Upgrade, Stocking Etc Etc

[willowmidnight]

So while I am still waiting for the builders to finish building so I can finally get my fish, all my research has led to me upgrading to a 25 gallon tank (still only 2 foot long but better then the 19 gallon I had)

I also upgraded my filter to a fluvial 205 external, and have a little power head in the tank to up the current a bit. I even managed to remember at add the cycled media from my previous filter to the external, so I am cycled and ready to go

But I am still massively confused about stocking... I have run my plan by aquadvisor, and it gave me the go ahead but I'd rather be safe then sorry

Here is my plan:
1 Bristlenose Plec
1 Betta (in 60cm long Betta barracks)
11 zebra danios
1 centrepiece fish.

I want to add a centrepiece fish, but I am unsure what to add due to danios being potentially nippy. I like the idea of a Bolivian ram, kribensis or dwarf gourami. Anyone got ideas, feedback, similar setup?

If the danios are going to be a big problem I wouldn't mind moving to 13 cardinal tetras and a small school of something else...

HELP! Please lol

 

[phantomlink]

I dunno about a centerpiece fish, but I know in my tank when its ready the main attraction will be Harlequin Rasboras. They are smaller then the danios, but just as active with more colour and dont nip fins

 

[Salam]

I second harlequin rasboras. They are very active and add a nice blotch of colour. And they would suit your tank size and other inhabitants better.

Centrepiece fish? Isn't your betta already this?

 

[willowmidnight]

Thanks but personally I am not so keen on the harlequins, so I will just go for cardinal tetras instead. Plus a school of something a bit faster moving.
Possibly flame tetras, phantom tetras, cherry barbs... I want something red... I wish I could have rummynoses, but they are too sensitive for my liking
Now I have to decide on those too

I suppose the betta could be considered a centerpiece fish but I want another centrepiece swimming around in the main part of the tank.

Argh! Lol. Too many options

This is what happens when I have too much time to research...

 

[phantomlink]

I know how you feel, I've done nothing but research fish and possible stocking partnerships for the past two weeks I've changed my list around so much I'm about to go pick up ANOTHER tank so I can keep my beloved pictus catfish. Heck I've barely eaten lunch at work I spend most of it just reading

 

[Essjay]

If the bigger tank is only 2 feet long, I would not get the danios. Being fast swimmers they need a tank longer than 2ft.

What do you mean by a 60cm long betta barracks? Do you mean those narrow plastic things that attach to the inside of the tank, with plastic dividers for up to 4 fish? I would not keep my bettas in anything like that.

 

[willowmidnight]

I decided on cardinal tetras instead of the danios.

And yes, I meant like that, but with no dividers. Still not good enough for a betta? perhaps I could try him in the main tank

My final stocking list
1 Bristlenose Catfish
11 cardinal tetra
4 guppies
1 betta &/or 1 dwarf gourami

 

[willowmidnight]

Ha, I am an idiot lol! Almost gave up on the betta, but I just remembered There is a guy in my town who makes aquariums to specification. Since I am already gonna get him to cut my glass lid to size...

I'm sure he will be able to come up with a container that clips on to the inside of my tank, has small holes to let water flow through, a lid etc. How big do you guys think this should be? I am happy to let it have 60cm length, but I need good depth and height too.

Hope is revived

 

[bmonki]

this might sound like a silly question... but why not just get a little extra tank for the betta and then you could have more fish in main tank?

personally i like fish all being together so i wouldnt be separating them... but if u wanted to i mean

 

[MBOU]

Well, if you want a Betta in the tank, he will be your center piece fish. A dwarf gourami may end up attacking the Betta because they both live in the same areaof the tank and its not exactly a massive tank.

Likewise with the guppies, the guppies and Betta will end up damaging each others fins or killing each other (guppies and bettas very rarely mix together well).

But a bristlenose (if it is a male, it will most likely outgrow your tank, i had an adult male that is still going now at 18 and he is just shy of 20cm), cardinals and a fighter will be ok together and you could probably fit in another shoal of smaller fish.

Alternative for the bristlenose could be Otocinclus or Pitbull Plecs.

And for adding more dimensions to the tank, you can add snails or shrimps too... (Pink Ramshorn Snails are excellant!)

 

[Essjay]

I do not like the idea of keeping a betta in a small container inside a larger tank, especially a larger tank with a gourami in it. The betta would still be able to see the gourami and vice versa, which would stress them both, let alone the stress of the betta living in such cramped quarters. I would chose either a betta or a gourami, and have whichever one you go for loose in the tank.
ut as MBOU says, guppies and bettas are not a good combination.

You could always use a tank divider to give a betta 20 to 25 litres at one end of the tank but that would mean cramping all the other fish in other section of 35 to 40 litres. That would reduce the number and type of fish you could have in that end.

 

[willowmidnight]

So the Betta is back out of the plans
And after looking at the LFS stores near me, Gourami are out too (very sickly looking )

The builders finish this friday... So excited to finally get fish.

Final Stocking Idea 1 aquadvisor says 74% stocked
1 female Bristlenose Catfish
11 Cardinal Tetra
3 Male Guppies
1 Bolivian Ram or 1 GBR

Final Stocking Idea 2 aquadvisor says 73% stocked
1 female Bristlenose Catfish
11 Cardinal tetra
6 Flame Tetra
1 Bolivian Ram or GBR

I will try to see if I can get a 10 gallon for a betta, but since a "small tank" is how I snuck the 25 gallon past mum, I doubt it...

 

[MBOU]

Second stocking sounds much better, rams might decide to eat guppies

Don't know if you'll find flame guppies? They are a lot duller than some similar species so many dont stock them.

If you cant find them/interested in alternatives...

Red Phantom Tetras
Rosy Tetras
White Fin Bentosi (Ornate) Tetras
Black Phantom Tetras

All get about same size and similar personality to the Flame tetras

 

[willowmidnight]

My LFS always has flame tetras listed but after googling your alternative species, they look more like red phantom tetras so I'll go with them
Will the ram be OK in the tank with cardinals. From what I have read, they are peaceful unless breeding, and I only want one, but if they eat guppies

Pretty happy with the stocking now. Thanks for all your help MBOU, and everyone else who commented


Here is a pic of the tank, hope it works

Plus can anyone tell me which fish would be best to add first? Or does it not matter

 

[MBOU]

I would start with the flame/red phantom/whichever you choose tetra first, leave it a week or two (testing the water) and then the bristlenose (you will find it hard to find a female unless its an adult, few people in shops can tell the difference at a young age).

Then you can add your second lot of tetras (cardinals) after a week or so assuming everyone is settled and water is ok.

Then you should be ok to add your ram (I would go for blue ram just because the bolivians really do get quite big... though personally i love bolivians).

If you go for a blue ram, i reckon that down the line when the tanks more mature, you might be able to squease in something like a honey gourami or two. You have a good enough filter to cope with it. Honey Gouramis are smaller than the dwarf gouramis and far more placid plus you can either get yellow or red or wild type.