Starting To Plan How To Stock My Tank

[Mola Mola]

Hi,
I seem to be making good progress with my fishless cycle and so I'm now starting to think about how I might stock it. I have an 80 litre, Boyu MT-50.

The tank is primarily for the benefit of my young children and yesterday we went to our local fish store to get a few ideas. The kids are a bit too young to give feedback on what they like but I noted down a few ideas.

It seems that there are very few large fish that you can put in with small fish, so it seems that I either need a small community (perhaps with one or two large, but passive, fish) or a large community.

Below are the initial lists I made, just based upon which fish I like the look of (and think the kids might like). It is based simply on the fish that were available in the shop (although they do seem to have a very big collection). I suppose that the bigger fish have more personality.

Small fish
Black molly
Green platy
Neon tetra
Tiger barb

Big fish
Silver shark
Red-bellied piranha (think these need to be in a shoal of at least 6, and would be too big for tank when grown)
Red Oscar
Red Eyed Puffer (I think it might need brackish water)
Red Spotted Puffer (I think it might need brackish water)

Other
Red Frontosa (can't figure out which list I put this in)
Thai Red Crabs (would be nice to have something in the bottom)

Any thoughts on what would be good, and getting the right mix, would be very appreciated.

 

[minnnt]

The medium and large fish you talk of are unsuitable I'm affraid. Stick to a nice colourful community tank of platy's, guppies and small tetras.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Small fish
Black molly fine
Green platy fine
Neon tetra fine, but not a good choice for new tanks. They can be fragile and need a tank that has had time to settle after the cycle and 'mature'. Some recommened 6 months before adding to a tank.
Tiger barb very active fish and can get 2-3 inches long. I'm not sure they are ok for a 80L (anybody else care to comment?)

Big fish
Silver shark - too big, need 5-6 foot tanks.
Red-bellied piranha (think these need to be in a shoal of at least 6, and would be too big for tank when grown) 55g tank or larger required
Red Oscar get to about a foot long - too big
Red Eyed Puffer fine - but would only keep it as a single specimen in that tank - any tankmates are likely to get nipped

Other
Red Frontosa too big - get to a foot in length(can't figure out which list I put this in)
Thai Red Crabs primarily a land crab and therefore need areas out of the water. Also need brackish water.(would be nice to have something in the bottom)

for a 80l mixed community, many tetra, rasborra and live bearers would be good choices.

Sadly a lot of the more colourful and 'intersting' fish that are available need significantly larger tanks. But a nice tank of small schoaling fish can be equally as nice.

 

[Corydoralover]

+1 i would stick 2 the smaller fish m8

 

[fluttermoth]

Tiger barb very active fish and can get 2-3 inches long. I'm not sure they are ok for a 80L (anybody else care to comment?)

I agree. I don't think people realise quite what large, chunky fish tigers grow up to be; I wouldn't want to see them in anything less than a 3'/100l; 80l is pushing it IMO.

 

[Mola Mola]

Thanks for the advice so far, much appreciated.

It's disappointing that most of the larger fish seem to grow much larger than they are in the shops, and so rule them out for the tank. As I mentioned, I'd been thinking that the larger ones might have a bit more character for the kids (plus being able to name them), but it seems that they are really out of the question. I suppose there must be some that grow to a manageable size, but it is so hard to tell.

It's also a bit disappointing that the neon tetras can't be put straight in, as my wife is very keen on them. And I was very keen on the Tiger Barbs, so that is a shame too.

I thought the Thai Red Crabs might be a possibility, because the fish shop had them in a tank with no access to an area out of the water, but I suppose that they must accommodate them somehow.

It would be nice to have some kind of invertebrate in the tank. Are there any that are appropriate?

Thanks again for all the advice so far.

EDIT: Oh, BTW, I'm not planning to have any plants in the tank (no objections to doing so, but just thought it would be easier to not have to be worrying about the plants). I don't know if that has much influence on fish selection too.

 

[Louiseness]

It would be nice to have some kind of invertebrate in the tank. Are there any that are appropriate?

Absolutely! You can add shrimps to pretty much any size tank as they add so little to your bioload. Plus, they are freshwater and safe with fish, both things that most crabs aren't. The most common choices are cherry shrimp, which are a lovely bright red colour, or amano shrimp, which will help to eat any algae. Maybe someone who knows more about shrimp can tell you some less common inverts that would work

EDIT: Oh, BTW, I'm not planning to have any plants in the tank (no objections to doing so, but just thought it would be easier to not have to be worrying about the plants). I don't know if that has much influence on fish selection too.

Actually yes, it does. Most fish will appreciate some plants to give shelter and rest on/behind. Paradoxically, with lots of fish like tetras or platies, the more cover you have, the more you will see them out and about because they will feel secure. Plant-free tanks are usually only used for cichlid tanks because they tend to destroy them.

You can always go for fake plants if you can't be bothered with real. Silk plants are softer and kinder to fish plus they look more real, and they only need a rinse under the tap now and again.

 

[fluttermoth]

I just think you need to look at what fish are suitable for your tank, rather than looking at fish that can't go!

How about;

a male betta; small, but full of character; kids love them
a shoal of 12 microrasboras or smaller tetras; ember tetras or mosquito rasboras would be great with a blue colured betta; or dwarf emerald rasboras with a red betta.
Once they've settled in and everything's stable, you could have some shrimps; there are loads of different ones; everyone loves shrimps; they're adorable, and do a great job tidying up for you.

Or;
3 male platies; small and hardy, but again full of character and very interactive.
12 cardinal tetras; a bit bigger than neons and more pricey, but hardier
Shrimps or maybe apple snails