Stocking Ideas

[freded]

I've currently got a 70 litre tank which I've had for a couple of months and due to ignorance (I've learnt so much from this site and wish I'd found it before I bought the fish I've got) I've managed to completely overstock. An outbreak of white spot has unfortuantely killed some of my fish although I think I've now got it under control. Anyway, I've got a 440 litre tank on order and it should arrive shortly and I'm currently completely open-minded as to how I stock my two tanks.

At the moment, I've got:

-3 small angels
-1 small plec
-12 danios
-5 platys
-3 zipper loaches
-1 betta

I recognise now that the tank was completely overstocked and I want to go about things the right way with my new tank (which I intend to fishless cycle).

Has anybody got any suggestions as to which fish I should transfer from my current tank to my larger tank once its cycled and what stocking I could do for my two tanks. I'm completely openminded about the stocking of the two tanks and would love to hear people's ideas given that I've got, to some extent, a blank canvas with which to work.

Thanks

 

[lilfishie]

defo move the angels, any idea on what pleco you have? could you get a pic of it up? probably move the platys, what sex are they? and move the danios too. how does the betta get on with the loaches?

 

[freded]

defo move the angels, any idea on what pleco you have? could you get a pic of it up? probably move the platys, what sex are they? and move the danios too. how does the betta get on with the loaches?

I was thinking of moving the Angels although was wondering if that would limit what I might get it in the larger tank.

The Betta seems to get on with all the fish in the tank and I've not experienced any problems with him at all.

If I did the following, anybody got any ideas on further stocking of the two tanks?

440 litres
3 Angel
Plec
Zipper Loaches

70 litres

Betta
12 Danios
6 Platys

Also, given the recent white spot outbreak, would it make sense to not use any material from the smaller tank to "seed" the larger tank or should it be safe to say use some gravel etc to try to speed up the cycling process?

 

[lilfishie]

i would move that danios too as they are fin nippers and quick movers which the betta won't like, as for speeding up the cycle i'd go for it did you add a carbon sponge to your filter to remove the meds after treated?

 

[-germ-]

You could get a nice south american tank set up in the 440.....
Few largeish tetras(so the angels don't snack on them), corydoras and hatchetfish.
Just a thought.

 

[freded]

i would move that danios too as they are fin nippers and quick movers which the betta won't like, as for speeding up the cycle i'd go for it did you add a carbon sponge to your filter to remove the meds after treated?

Thanks for tips. What would you suggest I put in the smaller tank with the Betta and Platys?

 

[lilfishie]

maybe a few cories?

 

[-germ-]

Personally and this may be wayward thinking i'd get another tank for the betta, you don't need 18 gall (or thereabouts) for the Betta in fact i've heard too much space can be detrimental to them. Not sure, just something i read.
If you do that, say a small aquaone tank, about £39-£59, then you can really play about with stocking and such. Pretty much anything not too nervous (or fishicidal) could go with the danios. Maybe an asian tank, i know nothing about platys so you'd have to check, but if you want to save a bit of money you could use the 70l as a coldwater/room temperature tank, a few hillstream loaches (the best fish ever!) and a flying fox or maybe some white colouds or even barbs. Danios love a bit of water speed.....

 

[freded]

As a follow-up question, if I put the 3 Angels in the 440 litre tank, what other cichlids (if any) could I put with the Angels. If none, I assume it wouldnt be a problem getting some similar sized Angels to make a larger group?