Stocking 125Ltr Fluval Roma

[safire_eye]

Hello all,

I have just entered the exciting world of tropical fish keeping and thus far have been succesful after alot of research. I have a 125litre Fluval Roma with 4 live plants, 2 plastic plants, 2 building ruin ornaments, a rena smart heater, an aerator and a fluval 105 filter.

I currently have 6 black neon tetras who seem to be doing well, although they do kinda flail against the glass sometimes, assuming this is normal? Relfection chasing or something?

I have some ideas for other fish I want to stock. Can I just get some opinions on which combos would look good, which are compatible, which are easiest to get hold of, and how many I could stock? These are the fish I like;

Cardinal/Neon Tetras
Upsidedown Catfish
Male Bettas
Cherry Barbs
Denisons Barbs
Odessa Barbs
Chili Rasboras
Galaxy Rasboras
Endlers Livebearers
I'd also like some sort of Gourami or Cichlid.

I'm generally after very colourful fish as you can probably tell, so if you have any other suggestions I'd love to hear them!

Thanks a million,

Tim

 

[ZoddyZod]

first, and most important question. Did you cycle the filter/tank?

 

[Katch]

Cardinals or Neons - would look nice and shoal with your current tetra
Male Betta - have to be careful what else you put with him - but most of your list would be ok.
Chilli Rasbora - Don't like large tank mates
Galaxy Rasbora (Celestial Pearl Danio) - can be fussy eaters at first and do best in well established planted tanks
Endlers - If you have a male and a female they will end up filling the tank with their offspring.

Think about dwarf cichlids for that size tank - Rams or Apistos spring to mind.

Be careful when choosing gourami as some get quite large.

I'm not a barb keeper so can't really comment on them.

For what would look good; I'd suggest a pair of Rams or a Trio of Apistos, some more Tetra and a shoal of about 6 Corydoras catfish. The corys are very active and pleasing fish to keep.

first, and most important question. Did you cycle the filter/tank?

+1

 

[safire_eye]

Thanks Katch. The tank was cycled with added 'friendly' bacteria and aerobic filter media, on the advice of my LFS for 1 week prior to adding fish.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Thanks Katch. The tank was cycled with added 'friendly' bacteria and aerobic filter media, on the advice of my LFS for 1 week prior to adding fish.

ahhhh.....some bad news coming your way. That advice was wrong. Sadly the 'bottled bacteria' stuff is normally useless, and your filter will never 'cycle' in just one week doing that.

Don't worry.......LOTS of people are fed this method and end up findout out the hard way. The good news is your haven't added any fish yet.

Have a look in the beginners section and read up on 'fish-less cycling'. Then post back here with any questions.

The 'aerobic filter media' that you got. Was that running in one of the LFS tanks, or was it brand new and in a box?

 

[Jinty McGinty]

I currently have 6 black neon tetras who seem to be doing well, although they do kinda flail against the glass sometimes, assuming this is normal? Relfection chasing or something?

As above your tank isn't cycled, and the reason your tetras are behaving the way they are is because you probably have high levels of ammonia in your tank. You need to read up about 'fish in cycle' in the beginners section. And do a 90% water change if you've not touched the water since starting, if you have then a 50% min. Plus get onto ebay for a testing kit of your water.

 

[ZoddyZod]

As above your tank isn't cycled, and the reason your tetras are behaving the way they are is because you probably have high levels of ammonia in your tank. Y

whoops.....missed the current stocking!

I'd advise some very large water changes immediately and to get yourself a liquid based test kit that tests for Ammonia and Nitrite.

Again, reading the cycling section will quickly help you to understand why.

 

[safire_eye]

I did a 25% change a couple of days ago, and I inherited some liquid testers from a friend. The ammonia hasn't tested as high yet.

 

[Jinty McGinty]

I did a 25% change a couple of days ago, and I inherited some liquid testers from a friend. The ammonia hasn't tested as high yet.

What did it test at?

Anything other than 0 is high!

 

[safire_eye]

Just got in from work and checked. Its somewhere between 0.25 and 0ppm. It's difficult to gauge the colour exactly. The fish seem perfectly content during the day, the swimming against the glass seems to occur when the light is on at night.

 

[safire_eye]

Anyone else have any advice or other ideas with regards to stocking?

 

[ZoddyZod]

Anyone else have any advice or other ideas with regards to stocking?

I think we really need to assess whether your tank is cycled properly or not yet. Looks like the fish have been in there about a week?

I would test daily for another two weeks for both ammonia and nitrite. If you see 0 everyday then the tank should be cycled. You can then think about adding more fish.

you might get lucky and have a fish-in cycle that is relatively short and painless......but most people experience much longer cycles - 4+ weeks, sometimes leading into months before the filter is established.

 

[Katch]

+1

feel free to read up on all the fish you are interested in but leave them at the shop until you are sure the tank is a safe environment for them.

currently it is not as is evident from your positive ammonia test.

When you add the drops it will immediately take on a yellowy colour (asumming you are using an API test). Over the next few minutes if there is any change in colour at all there is ammonia present.

 

[Essjay22 137]

I inherited some liquid testers from a friend

You need to check if they are still in date if they're second hand. They do go off. API testers have the date of manufacture in the lot number (last 4 digits are month and year); the ammonia test lasts for 3 years from that date and the nitrite tester for 4 years. I don't know how long other makes last though.