Stocking Levels (yet Again)

[adrianh33]

Hi all,

OK yet another stocking question. We have just finished setting up our new Fluval 350 Litre corner tank, using a sand substrate, and nice new plants which we are helping along with a nice boost of CO2. We have a Fluval 405 external filter attached.

We are running fishless cycling, so it will be a little while yet until we can actually put fish in, but it is time to start pairing our list down. So here is our latest attempt at putting the right selection of fish together.

Rosey Tetras 6 we already have these so will be first into the new home (they are already getting excited)

We need advice about the following

Platy's (possibly 8)
Congo Tetra's (5)
Bronze Corydora's (5)
Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid's (2)
African Banded Barb's (6)
Dwarf Gourami 1 male 1 female
Kribensis (2)
Japonica Shrimp (5)

And I would like to have a

Golden Nugget Plec

Anyway, for the size of the tank and the filtration do you think this is ok/overstocked or understocked.

All comments greatfuly accepted.

Adrian and Karen

 

[doresy]

Hi, not expert enough to give an opinion on the 'mix' but I do know there has been a lot of illness with Dwarf Gouramis lately (victim myself)and they do better in a mature tank. If you do intend to get some then it's better to have 1 male to 2 females and as well as a planted tank they like a patch of floating plant or one that breaks the surface.

Good luck with the fishless cycle (those nitrItes take forever to process but be patient!)

 

[Puffdaddy]

I agree with doresy on the Dwarf Gouramis issue(don't get any). With the rest of the fish you should be fine as far as compatibility goes. Here are potential problems I see. 1. Being a corner tank I'm sure it has considerable hight and not much width as compared to a standard tank, thus giving swimming space problems for the Congo's (very active fish). 2. If you happen to get a mating pair of Kribs they become terror in the tank. 3. You may have some territorial disputes with the Cockatoo's among themselves, try to get 1 male and 2 females. Just try to get various caves and hiding spots and they will be fine. The only thing I'm unsure about is the shrimp, I'll check on that for you. With that said your stocking list is a good one and will definitely make for a beautiful, colorful tank.

 

[adrianh33]

Thanks Doresy, Puffdaddy. the advice comments are most welcome. Another question would be is there any particular order to introduce the fish, I have read that the Platy's, Tetra's are ok in to a new tank setup, but what about the rest. And do you think that over time, as I introduce these fish in to the tank, I would be overstocked. I know I have a strong filtration system, but I do not want to strain it to much.

 

[pandacichlid]

definitely get a Gold nugget pleco, they're beautiful creatures. some people have been ok with these two together,but I had a bad experience with them-kribensis and cockatoo I wouldn't cus kribensis seem to not tolerate other bottom dwellers including corys apparently so just to let you know. However, people have done this successfully so it's upto you
good luck!
Like puffdaddy sed, there is alot of depth but not bottom space, so you may have to choose between the cockatoos and kribs. I prefer cockatoos but kribs are also great.

 

[adrianh33]

As always the feedback from this forum is great, although the tank is a corner tank, it does have quite a large area. it is 60 cm's high but it is 124cm across (4 feet), so I am hoping that this will be enough space for the Congo's.