Stocking Question

Geoff1991 · May 18, 2009

My tank was sold as a 60l bu the aquarium calculator says its 63

Anyway, i need some help with stocking

My current plan is

6 harlequin rasbora
6 cardinal tetra
5 cherry shrimp (already in)
6 sterbai cory

Would that be ok or do i need to reduce the numbers of my shoals a bit?

I do have mollys currently if you were wondering, but i think ill rehome them before i fully stock ( ill be stocking gradually)

Geoff1991 · May 19, 2009

Right, made a decision

Re-homing my mollys and shrimp. Going to finish off my cycle the fishless way...

So

6 harlequin rasbora
6 cardinal tetra
6 Sterbai cory

Sound good? Overstocked? Let me know.

Also, would it be alright to add all these fish to the tank just as its cycled or should i keep dosing it with ammonia for a few weeks to let it mature a bit?

Curiosity101 · May 19, 2009

I'd say that's slightly overstocked... Cut them down to groups of 5 maybe? And make sure it's well planted to help absorb extra nitrates and ammonia. Also you'd need to probably double the recommended filtration for a tank that size. N you may well have to be very strict with water changes.

I may be being a bitconservative...but that would be my opinion. I don't think you'd have any aggression issues at all, it's just maintaining stable good water conditions that could cause a problem.

Working it out as inches per gallon that stocking comes out at just over 2" by the way.

tom_os · May 19, 2009

i would say your stocking fine

you could probably have the shrimp because they dont produce much bioload

Geoff1991 · May 19, 2009

Anyone else got an opinion?

backtotropical · May 19, 2009

Hi Geoff,

The 'Inch per Gallon Rule' is a good one to follow if you are unsure. This means you should have 1 inch of adult fish per US gallon of water. Always use the adult size of the fish to get best results.

So

60 litres = (60/3.78) 15.9 US Gals, so say 16.

Your stocking plan =

6 harlequin rasbora = 10.5"
6 cardinal tetra = 12"
6 Sterbai cory = 15"

Total = 37.5" of adult fish

37.5 / 16 = 2.3" per US Gallon

Whilst this may be sustainable when the tank has matured (say 6 months), it would be unadviseable for a new tank.

Why not get the harlequins which would keep you within the 1 inch per gallon rule, let them settle in for a couple of months, see how you get on, then slowly add the others. The corys and the cardinals won't appreciate a brand new tank anyway. They are much more suited to a mature setup.

Also, if you are going to eventually stock to 2.3" per gallon, it would be well worth ensuring that your filtration is more than adequate.

Hope that helps.

BTT

Geoff1991 · May 19, 2009

Hmm, id rather not stock that heavily anyway...

What would i do about reducing the numbers a bit?

Recommend dropping a fish? Less of a fish? What do i do?

Curiosity101 · May 19, 2009

I personally would drop to a shoal of 5 corys, 5 cardinals and perhaps look are a different species of rasbora..?

Geoff1991 · May 19, 2009

Any recommendations?

Bare in mind the rasboras will have to be first in...

Actually,

If i was to slowly stock to 2.3" per gallon like backtotropical said. Would my fluval 2+ be up to it?