Stock My Tank!

[Cú Mhara]

I have been through so many different potential stocking plans while I've waited for my tank to cycle, and I'm finally ready to add some fish! I've made countless trips to my LFS (and others) during the fishless cycle, and I've spent an age mulling over which direction to go in. During my last little jaunt, I discovered a tank full of beautiful Black Ruby Barbs. I decided there and then that I will get them. Throughout my short time using this site, I've found you guys to be extremely helpful and friendly. So, please don't break the trend for my final stocking plan.

My tank is 36 x 18 x 19, and my filter is a Fluval 404. The substrate is play sand. I have 4 small (3-5 inch) pieces of Mopani and one large (20+ inches) piece, with loads of holes in that form natural caves. I've got a bunch of Java Ferns (about 5 large and 4 small), Anubias (3 quite large), and a piece of slate with a Java Moss carpet.

These are the fish I am interested in:

Opaline Gourami (I'd go for 1m, 3f)
Black Ruby Barb (I want at least 8)
Kuhli Loach (6)
Yoyo Loach (what's the ideal number for these? I'd be looking at 4 or 5, anyway)

The above are the ones I definitely want, and I'd quite like some of the below:

Odessa Barb (I might get 6 of these, if there's space)
Golden Wonder Panchax (1m, 3f)
Honey Gourami (1m, 3f)
Pearl Gourami (1m, 3f)
Giant Danio (6)
Leopard Danio (6)

But I'm not too bothered if they don't work with the former group.

Which of them would work best as a combination, and in what number, given my tank size, etc? Is there anything else that would work well with any combination of the above that you would recommend? I wanted something to eat algae but was put off by the SAE due to its apparent propensity to eat Java Moss.

As ever, any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Crossfire]

I have been through so many different potential stocking plans while I've waited for my tank to cycle, and I'm finally ready to add some fish! I've made countless trips to my LFS (and others) during the fishless cycle, and I've spent an age mulling over which direction to go in. During my last little jaunt, I discovered a tank full of beautiful Black Ruby Barbs. I decided there and then that I will get them. Throughout my short time using this site, I've found you guys to be extremely helpful and friendly. So, please don't break the trend for my final stocking plan.

My tank is 36 x 18 x 19, and my filter is the Fluval 404. The substrate is play sand. I have 4 small (3-5 inch) pieces of Mopani and one large (20+ inches) piece, with loads of holes in that form natural caves. Ive got a bunch of Java Ferns (about 5 large and 4 small), Anubias (3 quite large), and a piece of slate with a Java Moss carpet.

These are the fish I am interested in:

Opaline Gourami
Black Ruby Barb
Odessa Barb
Kuhli Loach
Yoyo Loach
Golden Wonder Panchax

Which of them would work best as a combination, and in what number, given my tank size, etc? Is there anything else that would work well with any combination of the above? I wanted something to at algae but was put off by the SAE due to its apparent propensity to eat Java Moss.

As ever, any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Your stocking sounds good, excpet for two things.
Barbs and gouramis shouldn't be mixed, as the barbs are nippy fish and will nip and munch on the gouramis long flowing fins. But Black Ruby Barbs are timid fish, and shouln't nip the gouramis, so they'd be ok with some careful observation. Not sure about Odessa Barbs, but I think they are a more peaceful barb species. Since the tank is planted and big enough, they should be fine with the gouramis, just keep both eyes open for any trouble.
Killifish are best on their own in species only tanks, as they can be aggressive.

Other than that, it sounds like a good tank in the making.
Perhaps for another centerpiece fish, how about a single Badis? They are small, but gorgeuos.
Perhaps even a male/female pair of Bolivian Rams, or maybe even a harem.

For algae, you could get a school of oto catfish, or even any pleco under 8 inches. Bristlenose plecos are the best. Perhaps even amano shrimp.

Come back with what you like, and we can work out numbers


Oh, and love your sig
Winter is coming

 

[Cú Mhara]

Indeed it is! And thanks for the feedback!

I'm aware that Gouramis and Barbs can be a problematic combination but from what I've read (and I've read far too much!) the Black Rubies and the Opalines should be fine. As you say, I would of course make sure to keep a vigilant watch over them. I'm not really bothered about the Killis or even the Odessas; just threw them both in there in case there were problems with my other choices.

I'd like to stick to the Asian theme as much as possible, because I'm just a bit OCD like that. There must me something wrong with me - I really like Hoplos and Cichlids but it would bother me too much seeing something that is 'out of place' in the tank. I am aware that the fish I have chosen do not hail from the same location, but I would like to stick to one continent, if possible. If I have done so far, that is!

Would Honey Gouramis work? I'm worried they'd be bullied by the Opalines.

Would there be space for something else at the bottom? If so, does anyone have some suggestions? How would Danios (just 6 Zebras, or something ) get on with Opaline Gouramis (which I hear can be problematic with small fish)?

 

[Cú Mhara]

I've added a few more options into the second list.

I'm really stuck for bottom-dwellers!

 

[Crossfire]

Indeed it is! And thanks for the feedback!

I'm aware that Gouramis and Barbs can be a problematic combination but from what I've read (and I've read far too much!) the Black Rubies and the Opalines should be fine. As you say, I would of course make sure to keep a vigilant watch over them. I'm not really bothered about the Killis or even the Odessas; just threw them both in there in case there were problems with my other choices.

I'd like to stick to the Asian theme as much as possible, because I'm just a bit OCD like that. There must me something wrong with me - I really like Hoplos and Cichlids but it would bother me too much seeing something that is 'out of place' in the tank. I am aware that the fish I have chosen do not hail from the same location, but I would like to stick to one continent, if possible. If I have done so far, that is!

Would Honey Gouramis work? I'm worried they'd be bullied by the Opalines.

Would there be space for something else at the bottom? If so, does anyone have some suggestions? How would Danios (just 6 Zebras, or something ) get on with Opaline Gouramis (which I hear can be problematic with small fish)?

Opalines are the most aggressive gouramis, so sadly I don't think it'll work. Danios are fine with the Opalines, just not the long finned variety, I feel like they'd be nibbled on.

I think for asian centerpiece, there aren't many that aren't huge, for example, the silver arrowana.
Kuhli Loaches and YoYo Loaches would already be enough for the bottom area, another species would be too much competition for the bottom.

I would go:
15x Black Ruby Barbs
4x Opaline Gouramis (1 male, 3 females)
10x Kuhli Loaches
10x YoYo Loaches

Since you want algae eaters from Asia, I recommend a group of Amano Shrimp. Other than that, I can think of no other asian algae eaters. Shrimp don't add very much to bioload, so you could have quite a lot of shrimp.

Maybe someone else can chime in and recommend a centerpiece fish, and then you have reached a limit, really, for the amount of fish.

I've added a few more options into the second list.

I'm really stuck for bottom-dwellers!

Other bottom dwellers could be Dario Botia Loach, Striata Botia Loach, Skunk Botia Loach, and Angelicus Botia Loach

Instead of a centerpiece fish, how about another schooling fish that you've listed? All could work

 

[Baccus]

A really good algea eater is Siamese Flying fox but they are often confused with Chinese Algea Eater, the Flying fox hails from Asia is a largish fish and should be able to look after itself with other largish tank mates.

 

[Crossfire]

A really good algea eater is Siamese Flying fox but they are often confused with Chinese Algea Eater, the Flying fox hails from Asia is a largish fish and should be able to look after itself with other largish tank mates.

Wow, how could forget about those

Yes, flying foxes would work fine in this setup.

 

[Baccus]

I could have said Apple Snails but they would be just expensive meals for the Yo-Yo's once they matured .

 

[Crossfire]

I could have said Apple Snails but they would be just expensive meals for the Yo-Yo's once they matured .

That, and apple snails are aesexual and wouldve had hundred of babies

 

[Cú Mhara]

I did mention the SAE but I like my moss carpet too much to risk it! Would 10 Yoyos really fit? That seems like a lot to me. I'd be happy to add another school of something (maybe Odessa Barbs?) instead of a centre-piece.

 

[Cú Mhara]

How about 6 Giant Danios instead of the Opaline Gouramis?

 

[Baccus]

I am guessing you really want a largeish fish for the main swimming area, but incase you would go a bit smaller Pearl Danios are really pretty and develop lovely pinks and greens.

If worried about the eventual size of Yo-Yos you could get a nice school of Dwarf Chain Loaches they like exploring all over the tank and are quite active even with the lights on.
Another option in the algea eating brigade is Borneo Suckers although they tend to just munch on the Biofilm. These are a great little fish and with the currents that danio's will like would work well. I have found with my Borneo Suckers that they aren't that interested in high flow/ currents and love hanging out on the leaves of my Amazon swords, they also take flake food readily.

 

[Cú Mhara]

Thanks, guys.

I'm now thinking:

6 Giant Danios
8 Black Ruby Barbs
6 Odessa Barbs / Harlequin Rasboras / more Black Ruby Barbs
5 Yoyo Loaches
6 Kuhli Loaches

And then I'd just slowly add to the schools (of fish like the Kuhlis, Barbs and/or Rasboras) over time. How does that sound?

 

[Crossfire]

Thanks, guys.

I'm now thinking:

6 Giant Danios
8 Black Ruby Barbs
6 Odessa Barbs / Harlequin Rasboras / more Black Ruby Barbs
5 Yoyo Loaches
6 Kuhli Loaches

And then I'd just slowly add to the schools (of fish like the Kuhlis, Barbs and/or Rasboras) over time. How does that sound?

Sounds good

If your still looking for alage eaters, you can practically have an unlimited amount of Amano Shrimp in your tank to tackle the algae

 

[Cú Mhara]

This won't be happening for a while now but I'm now thinking I want to do this:

8 Zebra Loaches
12 Kuhli Loaches
8 Black Ruby Barbs
6 Cherry Barbs
12 Harlequin Rasboras

I'd be interested in increasing the amount of barbs and rasboras. What do you guys reckon would be a good number, or am I at my limit already?