Setting Up New Tank

[zabubidy]

This is my first time keeping tropical fish and so far I have 2 buenos aires tetras and 2 zebra dainos in a 10 gallon hexagon tank below.

Stocking my new 25 gal tank is the trouble im having with the tetras i have now would it be possible to stock a red finned shark with them if not any other recommendations for a bottom feeder preferably not too large around 6" is my ideal. Other than that what plants can be planted around the buenos aires because they seem to eat most aquarium plants? So farmy plans for the tank include a large piece of coral i'll show below sand and gravel bottom and possibly live plants i would appreciate recommendations.

I'll try and keep new pictures up when i start to set up the tank later this week.
Thanks for feedback

 

[shahrezsyed]

i love tank setup threads i sure will be following this thread.
shahrez

 

[reflexhunter]

I don't know abut redfin sharks you should find out there max size and google tank mates for them,as far as plants for tetras use any of the anubias varieties these plant seem to hold up pretty well with cichlids but I dont know about your stock lighting probably going to have to get a better bulb for plants to thrive.gl

 

[Bobtastic]

I would say that the tank is probably too small for the RTBS, I think they need a fair bit of room to swim around in and they'll probably harrass their tank mates.

For bottom feeders Corydoras, Pigmy Corys or even some shrimp would work. Tho the Cory's should be kept in groups of 6+.

 

[arobinson1984]

The tank is DEFINATELY too small for a red tailed black shark, they need 50+ US gallons.

Are you planning on moving the danios into the 25 gal? They shouldnt be kept in a 10 gal tank, they are lively fish that need swimming space.

Andy

 

[zabubidy]

Im moving the danios to the 25 and getting a few more as for the red tailed black shark i thought they only grew to 6" but i may leave the other tetras in the other tank to avoid the plant issue.

 

[Sofia]

I remember someone telling me that coral in a tropical setup was a big no no as it affected the water chemistry. Can someone clarify this?

 

[zabubidy]

I was worrying about the same thing but I plan to lightly bleach the coral and soak it before putting it in the tank and have the water tested afterward.

 

[Sofia]

I think it can particularly affect the hardness of the water which in turn can affect the oxygenation of the water but dont quote me on that!!!

 

[arobinson1984]

Red tailed black sharks do only grow to around 6" but are active fish and the biggest reason they shouldnt be kept in tanks smaller than 50 gal is because they are VERY territorial. A RTBS will claim the majority of your tank as 'its own' territory and would be aggressive to all your other fish.

Andy

 

[zabubidy]

Thanks for the warning on the red tail Ive decided a zebra pleco would be a better fit in my tank especially with the coral.

 

[OldMan47]

Coral skeletons are formed out of calcium carbonate. They are an excellent way to raise pH and hardness when that is the desired outcome. Water hardness does not affect water oxygenation, at least not at the levels that we see. I suppose if you created some kind of saturated solution of water that had all the possible calcium carbonate dissolved in it, the oxygen content could be slightly affected but even then it would dissolve to almost the same degree as in pure water. The zebra danios will do much better in the 25 gallon, once it is cycled, than they do in the tiny hex tank. As others have already said, the RTBS gets way too big for even the 25 gallon tank. Some of my personal favorites are from the corydoras genus but they are bottom feeders, not janitor service. Cleaning up the excrement in the tank is your job, the cories are largely carnivorous in nature and will not eat fish waste. They will go crazy for things like worms that the other fish have missed and will do a great cleaning job on wholesome uneaten food that other fish have missed. Most plecos do not deserve the reputation that they have for being algae eaters. Although young ones will eat some algae, they also feed on a diverse vegetarian diet with a little meatiness to it.

 

[zabubidy]

Finally got the tank set up but still fishless the buenos aires and dainos are going in this weekend after its been cycled.

 

[Marve99]

How are you cycling your tank?

You seem to have done it fast.

 

[waterdrop]

How are you cycling your tank?

You seem to have done it fast.

Yes, I was wondering that too. You haven't mentioned whether you are cycling fishlessly or whether you've heard of that information zab, is if familiar to you? Also, did you understand what OM47 was explaining about the coral dissolving slowly and raising the hardness, and thus the pH potentially? The coral is made of the same chemical that one would buy to raise pH.

~~waterdrop~~