Stocking Ideas - Possible?

[Saedcantas]

Hiya All,

My tank is 11US Gallons, currently lightly planted, but my intention is to eventually have it moderately to densely planted. I'm running an Ario2 silent air pump inside the tank and my filtration is a Hydor prime10 (21-40g) external canister. My gravel and filter media were taken from very very mature tanks

I intend to do a minimum of 25% water change every 7 days, possibly more depending on how my bioload affects NitrAte levels, I'm perfectly willing to do as much maintainance as this tank needs, it's less of a chore more of a relaxing pastime for me (done it so many times at work maybe lol!)

Anyway, the root of the question is, given the above information and the following proposed stocking list, do you think my ideas are reasonable and possible?

Stock list;
2x Butterfly rams (2")
3x Dwarf otocinclus (1.7")
4x Pygmy corydorus (0.9")
1x Dwarf honey gourami (2.5")
2x Cherry barbs (1.9")
6x Cardinals (1.9")
That's actually (using adult max lengths) 30.4" in total of fish. Depending which stocking rules and calculators you use, my tank comes out as anything between 12-18".

Now I know of course that stocking density calculators arent hard and fast rules, but what I'd like to know is if anyone actually thinks this is a wholly unreasonable level of fish for this tank?

I can envisage this tank and I think it will work, I have spent considerable time working out this stocking list and weighing the balance of these fish within the tank, no area will be overbalanced and the surface will be left pretty much to the gourami.

But! you can never have too many opinions and they are always valued so, any offers???
Lotte***

 

[yvez9]

i wouls skip the rams for sure

cherry barbs should be skipped as well
i'd get maybe 2 honey gouramis instead, as well as 6 cories.

 

[Saedcantas]

Any particular reasoning for that or is that just your personal stocking preference?

 

[blue_ram]

Any particular reasoning for that or is that just your personal stocking preference?

I wouldn't call your stocking level "unreasonable", but it's definitely overstocked. I guess everyone has a different threshold for "unreasonable".

In any case I do agree with yvez9 on stocking suggestions. Rams need fairly clean water. It's going to be difficult to maintain high water quality with all those fishes. Cherry barbs are also out, unless you can get only females. Males tend to get nippy, especially in small tanks. Dwarf Gourami aren't too aggressive, but they aren't angels either. Corys always welcome more of their own kind.

 

[Saedcantas]

Ok well hows this then for an alternative safer more manageable bet?

1x Ram
1x Dwarf honey gourami
3x Dwarf otocinclus
5x Flame tetra
5x Pygmy corydorus
In this case the adult sizes add up to 19.6" total.

The Ram is my primary interest, I'll forget everything else before I shelve that idea I am confident that I am fully aware of the requirements of Microgeophagus ramirezi having dealt with them continuously in various situations (new stressed stock to pairs breeding in display tanks) over six years.

 

[@ombomb]

The tank is too small for Rams. Territorial fish need enough room to actually establish a territory, 11G just isn't big enough for them.

 

[thapsus]

Well here's my opinion.

With that kind of stocking tank will look very busy and messy. I personally want to offer proper shoals to fishes and like to keep less species in tank so it looks more geared and balanced.

Of these fishes
2x Butterfly rams (2")
3x Dwarf otocinclus (1.7")
4x Pygmy corydorus (0.9")
1x Dwarf honey gourami (2.5")
2x Cherry barbs (1.9")
6x Cardinals (1.9")

I would take:

8-10 x Pygmy corys
3 x otos
6x cardinals

or

3x otos
6x cardinals
1x honey gouramy

or
8-10x pygmy corys
3x otos
1x honey gouramy.

But that's just me.

 

[Bloo]

I agree with most of what has been said already - esepecially "With that kind of stocking tank will look very busy and messy". Also, from your pics in the Newbie section (lovely tank btw ), your tank seems quite tall and not long - which reduces stocking levels even more.

 

[CluelessScot]

I think rams need a minimum of 20 gallons or 30 gallons for a pair...

I know where your coming from tho, rams are so dam nice

Kev