What To Stock My 60L Arcadia Arc With...?

[emmajt]

I am completely new to this... My tank arives tomorrow, I know im ahead of myself but i'd like to see the light at the end of the tunnel and figure out what is going in my tank whilst in the processes of providing a safe environment for them! I would like as little as possible around 10 small fish but im open to any ideas? Id rather have a under stocked tank than jammed full like some ive seen... I do realise it isnt the largest tank in the world but its a starter tank and I dont have much space! Thanks in advance *excited to get my fish*

I have planned washed play sand substrate, silk and fake plants with the option of real plants in the future. The size is 60 x 30 x 36!

 

[Jay1983]

Hi here are 2 suggestions

Celestial Pearl Danio
Ember tetra's

Thats species I've kept that would be ok in your tank in my opinion. I'm sure others will give you some more suggestions, just remember to cycle your filter before introducing fish

Jay

 

[emmajt]

I love the Celestial Pearl Danio! How do I know what mixes well? Thank you

 

[Jay1983]

I love the Celestial Pearl Danio! How do I know what mixes well? Thank you

When you say mixes well, do you mean in terms of water temperature and temperament??

If you like the Celestial Pearl Danio I would recommend real plants for them, you could have 10 CPD's then maybe have something like 6 dwarf Corydoras

 

[emmajt]

Yes I mean what others have the same requirements I like both cpds and dwarf corydoras... how about 1 more variation that only needs one or two and are colourful? Any ideas?

 

[Jay1983]

Yes I mean what others have the same requirements I like both cpds and dwarf corydoras... how about 1 more variation that only needs one or two and are colourful? Any ideas?

Possibly a Pair of dwarf Gouramis?? although there water temp is slightly warmer. A temp of 25c should be ok for all 3 species

All these so far are quite delicate so really, really excellent water conditions need to be maintained at all times. I don't suppose you know your water hardness do you??

 

[cambojnr]

are you going to cycle the tank our just chuck the poor little fishies in at the deep end and hope for the best if you go for this option you are probs gonna have alot of dead fish on your hands? as if you going for either of these options you are going to need a api master test kit. do some research on cycling before buying any fish as as I said previously you will lose alot of tropical fish in a fish in cycle as they are very sensitive. there is some one on here called super maguire who also lives in south shields our around that area I think and he might be able to give you some used filter media to instantly cycle youre tank if you look him up on here.

 

[cambojnr]

as for stocking i would go with about 7 neon tetra ,1 honey gourami, and 4 panda cory since you have sand, I know you said 10 fish but this will be good as you will have fish that will occupy the top, middle, & bottom part of the tank and will look really nice. again make sure you are cycled first.

 

[emmajt]

Yes dont worry im going to cycle way before I introduce any fish, im vegetarian you know the thought of killing anything will be greatly avoided, I just want to think about whats going to live in there so ive got a plan in my head
Ive got my new aquarium water pack and test kit at the ready just waiting for the delivery to come today to set it up.

I like the idea of getting fish that occupy different areas of the tank but it is only 36cm high it is a more rectangular shape will this be ok?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I would look at just getting 10 of one of the small Corydoras species (pygmeus; hastatus; habrosus) and leave it at that. These mini catfish will use the whole tank height, rather than usually just the tank floor used by other Corydoras, especially if you give them some plants and/or furniture that gives them some cover higher up in the tank.

Small tanks can turn into toxic soup with the blink of an eye, as there is very little water to dilute ammonia and/or nitrite spikes, for this reason I'm a firm believer in keeping the fish stocking low.

 

[emmajt]

I would look at just getting 10 of one of the small Corydoras species (pygmeus; hastatus; habrosus) and leave it at that. These mini catfish will use the whole tank height, rather than usually just the tank floor used by other Corydoras, especially if you give them some plants and/or furniture that gives them some cover higher up in the tank.

Small tanks can turn into toxic soup with the blink of an eye, as there is very little water to dilute ammonia and/or nitrite spikes, for this reason I'm a firm believer in keeping the fish stocking low.

I completely agree, I will be monitoring the water regularly but im afraid im not a fan of the corydora types, this is going to sound cliche but I want something pretty and nice to look at in the tank maybe some colour are there any species that are hardy and of this type. Thanks

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

How hard and alkaline is your local tap water? Persian Killifish (Aphanius mento "Zengen" variety) in a heaterless, species only tank could fit the bill nicely in hard alkaline water.

I had a group in a 54l for ~20 months until very recently, when I did something very stupid (I tried to substitute coarse sea salt for sodium reduced salt in an emergency 75% water change, no immediate signs of issues but woke up to 4 dead fish, other 3 died in the space of a few hours, I was very angry with myself). Males are beautiful during the summer breeding season, when the tank naturally heats up into the low 20s.

 

[Livewire88]

I would look at just getting 10 of one of the small Corydoras species (pygmeus; hastatus; habrosus) and leave it at that. These mini catfish will use the whole tank height, rather than usually just the tank floor used by other Corydoras, especially if you give them some plants and/or furniture that gives them some cover higher up in the tank.

Small tanks can turn into toxic soup with the blink of an eye, as there is very little water to dilute ammonia and/or nitrite spikes, for this reason I'm a firm believer in keeping the fish stocking low.

I completely agree, I will be monitoring the water regularly but im afraid im not a fan of the corydora types, this is going to sound cliche but I want something pretty and nice to look at in the tank maybe some colour are there any species that are hardy and of this type. Thanks

Hello,

Can you tell us what your local water is like? ie; is it very hard? what is the PH? High Nitrates?
Depending on the quality of your tap water you could keep a pair or trio of Apistogramma's or Ram's.

 

[emmajt]

I would look at just getting 10 of one of the small Corydoras species (pygmeus; hastatus; habrosus) and leave it at that. These mini catfish will use the whole tank height, rather than usually just the tank floor used by other Corydoras, especially if you give them some plants and/or furniture that gives them some cover higher up in the tank.

Small tanks can turn into toxic soup with the blink of an eye, as there is very little water to dilute ammonia and/or nitrite spikes, for this reason I'm a firm believer in keeping the fish stocking low.

I completely agree, I will be monitoring the water regularly but im afraid im not a fan of the corydora types, this is going to sound cliche but I want something pretty and nice to look at in the tank maybe some colour are there any species that are hardy and of this type. Thanks

Hello,

Can you tell us what your local water is like? ie; is it very hard? what is the PH? High Nitrates?
Depending on the quality of your tap water you could keep a pair or trio of Apistogramma's or Ram's.

It is all pretty neutral, ph 7, nitrates fine..