Stocking My Tank

[benthyer]

Hi all,
 
I am in need of your help in regards to how many fish I can have and what will be suitable.
 
I have a 115L tank, which measures 99cm in length, 29cm width and 39cm depth.
 
I already have an idea of two fish that I want and just need to know what will be suitable to go with them. The two fish I'm interested in are a Pleco of some form, been advised to get a bristlenose, and a red tailed shark, but I am very aware of their temperment as they grow older.
 
Thanks in advance
 
Ben

 

[Zante]

Water parameters?

 

[benthyer]

All I know at the moment is that I am in a hard water area. I am waiting for my test kit to arrive

 

[ncguppy830]

so i assume you havent cycled then?

 

[benthyer]

Not just yet will be as soon as my test kit arrives but I want to be able to start planning ahead ready for the day when my tank has cycled

 

[Ninjouzata]

Hello! I'm sorry to say that the red tail would not be suitable for your tank. 
I think the absolute minimum I've ever seen told for them, and the person seemed very uneasy saying it, was 40g (151l). Most people say 55g (208l).
Sorry for the rough conversions, I had to google.. 

*Edit* Not sure if you've done this already, kind of sounds like you have..but something that helps is if you go to your LFS and write down the fish that you like, then come back here and tell us and maybe we can come up with something.

 

[Zante]

I think I'll wait to know what water you have before i suggest anything.

 

[benthyer]

Yeah I have been to my LFS and spoke to them about what I was interested in and they said a Red Tail would be fine, but I'm happy to find something else. I also like Angel Fish and have just been told of another LFS to visit today as they have a bigger section than the one down the road from me so will go have a look in the next few days.
 
Zante as soon as I get my test kit I will post the results.

 

[Ch4rlie]

I would not rely on what your LFS advises you really.
 
So I would definitely avoid the red tail shark as they are active fish and need a lot of swimming space.
BTW absolute minimum tank size even just to consider them 120 x 45 cm.
 
Dependant on your water parameters, you may want to consider Pearl Gouramis, Trichopodus leeri, as they are hardy little species of fish and lovely coloration!
 
Recommended for beginners according to Seriously Fish website

 

[benthyer]

The Pearl Gouramis look rather nice actually, would have to only get one though as there is no way I could afford a breeding tank yet if they were to end up breeding. My friend told me today that he would avoid Gouramis though because he had some and they started attacking his other fish
 
Any more advice or suggestions are welcomed though, there is just soo many that it's overwhelming!

 

[benthyer]

My API Freshwater Master Test Kit arrived today so I now have all the parameters of my water apart from KH/GH (whatever one it is) as I don't have the kit to be able to test this, although I do know that I am in a hard water area.
 
pH: Somewhere around 8 - 8.2
Ammonia: 0.25ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: somewhere between 20 - 40ppm
Temp: 26C
 
I have since added 4 Zebra Danios as I had someone buy them for me as a surprise gift, this has ruined my plan to do a fishless cycle but I have added the Start-Up bacteria you can buy just to make sure the fish are as comfortable as possible but from the test it all seems alright apart from my pH but that's from what little knowledge I have.
 
I am now ready for your advice on how to fix anything and what I can consider stocking in my tank

 

[Zante]

Tanganyika tank? a few multi shelldwellers and a few lyretails?
 
Otherwise if you have your heart set on a catfish, how about a couple of synodontis?
No "proper" pleco would fit in that tank, but one of the smaller species (bristlenoses for example) should be fine.
 
Some of the smaller central america cichlids should do fine in there, a pair of firemouths or a pair of elliotis for example.
 
Two pearl gouramis should be ok in there, with a shoal of rasboras. A bit on the limit for their parameters, but it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[benthyer]

Thanks for the advice Zante, I don't think I will have a Tanganyika tank as from what I've read it's not great for beginners.
 
I am very keen on getting a pleco and I am aware that I would have to choose a smaller variation of plecs. 
 
How about angel fish? WIll I be able to keep them in my tank?

 

[Zante]

Shelldwellers and lyretails are fairly simple fish to keep. I wouldn't have suggested them otherwise.
 
I wouldn't stock angels in that tank. I would advise a tank twice that size and at least 50cm tall for angels.

 

[benthyer]

Oh from what I read it said keeping the water conditions correct etc were important and not easy for a beginner :s

OK so angel fish are out. If I was to follow your earlier suggestion would the gouramis become the main fish in the tank?