Starting Out With A 125ltr Roma

[kps_uk]

Hi guys

Just been looking at getting a tank the past couple of days and was wondering if anyone had some advice on my selection.

The local store is selling a Roma 125 for £210 with full starter kit, so I was looking at getting it.
I have had a look at the fish they have available and the list below is what I was looking to get (over time as I know you shouldn't just load the tank up in one go!)

I'd prefer a tank full of small fish rather than a few larger, so this is what I have gone for (from what the store has available)

4 - 5 each of the following:
Guppy (males)
Black Molly
Tiger Barbs
Neon Tetra
X-Ray Tetra

1 each of:
Red-Tailed Black Shark
Zebra Pleco
Zebra or Polka-dotloach (I was looking at a Clown loach but at 30cm I think he'll be too big!)

Would these fish be OK together? I may have too many selected here so if any which would you suggest I maybe drop from the list?

Cheers

KS

 

[craig855s]

fishless cycle the tank before u add anything,it may take a month or more but no fish will be harmed in the process..if u do not do this then u will be in a fish in cycle where you need to change 40% of the tank water possibly twice a day to keep the damaging chemicals down (fish will be damaged slightly,gill damge)

Where have you found the zebra plecs and what price u seeing them at?

 

[arobinson1984]

Agree with craig here, have a read up on cycling using the links in my signature and especially read the one regarding fishless cycling.

Performing a fishless cycle prevents any harm to fish and is alot less work for yourself.

Regarding your stocking ideas.

1. The tank isnt big enough for a red tailed black shark, they need 200L minimum and get very territorial and aggressive towards all other fish.

2. Tiger barbs can be aggressive to some other fish, keeping them in larger groups normally helps to lower the aggression so you would prob need 6 minimum.

3. Black molly, some people say these are fine in freshwater tanks, others say they are brackish andshould have salt in the water, from my personal experience, I've not had much luck with them in my freshwater tank, they havent seemed to live over 2 years so I no longer keep them.

4. You are correct about the clown loaches being too big, they need a 350/400L tank.

Hope this helps a little

Andy

 

[kps_uk]

Cheers for that guys, I read up on the fishless cycle, I will do all that of course, I was just trying to list up some fish to have in the tank after.

The notes with the Mollys says about the salt water, so I'll check up on thgem some more

Sorry I was getting me Loach and Pleco mixed up with the Zebra thing I think it was a Zebra Loach they had looking at the pictures.

Revised:
Guppy (males) 4-5
Black Molly 4-5
Tiger Barbs 5-6
Neon Tetra 'several'
X-Ray Tetra 4-5

1 of:
Polka-dot/Zebra Loach

Is there any Pleco that would be suited to a 125ltr tank as I really like these, but all the ones I see seem to grow to at least 30cm which I imagine would be too big, even though they don't seem particularly active fish.

Actually just found this on the Plecos [http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=132656]

Cheers for the advice though.

 

[Wills]

the loaches need to be in groups of about 5 or more as they need to be in shoals as much as the other fish have you seen the pygmi chain loaches? They are a bit smaller than the zebras and polkadots but look great. With the plecs often the smaller ones are harder to track down but there are quite a few that are suitable for your tank that stay around 4.5 inch

 

[MBOU]

Well, you wont be able to keep Xray Tetra or Tiger Barbs in with guppies, either dont have guppies and get something like platies instead... Cherry Barbs and Pentazona Barbs are nice none aggressive barbs that dont shred fins of other fish and for tetras, things like Rathbuns Tetra, Normal Neons, Black Neons, Albino Black Neons, Ember Tetra, Phantom Tetras and so on... or even fish like the harlequin rasbora.

 

[arobinson1984]

An ideal plec for that sized tank would be a bristlenose plec, but only 1. They can grow to 6" but usually only reach 5"

I have a bristlenose plec (BN plec) in my 125L tank, they are fun to watch and are fine to be kept on its own (doesnt need other plecs for company)

Andy

 

[ZoddyZod]

The local store is selling a Roma 125 for £210 with full starter kit,

If you like that tank, Seapets are doing it for £149 with starter kit AND stand.

Seapets link