding..

thats how i do it.

 

[jkarlson]

[font="helvetica][size="4"]I'm trying to convert my tank into a African tank. It is 55 Gallons and measures 4 foot X 1 Foot by 2 Foot. It currently houses:[/size][/font]

Angelfish are not African, therefore they will be going. And i know how big they get, but that doesnt factor in bioload, what level they swim on, and amount of filtration/bacterial capacity.

 

[elmo666]

You're response to the first reply seems to suggest you think already know the answers to your own quesions, sorry, but thats just how it comes across. Larger fish require more feeding and produce larger amounts of waste. Also require alot more space to house them correctly. Giving size of them when adding them is no good if you know they will, as a group, outgrow your tank. The only way that is sustainable is to remove the larger ones and replace again with smaller. Not a satisfactory or enoyable long term project imo.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Barbus fasciolatus need to be ruled out immediately with anything but Microctenopoma spp., these will end up as live lunch for any Ctenopoma.

Madagascan Rainbowfish might just about get long enough, but their streamline shape might be a little tempting for Ctenopoma to try, plus these rainbows might be a little too active.

Congo Tetra (Phenacogrammus interruptus) are the obvious choice, a safe bet, part of the classic African oddball setup with Ctenopoma; Pantodon buchholzi; Synodontis nigriventris etc. They can be housed in equal male/female numbers, but I would be inclined to try and get more females.

They are harder to source, but I know Wildwoods have them in stock at TF2YD, Yellow Congo Tetra (Alestopetersius caudalis) are a smaller safe alternative. However, you must ensure there are at least two females per male in a group (I would go at least 3m 6f if I tried them again), I had what turned out to be an all males group where I lost most of them through their infamous jousting injuries.

 

[brian1]

Could you say that all again in english, N0body Of The Goat,..........

 

[jkarlson]

Barbus fasciolatus need to be ruled out immediately with anything but Microctenopoma spp., these will end up as live lunch for any Ctenopoma.

Madagascan Rainbowfish might just about get long enough, but their streamline shape might be a little tempting for Ctenopoma to try, plus these rainbows might be a little too active.

Congo Tetra (Phenacogrammus interruptus) are the obvious choice, a safe bet, part of the classic African oddball setup with Ctenopoma; Pantodon buchholzi; Synodontis nigriventris etc. They can be housed in equal male/female numbers, but I would be inclined to try and get more females.

They are harder to source, but I know Wildwoods have them in stock at TF2YD, Yellow Congo Tetra (Alestopetersius caudalis) are a smaller safe alternative. However, you must ensure there are at least two females per male in a group (I would go at least 3m 6f if I tried them again), I had what turned out to be an all males group where I lost most of them through their infamous jousting injuries.

That's what I was afraid of with the barbs. They were extremely hard to get a hold of anyways.

Did your Congo's look extremely dull at first as well? All that I've seen have looked extremely dull in color. But I've talked to a few on the other place and they all say the coppery gleam to them comes to life when you get them home. Any truth to that? They do look stunning, but I'm afraid when I get them home that they'll be just as dull as at the LFS.

What i'm looking for is a dither fish that is somewhat active, and colorful as well(while keeping it African. Any suggestions?