Stocking Suggestions Please

[BIG BAD BARRY]

The tank has not finished FISHLESS CYCLING yet but i would like your advice please:

SETUP - about 320L tank with Eheim Pro 2078 filter. Substrate is pea gravel and there will be mopani and bogwood across the length of the tank. Two air stones spaced apart and marimo moss balls scattered around. Will provide further shelter with stones/slate and silk plants.
A peaceful community environment is what i would like.

I do want to add about 10 small mollies that have bred in the other tank. The only concern is maybe about adding salt in a community tank? However, my mollies have been fine without salt for a long time.

For the lower part of the tank i was thinking of 2 (male & female) bristlenose or albino plecs or similar - suggestions welcome for me to research. Any other bottom dwellers that wont upset the plecs?

Ideally would have liked a shoal of neon tetras but have seen plenty of info on this forum to suggest that this is not the right time for them. Suggestions for colourful shoaling fish please, dont have to be tetras.

Any other suggestions for middle and upper part of the tank welcome as well without stocking heavy.

 

[tonyp5467]

ive just restocked a 6ft tank with
black neons
rummynose tetra
glowlight tetra
ruby barb
cherry barb
odessa barb
blue neon male guppies
green cobra male guppies
swordtails
plattys
zebra danios
as well as my plecs
LDA 31 mustard spotted pleco
L333 yellow king tiger plecos
my breeding group of 6 common bristlenose
calico bristle nose
albino bristlenose

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

thanks tonyp,

Those are nice barbs and tetras.

As for the plecs, im more confused now as they are well nice! The calico looks amazing as well as the mustard spotted pleco.

 

[tonyp5467]

oh i forgot to mention ive a filament barb male around 4-5" he looks lovely especially when he's ready for spawning he colours up red with the white nose
im on the lookout for some more of these as they ideally need to be in shoals of 5-6

 

[mirrorpad]

The tank has not finished FISHLESS CYCLING yet but i would like your advice please:

SETUP - about 320L tank with Eheim Pro 2078 filter. Substrate is pea gravel and there will be mopani and bogwood across the length of the tank. Two air stones spaced apart and marimo moss balls scattered around. Will provide further shelter with stones/slate and silk plants.
A peaceful community environment is what i would like.

I do want to add about 10 small mollies that have bred in the other tank. The only concern is maybe about adding salt in a community tank? However, my mollies have been fine without salt for a long time.

For the lower part of the tank i was thinking of 2 (male & female) bristlenose or albino plecs or similar - suggestions welcome for me to research. Any other bottom dwellers that wont upset the plecs?

Ideally would have liked a shoal of neon tetras but have seen plenty of info on this forum to suggest that this is not the right time for them. Suggestions for colourful shoaling fish please, dont have to be tetras.

Any other suggestions for middle and upper part of the tank welcome as well without stocking heavy.

the bristlenoses are a great choice. they breed readily and would be compatible with neons. Cherry barbs would also be good tank mates, a schooling fish which would add a splash of colour. Mollys prefer a higher PH about 7.5 and do survive in FW but live longer and thrive in Brackish. I would personally give these a miss and go for Platties if you want colour and livebearers. A school of Corydoras would also go well.

 

[kizno1]

The molly will be fine without any salt so dont worry about that.
If your going to do a big community tanks look better with big groups of a few fish than loads of different fish. What about something like
1 Rotkeil severum (centre piece)
15 Mollys (5 males, 10 females)
15 Emperor tetras
15 Corys
4 BNs (1 male, 3 females)

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

The Rotkeil severum is a lovely fish.

I may change my mind but im not sure about a centre piece fish at the moment (may overshadow the others). I know somebody who is setting up a cichlid tank so may change my mind!
Will it be aggressive to the other fish and wil the approx 5mm gravel be ok for it

I like all the suggestions so far, thanks.

 

[kizno1]

The Rotkeil severum is a lovely fish.

I may change my mind but im not sure about a centre piece fish at the moment (may overshadow the others). I know somebody who is setting up a cichlid tank so may change my mind!
Will it be aggressive to the other fish and wil the approx 5mm gravel be ok for it

I like all the suggestions so far, thanks.

I think its always good to have a centre piece that way theres always 1 fish that get your attention then when you have a look theres a load of stunning fish around it aswell if you get what i mean.
Rotkeils shouldnt be a problem at all alot of people use them in this sort of set up because they only get 6-8" and are peaceful cichlids. Dont see why it would cause a problem.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

kizno1

That is a great way of putting it and very persuasive!

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Any other suggestions for a center piece fish like a Rotkeil severum or anything else that is not aggressive?

 

[roadmaster]

Any other suggestions for a center piece fish like a Rotkeil severum or anything else that is not aggressive?

Keyhole cichlids would be my choice along with platys and perhaps a dozen corydora's.
Most of the tetra's I should think would prefer water that is more soft and acidic than that which livebearer's thrive in but Pristella's and or lemon tetra's seem to adapt well to most water.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

What about:

Apistogramma borellii - Umbrella Apisto

They look great.
Would a pair be better as they are smaller and peaceful for the rest of the community?

Then i will have to source one/pair in the midlands area.

 

[necava01]

i would definitely go with a festivum, beautiful fish and amazing for community tanks!

 

[kizno1]

What about:

Apistogramma borellii - Umbrella Apisto

They look great.
Would a pair be better as they are smaller and peaceful for the rest of the community?

Then i will have to source one/pair in the midlands area.

They would work fine but think they would look like a centre piece because there to small. I still think the rotkeil would be the best choose but if not you could go for a big group of borellii. You could easily have 2 males 8 females

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Wow - got some thinking to do!

Will gravel be ok for cichlids mentioned?