Stocking New 64 Litre Tank?

[jenjen_82]

I'm going to get some fish for my new tank at the end of the month and I was just wanting peoples opinions on what to stock it with as the shops just tell you want you want to hear and not what's best for the fish!

I was thinking about getting
3 neon tetras (i already have 1 existing neon in my old 2 small tank)
2 albino corys
3 dwarf gouramis
1 guppy (maybe)
3 female bettas or 3 dwarf rasboras

I dunno if this is 2 many fish for my tank or if they are suitable or compatible. Also what fish do I put in 1st as i know you can't put them all in at once?

If these are not suitable compatible any suggestions would be welcome. I'm wanting some colourful fish with good personalities.

My tank is a 2 foot tank as well

Thanks!

 

[jenjen_82]

Or is prefer the panda corys if I could

 

[jenjen_82]

Or 6 tetras, 6 harlequin rasbora, 4 dwarf gourami, 3 dwarf rasbora and 3 panda corys or 3 pandas and 3 albino corys?

 

[TropicalJuwel]

Hi,

Is your tank being cycled while your waiting to get fish or are you looking at cycling it when you have the fish? I dont know enough about corys to help you with that but the dwarf gouramis would need only 1 male as they tend to fight and bully the less dominant 1 so 1 male to 3 females is best. They prefer to go into an established tank as aren't very hardy.

Neons need to be in groups of about 10 as there a shoaling fish, personally I prefer cardinal tetras better colour but do get very slightly bigger.

I would also look at having more guppys or none at all instead of just 1. Dwraf gouramis do like warmer water roughly 26-28 where as neons like it cooler 22-26 so that may be a choice between fish.

 

[snake007]

I'm going to get some fish for my new tank at the end of the month and I was just wanting peoples opinions on what to stock it with as the shops just tell you want you want to hear and not what's best for the fish!

I was thinking about getting
3 neon tetras (i already have 1 existing neon in my old 2 small tank)
2 albino corys
3 dwarf gouramis
1 guppy (maybe)
3 female bettas or 3 dwarf rasboras

I dunno if this is 2 many fish for my tank or if they are suitable or compatible. Also what fish do I put in 1st as i know you can't put them all in at once?

If these are not suitable compatible any suggestions would be welcome. I'm wanting some colourful fish with good personalities.

My chank is a 2 foot tank as well

Well first you gotta cycle your tank before you add fish, this can take up to 6 weeks, sometimes even longer, read up about it in the beginners resource center.
About your stocking choice -
Tetras are schooling fish and should be in groups of 6 minimum.
Corys are also schooling fish and albino ones get a bit chunky so I would suggest you get a school of a smaller type, like panda cory or pygmy cory.
3 Dwarf gouramis will not work, just get one, they will fight.
Guppys are social and should be in groups IMO.
3 Female bettas wont really work either, gouramis and bettas are incompatible, except in rare cases.
Guppys and bettas are not compatible either (not sure on females though).

I would say go with

1 Dwarf gourami
6 Neon Tetras
6 Panda Cory
Maybe a few guppies.

 

[jenjen_82]

I'm currently doing a fishless cycle and getting advice from somebody who has kept fish previously. He's testing my water

Would 6 tetra, 6 harlequin rasboras and 6 panda or pygmy corys be ok?

 

[jenjen_82]

My filter is a interpersonal pf2 filter. I've currently got a thin layer of gravel in and was wondering if i could add sand over it instead of taking it out? Also will my filter be ok with sand? Do i have to buy aquarium sand or is there another sand I could use please?

 

[the_lock_man]

I'm currently doing a fishless cycle and getting advice from somebody who has kept fish previously. He's testing my water

Would 6 tetra, 6 harlequin rasboras and 6 panda or pygmy corys be ok?

On the fishless cycle, you are adding bottled ammonia, right?

On the stocking, you could either go with 8 of each, or a honey gourami as well.

My filter is a interpersonal pf2 filter. I've currently got a thin layer of gravel in and was wondering if i could add sand over it instead of taking it out? Also will my filter be ok with sand? Do i have to buy aquarium sand or is there another sand I could use please?

No, you need to take the gravel out, because the sand will work its way down between the gaps. A fair few people recommend Argos playsand, because it's very much cheaper than aquarium sand.

 

[jenjen_82]

I like the honey gourami. Think i'll have 6 of each and the honey gourami. Do i add the rasboras 1st. I have 1 remaining neon but don't wanna put him in 1st n risk loosing the hardy little sod

Yeh adding ammonia

If i remove the gravel and add the sand will 1 x 15kg bag do also do i leave my filter off till its settled or do i need to remove all the water and start again?

 

[the_lock_man]

I like the honey gourami. Think i'll have 6 of each and the honey gourami. Do i add the rasboras 1st. I have 1 remaining neon but don't wanna put him in 1st n risk loosing the hardy little sod

Yeh adding ammonia

If you are doing the fishless cycle as per the recommendations on this site, then once you can process 5ppm of ammonia in 12hours, you can fully stock the tank in one hit. That's just one of the many benefits.

 

[jenjen_82]

If i remove my gravel can I just add the sand once its washed? Don't wanna start from scratch. If i can add it do i leave my filter off till it settles.

The gravel in my tank is only small but not sure if this is ok for the corys.

Thanks

 

[the_lock_man]

If i remove my gravel can I just add the sand once its washed? Don't wanna start from scratch. If i can add it do i leave my filter off till it settles.

The gravel in my tank is only small but not sure if this is ok for the corys.

Thanks

Far easier to do it with no water.