Stocking Plans.

[KevM]

I recently upgraded from a 50g to a pretty odd-shaped but, thankfully, bigger tank. Its measurements are: 48" x bowfront x 24".The bowfront measures 13" at each side and 18" in the middle. So although it holds a touch over 50% more water, the footprint isn't a great deal bigger. Even so, I've been mulling over some possibilites that the extra size has opened up to me. I particularly like the following:

Botiine loaches
Cichlids (no dwarves and no diggers)
Senegal Bichir
Rainbowfish (Boesemani, in particular)
African Knife
Synodontis sp. (no upside-downs!)
Fancy Plecos
Gouramis (particularly three-spot-sized and up)
Hyphessobrycon sp.
Snakeheads (dwarves)

Obviously I wouldn't be stocking anything that isn't compatible with each other; don't panic!

I've probably left a few out there, as well. The main thing is I've got some fancy new LED light units (coming from our very own Ps3Steveo), with the intention of doing a nice planted tank. Nothing too high-tec, medium light and down, trace elements, no co2, etc. The filter is a homemade Hamburger Mattenfilter using 30 PPI Poret foam, an eheim 400 air pump and two large jetlifters from swisstropicals. This will give me huge biofiltration but obviously means I don't have that much flow so I want to avoid fish that need a lot of flow in order to thrive. I'd quite like to use dirt/ferts topped with black gravel as the substrate, so I really don't want any diggers.

I've been toying with the idea of getting a pair of Channa Pulchra (by growing on a group of 6 juveniles and rehoming the excess after a pair has formed) and just leaving them to it. This is probably the most attractive option to me right now. However, I've also been looking at oddballs for the first time and have drawn up the following that I think may work:

African Knife Fish (1)
Senegal Bichir (1)
Leopard Bush Fish (1)
Synodontis sp. (3)
Congo Tetra (10)

I think I'd get a fair amount of interesting behaviour from a tank like that but I'm a bit concerned about what guests would say upon looking in and seeing a tank full of hidey brown and grey fish lurking about.

I've also been considering more colourful and active options such as a Rainbowfish tank, or a community tank.

I'd be really interested to hear any of your ideas. I'm still very much in the research/planning phase because I don't want to rush into anything with this tank. I'm happy to wait until I'm sure about what to do.

 

[KevM]

Nothing? I was really hoping for some suggestions, guys. What would you do with a tank this size? Bear in mind I want it to be heavily planted.

For example, I was hoping Crossfire was going to roll in here with a Kuhli-related scheme of epic proportions.

How does this sound for an african oddball tank:

African Knife Fish (1)
Senegal Bichir (1)
Leopard Bush Fish (1)
Synodontis eupterus (1)
Congo Tetra (10)

Is there space for anything else? Would it push the limits as it is? Have I included something in that list that will mess with plants/tank mates?

Or what about:

A whole bunch of Kuhli loaches and Cherry shrimp at the bottom, and a massive cluster of something small, peaceful, colourful and schooling for the middle/top? Or a big mixed community like this:

Opaline Gourami (4)
Boesemani Rainbowfish (8)
Siamese Algae Eater (4)
Yoyo Loach (12)

I am open to all kinds of stuff; the only thing that I'm definitely settled on is it will be heavily planted.

 

[JohnCS]

Cichlids (no dwarves and no diggers)... This rules out all the Geophagus, Apistogramma,Most of the new world species thinking about it, Cichlids are known for being quite good diggers.

If you wanted to keep Bushfish you'd need at least 3-4, they don't do great on their own IME and a pair is asking for trouble, spread the aggression and get a decent sized group.

Bosemani are a great species, keep them in groups of at least 6 and their shoaling behaviour is stunning. I'd also recommend Red Rainbows, Glossolepis incisus, Nice sized fish and their colour is amazing in a large group.

Pearl Gourami are a nice fish in a large tank, they get a similar size to three spots and IMO are nicer looking.

With your idea of Yoyo Loach, I'd definitely get a good sized group, they do so much better with lots of company, you can also mix the species, Zebra Loach are nice!

SAE, i've only ever heard bad things about this species, aggression being the main problem i've heard about, but i've never had an interest in keeping them so can't give you any advice other than to read what others have experienced with them before you decide on getting any.

 

[MBOU]

Avoid any of those loaches if you dont want digging! Depending on what other species you go for, any of the Schistura loaches are great and dont dig but are small enough to be eaten if you get predatory fish... hmm.... i'd say garra but they need higher flow... will think about that one...

You need to consider if you want oddballs or not because things like rainbows are just so boisterous they would cause mayhem with the likes of the leopard ctenopoma/bush fish...

I like the idea of oddball tanks though personally, I'm really not a fan of the senegal birchirs... not since i saw how big they could really get. Had a pair of big uns in a 5 x 2 x 2 tank and they looked really cramped....

Besides... ornate and saddled birchirs are prettier! (though again, i have seen huge ornates and i could never bring myself to keep one in that size tank...) i always found birchirs to be really quite active when they werent hunting fish

How about a rope fish? Or butterfly fish? Are you going for an Africcan Biotope there with the synos, congos, african knife etc? Could be fun to research more into specific African Biotopes? I know i have seen members with it here before if you look in the journals section and its far more interesting than south american biotopes! Though would rule out snakeheads i think? Though you might find plenty of alternatives.

As well as the Ctenopoma acutirostre (leopard bush fish), you can occasionally find the Ornate Ctenapoma (Ctenapoma ansorgii) around and they are beautiful!

As for Synodontis.... Eupterus are everywhere, get big... can be narky and more often than not are hybrids and i think too big for the tank in the long run and tbh they just hide in the dark upside down somewhere... there are far more interesting species of synos out there!! And certainly you wouldnt want more than one eupterus as you can never predict how well they get on..

I had a group of 5 Synodontis shoutdeni and they were amazing! Dont get too big, 13-15cm max as oposed to the 25cm eupterus thing i have sitting in the sump glaring at me at the moment. They are great coloured, found they came out a lot during the day and shoaled nicely and they arent as rare as a lot of syno species, just under appreciated...

I will keep thinking but...

Oooh... nandus sp leaf fish?

And a shoal of something like the African Red Eye Tetra, Barilius 'barbs' or Esomus sp Flying Barbs?

That said... You were posting at 1:20am UK time so no wonder people were slow to reply

 

[KevM]

Thanks for the replies, lads. I'm all over the place with this, at the minute; too many possibilites!

I'm pretty sure I'm over the idea of the African oddballs. I saw some Senegal Bichirs yesterday and it really put me off the idea. Same goes for the Brown Knife, Snakeheads and pretty much anything else predatory. I can't be bothered with any of them. Now I'm thinking I'd be best off going in a direction that will compliment the plants. Colour and activity, basically.

I think I'll either do a South American community (with Angels, Tetras and catfish) or an Asian community (with loaches, Gouramis, etc). When I said 'no diggers' I didn't mean no bottom-dwellers at all. I'm aware that cichlids, loaches and catfish will have a root about in the substrate, but some of them do it on a manageable level (like Kuhli loaches) whereas others are far too destructive (like many of the cichlids).

 

[KevM]

I've had a breakthrough! I've finally settled on something: Rainbowfish. The two I most like are Boesemani and Lake Kutubu, although I'll likely just go with Boesemani. How many of them should I go for, given they'll have the entire middle/top to themselves?

I'm only after suggestions for bottom-dwellers that compliment a planted tank and Rainbowfish now, please.

I'm looking through all kinds of catfish and loaches but I have my reservations about placing Botiine loaches into a planted community, as much as I like their often gregarious personalities. I think I should elvel with you all now, as well: I'm not a fan of Cories. I'd also be interested in recommendations for algae eaters that won't be eaten by the Rainbows (like Otos) and won't clog my filter up withloads of waste (like L numbers). Any suggestions welcomed!

 

[KevM]

OK. Another trip to the LFS has helped refine my plans. How many Boesemani for this size set-up? This is what I'm thinking right now:

Group of Boesemani
Pair of Pearl Gourami
Rainbow-compatible, tight shoaling Tetra (decent sized group if there's space)
Something nice for the bottom. Current front-runners are Kuhli loaches (I'd keep a huge group of these) and possibly Peacock Gudgeons.

I really liked the look of the Yoyo loaches they have in stock right now but I just don't trust them in a planted tank. They had some nice Synos in, too, but I don't think they'd mix well (aesthetically) with the Rainbows.

 

[MBOU]

Rainbows are very active mid water at the front of the tank...I'd say maybe 5 or 6... they do get pretty big.... and very active. Definately make sure you have more females than males in there! Means there is less aggression and the malescolour up as part of their displaying for the females.

I have the Lake Kutubu (Blue) rainbows in 300L and three of them keep it really busy! They are in with gouramis, cardinals, oto catfish, loads of corydoras catfish, siamese flying foxes, a pair of bolivian rams and a pair of blue rams etc...

Not many tetras are tightly shoaling, Rummynose Tetras and Harlequin Rasbora are the best shoaling fish in the way you are thinking, Emerald Eye Rasbora as well...

Black Neons shoal reasonably well and Penguin Tetras shoal well near top of the tank.

Hmm... Glowlight Danios look great in that sort of setup too! People assume they prefer cold water but i always found they preferd lower tropical temps like 24-25.

Synos will eat small fish so I would forget them, if you want something similar.. Hoplo Catfish would be great....Or if you can find them.... Flag Tail Porthole Catfish.

As for loaches, Dwarf Chain Loaches or Zebra Loaches (Botia striata) would both work...