What goes where? (+ free fish!)

[SarahBravo]

Because of various deaths and quarantining, my tanks are now really uneven and messed up stocking wise. However, I think they're all clear of disease and ready to be sorted out. But I could use some advice on what would be a good, balanced stock per tank.

Tanks available: Rio 125 litre planted, Clearseal 130 litre planted, Rekord 120 litre planted and Rekord 60 litre, planted (if there's room keep the Rekord 60 clear for a couple of dwarf puffers?_

Fishies:

8 gold barbs about 1.5" long
8 harlequins, about 3/4 " long
3 swordies, 2" long
15 neons 3/4 "
8 cardinals 1"
(6 zebra danios 1") Gone back to lfs
(5 black widow tetras 1.5") Going to JFlowers
2 badis 3/4"
3 peacock gobies 1.5"
Male agassizi apisto 2"
2 female cockatoo apistos 1"
5 cockatoo fry 1/2"
1 bulldog plec 2.5"
2 agassizi cories 1.5"
3 zebra botias 2"
1 upside down cat 1"
7 otos 1"
2 female guppies 1"
1 juvenile molly 1"
10 male guppies 1"
female krib 1.5" and 3 krib fry (teeny)
(male krib (in sep tank - he went psycho) 2.5") Gone back to LFS
krib pair, total 4"
1 male ram 1.5"
1 zebra snail and various shrimps

I keep going over it in my head, what tank levels they inhabit, fish inches etc, and I just get totally confused! Any good ideas for harmonious, balanced tanks would be very welcome! Thanks guys.

Sarah

Edit: forgot some!

 

[rene]

Just my opinion, (obviously you'll keep your schooling fish together I hope) but I have found that fish that don't school are usually still very interesting to observe but are usually hiding or tend to stay in the same area. That's also why we tend to create their habitat geared towards that and at times after all the hard work is done- it just didn't wind up the "display" of beaties you imagined. So what I tried is to.. Well ..i.e: I had cichlids and hardly saw them because ofall the caves and "hiding places". I also had a community tank with basically all live plants with a few small river rocks strewn about for affect. The community tank got all the compliments but it was my cichlids that I really wanted to show off. I decided to switch habitats so to speak. I found that by placing the plants n such a maner to where the cichlids still felt they had a "territory" and redesigning the community tank with more of the rocks from the cichlid tank I know had two beatiful tanks and could "see" all my fish instead of "search for them. I don't think you mentioned cichlids but ur post made me think of that so I thought Id just give you a different angle to ponder. Good luck and post a pick when u get them done. Rene'

 

[SarahBravo]

Thanks, that's a good suggestion, I have a load of slate, so I shall mix n match the rocks and plants!

We can also count out the black widow tetras, because JFlowers is adopting them. Anyone want some gold barbs? They are complete nutters, very active, completely non-agressive, very entertaining to watch. Also 3 swordtails can go - 2 female pineapples, and one male, greeny/black metallic on silver background. They're all healthy and happy, they were just impulse purchases when I knew even less than now what I was doing! Lemme know, I can deliver within reasonable distance of Grantham, UK.

Sarah

 

[sylvia]

I did try to sort them out but realised that you'd be way over-stocked once the fish are mature no matter what combination you tried. You'd need at least another 30 gallon tank to spread them out without problems.

If it's of any help, my main worry are the kribs which would be too many to keep altogether (especialy if they breed). I'd get rid of all but the pair. The cichlid fry you have also should be gotten rid of as soon as possible as you won't have space to keep them. I'd like to know how you got cockatoo fry without a male? When I tried to sort the fish out, I had managed to get most of them decided but then I noticed the 12 male guppies. You realy have to reduce this number - prefferably down to just one male to go with the 2 females. If you can then get rid of some of the schooling fish - I'd go for the neons - and then maybe one of the adult dwarf cichlids (I'd probably take out one of the rams), you'd be within limmits and spreading them out between the tanks should be ok and still leave you with the empty 15 gallon for dwarf puffers.

If you do all this, I'd suggest the following for stocking:

Tank 1:

krib pair
zebra botias
upside down cat
gold barbs

Tank 2:

cardinals
otos
trio of guppies
ram male
cockatoo females
peacock gobies


Tank 3:

badis
male apisto
cories
harlequins
zebra danios
swordies
molly
bulldog plec

You'd still be slightly over-stocked but it would be manageable.
If you decided to use the 15 gallon as well, I'd put in:

molly
upside down cat
ram
cories

That would even things out a little better.

Still, as I said before, you need to get rid of a lot of fish before you can keep any of them in a correctly stocked tank. I tried my best to suggest getting rid of fish you already have others of or that are similar to those which you'll be able to keep to make it easier for you to make the descision but it ultimately comes down to you. Good luck!

 

[SarahBravo]

Update:

the zebra danios have gone back to the LFS, so has the lone male krib and one ram, so getting there. The male and female guppies are housed separately so the girls aren't getting harassed.

At the rate I'm buying tanks (6 so far in 8 months of fishkeeping) another 30 gallon isn't going to be a problem as the fish get bigger!

Would still appreciate further ideas for compatible communities....want to really consider things properly and get the tanks right! (For the fish and for me!)

Sarah

 

[Raechal]

I'll take your zebra botias. I have no clue what to put in my own tank, let alone sort someone else's, sorry I don't have any good advice.