Stocking 120l

[Bigpig]

Right need some help planning on what fish to buy any help would be great.

My Tank is 101 x 31 x 46 cm with the filter anh heater box its 120l

(06/04/08 stock)
1 Betta male
2 Honey Gourami
6 Cardinal Tetra
8 Zebra Danios

 

[drufly]

You should be alright with the male beta although it all depends on the individual fish, i have 1 in my communit and it is doing great.

As for the danios you could put more i if u wish as they only grow to 2 or 2 an a half inches. The rams are a lovely fish too had a couple of them but unfortunatly lost both. but they do very well in comunities and only grow to 3''.

Same applies with the catfish as to the size, mayb drop the midgets and go for a bristlenose catfish, they grow to about 6'' noctornal though but a great fish.

Maybe a school of neon tetras or platys to would be nice. Or a school of tiger barbs though they need to be in groups of about 6 to 8 as they can be nippy to oter fish in your community

 

[Bigpig]

i thaught about a school of tiger barbs instead of the zebs but then read up on them.seeing am looking the beta to be main show in the tank they would prob nip his fins quite alot since he a slow swimmer

 

[mark.w.jones]

I would advise against the male betta in a community tank. In my experience they often do not fair well as they get nipped by smaller fish, struggle to compete for food as they are such poor swimmers and if faced with another fish they consider to be another male betta they can fight to the death. They are far betta as a single species in a small tank 5 - 10 gallons with a slow trickle filter. A single female betta is a possibility as they are less aggresive but they will still struggle to compete for food and many smaller fish will again find their fins irresistable. IMHO a single / pair of gouramis would make a far better centre piece fish.

 

[Bigpig]

would blue rams be ok with gouramis ?

Guess i might just get one of those small orbs for a single betta

 

[mark.w.jones]

I have not kept Rams but from what I have read they are not particularly hardy. They are rather prone to dying easily and need A1 water conditions. A M+F pair will be aggresive to certain point and will guard what they consider to be their territory but they are one of the least aggresive Cichlids. They are more likely to chase after smaller fish. If you are going for a bigger gourami like a pearl or a 3 spot I doubt it would have any trouble from the Rams. Smaller gouramis like dwarfs, blues or honeys may have to put up with a squabble or two as they look similar but I'm sure they will be fine.

 

[Bigpig]

I do like the look of honey Gourami. Heard about Blue rams being hard to keep and need a mature setup so they would be very last on my list

List so far

2 Honey Gourami
8 Zebra Danios
2 Blue ram
2 Midget Suckermouth Catfish mybe more or a brislenose

 

[Ace Of Spades]

I do like the look of honey Gourami. Heard about Blue rams being hard to keep and need a mature setup so they would be very last on my list

List so far

2 Honey Gourami
5 Zebra Danios mybe more
2 Blue ram
2 Midget Suckermouth Catfish mybe more or a brislenose

I Have Three blue rams and they are peaceful, very peaceful infact and they aint that sensitive to water conditions unless they are F1 or Wild caught, but probally due to alot of tank bred Rams I dont think they are as Sensitive as they use to be and or the wild ones.

I would advise against the male betta in a community tank. In my experience they often do not fair well as they get nipped by smaller fish, struggle to compete for food as they are such poor swimmers and if faced with another fish they consider to be another male betta they can fight to the death. They are far betta as a single species in a small tank 5 - 10 gallons with a slow trickle filter. A single female betta is a possibility as they are less aggresive but they will still struggle to compete for food and many smaller fish will again find their fins irresistable. IMHO a single / pair of gouramis would make a far better centre piece fish.

I dont see what is wrong with it, my Betta loved being in the community and would often swim with the platy's and Daino's before I gave him away.

 

[Mikaila31]

I've found when stocking with rams or gouramis, its best to keep one to a tank unless you plan on breeding them. IMO both are quiet peaceful but can get territorial with their own kind. If found GBR's easy to keep, but I hunted high and low before I found some juvs. I was satisfied with. Mine survived a minicycle with no problems, so not a difficult fish IMO. But I couldn't keep a swordtail alive if my life depended on it . I also suggest rummy nosed or carnial tetras, stay away from neons though.

 

[mark.w.jones]

I dont see what is wrong with it, my Betta loved being in the community and would often swim with the platy's and Daino's before I gave him away.

I am not saying there a no male bettas out there that are fine in a community tank but they are the rareity rather than the norm. More often than not they do not do so well, get nipped and struggle to get food. I would rather not take the risk. I also find them rather boring and common, and think there are far more interesting centre piece fish out there.

Another thing that I hadn't considered earlier Bigpig is that Rams prefer a warm tank 27 - 28 degrees. This is warmer than most tropical community fish will be happy in. They also don't tend to live for very long, 3 - 4 years compared to 10 years for a lot of tropical species so bear that in mind as well.

 

[Bigpig]

Hey guys my api master tester kit came!!!!
Just done the ph and got a reading between 7.2-7.6? what do you reckon on the quality of my tap water ?

hmm Have to think hard bout the rams then.

I love the look of Cardinal Tetra how many would you school and would they be suitable with Danios? Also Would the brislenose be happy with my tank? I updated the main post with picture of my deco. The water is near crystal now

updated list then
2 Honey Gourami
Cardinal Tetra mybe
8 Zebra Danios
2 Midget Suckermouth Catfish mybe more or a brislenose

 

[Bigpig]

Since my api water tester kit came i desided to a fish in cycle. Using Tetra safe start. Doing tests twice a day and taking action when needed and loging morning results

Day 1 day 2 day 3 day 4 day 5

Ammonia 0.50 0.25 0.25 0.50 0.25
NO /2 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
NO /3 5.0 8.0 10 10 10


Fish stock atm not planing on adding any more for a few weeks

1 Betta male He seems to be doing very well. He flared up once when he saw the fake bonsia tree but is now freely roaming the tank and playing in the fake red reeds
2 Honey Gourami. They have seemed to have paired up and swimming every where with each other they are a real joy to watch. they keep touching wiskers as if they holding hands see pic below
8 Dinos what more can i say. These are full of life one even jumped into the test tube when i was taking a sample lol
6 Cardinal Tetra now when i got these they where very shy. But they slowy comming around

 

[Bigpig]

Just a quick update on my fish in cycle

The past two days my test results have been

ammonia 0.25 nitrites 0 nitrates about 7.5

I have not did a water change in 3 days as the results have not gone over or to 0.50

Am quite unsure what to do now? Is this normal to have zero NO /2? Is the Tetra safe start really starting to kick in?

Wait and see if they drop by them selfs? Water change?

Also my plants (touch wood) should come today to make it a planted tank for the fish to enjoy

 

[Dan81192]

hmm i think 2 red tailed sharks would look super in that tank,

 

[Bigpig]

hmm i think 2 red tailed sharks would look super in that tank,

I belive my tank is two small for RTS. They need 200l?

hmm This Tetra safe start really is impressing me.

Second day running my results have been ammonia 0.25 nitrites 0 nitrates 10

Also my tap water was comming up with a colour between 0-0.25 yellow with a small hint of green