What Would You Stock?

[cuticom]

So after doing a deal with Mum over my blue acara (swapping the acara for 20 of Mum's tetras, which are going in another tank), he is now moving to one of Mum's tanks, and I have a 55 completely empty to play with. So I know I want a community with lots of smaller (under 1-4", no more then 6) fish, no cichlids and I definitely don't want a centrepiece, but apart from that.... Well I know it probably sounds awful, but I don't know what species I want, I've never done a proper community tank, my 32g is the closest I've gotten, and it's not really what I'm after.

The tank has a dark ultra fine gravel/very coarse sand substrate, made up of a variety of shades of brown and black pieces about .75 of a mm across. The tank is filled with plastic plants and it has a white background (to brighten it up a bit), filtration is 10 x per hour, but if needed can be taken down to ust 4 x per hour and the tanks your standard 4 foot 55, it has glass lids with all gaps sealed, so it's safe for jumping fish.

I do like the labyrinth fish (bettas, gouramis etc) but I can't exactly fill the tank with those....

So if it was your tank what would you do? basic outlines of stocking would help to (ie how many 2 inch fish could be kept in a 55 etc)

Thanks
Emma

 

[Luketendo]

You could easily do Mbuna with that filtration, would be perfect.

 

[Mikaila31]

I don't know how many fish you can fit, but it would be really cool to see a large school of Threadfin rainbows. They have some amazing fins, and mabey a couple of sparkling gouramis.

 

[cuticom]

Uhhh I don't want cichlids, which I stated, have had it up to here with them, there just not for me, much prefer community fish. I can't do thread fin rainbows either, they aren't commonly available and I can't see them on any wholesalers list so they may not be allowed in the country.

 

[cuticom]

Okay so I'm not certain on compatibility but would something like
4 x honey gourami (1m, 3f)
6 x sparkling gourami
10 x striped kuhli
10 x neon tetra (tank is over 12 months old, so should be stable enough, and would add these last)

then could I add 3 pearl gouramis? either 1 m, 2 f or all three female? or would that be too many gouramis?

 

[TribeOfShroom]

The khuli's are a great idea. I want more of them lol. They've taken over one end of my tank and created a little community in amongst the rocks and gravel. Great fish to have. As for the gouramis, I can't see why they wouldn't get on with the loaches. They might get territorial with the other gouramis.. but mine don't seem to bother and tend to graze most of the time.

Now the neons, if you have a good success rate with them then go for it. But cardinals tend to be a bit hardier and are more colourful

 

[Mikaila31]

Uhhh I don't want cichlids, which I stated, have had it up to here with them, there just not for me, much prefer community fish. I can't do thread fin rainbows either, they aren't commonly available and I can't see them on any wholesalers list so they may not be allowed in the country.

If you really like them I am betting that you could find some. It does seem that Australia has some strict importing laws. But the Threadfin Rainbow (Iriatherina werneri) is a native Australian fish . I'm not sure exactly where you are located, but most of the population is in northern Australia. I'm surprised you can't find any in the stores. If you really want some you could try collecting some, but make sure it is legal.

 

[cuticom]

Mmm, not really my type of fish the fins are interesting but theres not much colour.

I've never actually kept neons before, I've just always wanted to, I prefer them over cardinals, not to fond of the large amount of red the cardinals have.

 

[cuticom]

Oky dokes, after doing some more reading looks like I'll have to skip the pearls and three spots I was considering

So so far I have on my list
4 x honey gourami (1m, 3f) (2")
6 x sparkling gourami (1")
10 x striped kuhli (4")
10 x neon tetra (1")

Then I'd like maybe another type of bottom dweller and top dweller? I'm not sure, I know the list i have now is very light, and I'd like to keep it at a fairly light stocking, but still look busy and full of movement/colour. Is there any small (under 4") bottom dweller that can be kept singly? or in small groups, say 3? I know theirs bronze cories, but from what I've read they prefer larger groups. No idea for a middle dwellers but 6-10 of something 2"or under that shimmers like the neon tetras and sparklers would be nice.

So the list would be something like
4 x honey gourami (1m, 3f) (2")
6 x sparkling gourami (1")
10 x striped kuhli (4")
10 x neon tetra (1")
6 x ? (<2")
3 x ? (<4")

Too much? or is that okay?

Hehe, you know if I followed the inch per gallon rule this tank would be seen as overstocked with just that list? 8" of honey gourami, 6" of sparklers, 40" of kuhlis and 10" of neon tetras comes up to 64"of fish, though those in the tank would look pretty empty, hmmm that is a funny rule LOL.

Oh and if I do get neon tetras, what would be the best way to acclimate them? I was thinking drip acclimation over a couple of hours might be best? since from what i know of them, their quite sensitive and delicate...

 

[Inchworm]

Hi cuticom

How about something like this;

It has 12 C. aeneus (orange lazer), 7 C. venezuelanus, 7 C. axelrodi, and 3 female Trichogaster trichopterus (3 spot gouramis.) This tank was just set up and doesn't even have background, but you can get some idea. A primarily corydoras tank can be quite active and interesting, and is by no means a "bottom only" thing. The gouramis are oldies that I raised from eggs and won't part with. Being females they tend to stay together and not bother any of the other fish in the tank.

 

[cowbla1]

5 female bettas
3 powder blue gouramis
4 serpae tetra
3 red-eye tetra

 

[Iron Man]

pool filter sand mixed with choice of plant substrate

Lots of live plants

1 Pair of Convicts

12 Serpae Tetras

12 Tiger Barbs

2 Synodontis sp. catfish

2 rubberlip plecos