Stocking...

[Tokis-Phoenix]

The more i read about it the less it seems to work- that is the 1inch of fish per gal rule/theory.
I understand that is a just a loose guide to go by but i would like to know more; i undrstand the amount of waste and the max size of a fish is usually more important; im hopefully getting a 200gal tank within the next couple of months so i would like to know roughly what type/how many of fish would be suitable for it.

The tank is originally for my 3plecs which i know if i don't upgrade to bigger/more tanks soon within the next couple of months they will soon outgrow the tanks they are in and i am trying to make as many preparations as posible before i get this huge tank.
ps: i am still unsure about rehoming my smallest 2/3inch plec but it is quite probable at the mo.

The 2 larger plecs(7inchs and 5inchs) i believe are both common plecs which as far as i know will grow eventually to 18-20inchs+.

Say they are full grown right now and i have the 200gal tank and it is established etc; how much space does this leave to fit platy/molly/guppy and neon sized fish and black khuli loachs/ small corys in and what would be the advised numbers?

Im up for all sugestions and apart from the catfish(2-3plecs, 8 corys- 3peppered, 4 albino, 1 panda and 4 black khuli loachs), i would like to know how many guppys/mollys/platys and neons the tank could take.

Thanks for your time

 

[nc_nutcase]

"The one inch of fish per gallon" saying is regarding smaller fish in smaller aquariums. The sheer size of a 200 Gallon tank opens up many options a 15 Gal just doesn't have.

Since Plecos are bottom dwellers for the most part, you could cover the floor with as many as you feel comfortable (as you know more about Plecos than I) and then add many, many smaller fish to the top of the aquarium. Of course you will want strong filtration with intakes near the bottom to deal with the Pleco waste. The waste produced by one full grown Oscar would be about equal to... 50 neons (I'm guessing here but I believe this is realistic). So biologically speaking, if you filter it like a large cichlid aquarium, you could stock 200 inches of small fish in it safely plus your plecos. The amount of maintenance you do on it will really decide what it can handle. Also the way you add decor will have a great impact.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Im planning on giving the tank a very natural look with lots of types of rocks and heavily planted areas and having a fine white sand on the bottom of the tank...

As for stocking(say the plecs are already full-grown) how would this sound;

2 common plecs
40 neons
30 platys
30 guppys
10 mollys
8 panda corys
8 albino corys
8 peppered corys

-would i be able to fit in 3 to 4 clown loachs? would i have to take out any of the previous fish mentioned or would i have space for more?

Roughly at the mo i am planning on having the tank to be 6-7ft long, 3ft at the ends and about 2ft high...

 

[rdd1952]

Im up for all sugestions and apart from the catfish(2-3plecs, 8 corys- 3peppered, 4 albino, 1 panda and 4 black khuli loachs),

Corys are schooling fish. If you're going to get 8, make them all the same species. If you get the ones you listed, the panda will not have any tankmates and the peppered and albinos won't be completely happy either. Sometimes different species will school together but not always. For a 200 gallon tank, you could easily put 12 or more in and get 6 peppered and 6 pandas. They are only about 2" each so 12 corys isn't much of a bio load.


EDIT: You posted your latest stocking list while I was posting this one. 8 of each of the corys would make for a very happy tank.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

thanks for the info- the previous number of corys are number i have right now; i had an internal bacterial a short while back which wiped out 4 of my panda and 1 peppered cory leaving me with only 1 panda cory and 3 peppered ones.
Would 3 to 4 clown loachs be ok in the tank with the fish before mentioned?

 

[Paul_MTS]

yep clown loach would make a lovely addition to tank that size.

by the way 50 neons in that size tank looks like nothing. every 2 weeks at work we order atleast 250 neons and it just about makes a 3ft split tank look busy.

 

[nc_nutcase]

So when everyone is grown... your talking about 24 2-3 inch bottom feeders and 5-6 18 inch bottom dwellers (Plecos and Loaches) spread out over 16-21 square feet... I would be worried about the larger fish eating the smaller ones plus it sounds a little tight. The clown loaches would be happy to lounge on one another but it still sounds tight.

I still don't think doing this will have much of an effect on the freedom you have with the top of your tank. I know of Clown Loaches but I've never raised them but... from what I understand they will happily lounge on one another. So it sounds like the fish may be happy with this crowded bottom. Little bottom dwellers and water changes would be my concerns...

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

How about khuli loachs of some sort instead of the clowns?

The way im going about to cycle a tank like that so far is im planning on just plugging up the filters i already have in my tanks to the 200gal while running along side the proper filter unit just to help speed up the process.
Of course i would never add all the before mentioned fish at once, i would add all the extra ones that i don't have already over time.

I am having all the before mentioned fish but i am not sure on how many; what would you say is a safe number for each? I know it may sound like a waste to some but i would realy like to dedicate the tank to livebearers as the main feature how about;

2 plecs
50 neons
25 platys
25 guppys
10 mollys
10 swordtails
8 panda corys
6 peppered corys
6 albino corys
8 khuli loachs

so there are about 70 livebearers, 20 corys, the plecs, 8 khulis and the neons; i would have thought the corys will feel safe in a group of 24? Am i being too optimistic?

 

[G_Sharky]

I would get the clown loaches, they are really slow growers and it will actually take 20 years or longer for them to reach maximum size....your list is find as long as you have plenty of filtration and you keep up the maintenance....don't slack off on the water change especially if your overstocked....

 

[smithrc]

If your plecs are commons - they are more likely to stop at about 12"

If they are sail fins (gibbiceps) then you will be looking at 18"+

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

The plecs are definatly common ones apart from the smallest which i think is a crossbreed of some sort; water changes and other tank maintanence are not a problem cos i work at home(tatoo artist and writer) and have alot of time; thanks for all the suggestions/info guys- you have been realy helpful in making my mind up and i shall keep you updated on what happens once i get around to getting the tank

 

[Macracantha]

I also would like a perfect answr to this question...it thought that surface area was the major factor???