Will I Be Overstocked?

[finalfantay85]

Ok i've got a 57L with 5 assorted male guppies, 8 copper harlequin rasbora and 4 flame tetra at the moment. I am planning to get 2 more flame tetra if my LFS has them still to replace the 2 casualties but i was wondering if i could get away with adding some ember tetra in too?

Thanks guys

 

[hihi100202]

no

 

[finalfantay85]

Oh right that's good to hear. Someone mentioned that i was pretty much fully stocked when i asked about getting blue tetra before. My tank is nowhere near big enough for them sadly

So you think a shoal of maybe 8-10 embers would be ok?

*EDIT*

Ooops I don't think my brain was working at half 6 this morning when i replied. You were saying it wouldn't work. Ah well i had hoped it might work cos they are small but never mind.
Would a small cory work maybe?

 

[GAB99]

no

try not to be so 'blunt' , it hurts peoples feelings and it could trigger offesive reaction.


Anyway if you want to add more do some 5 ghost/cherry shrimps!
maybe you could get away with another rasbora as well

 

[finalfantay85]

If i upped my rasbora to 10 that'd be ok?

That of course is providing my LFS actually has any.

Also i know the tetra need to be in groups of 6 or more to be happy but my LFS is very hit and miss as to what they have in stock. If they don't have the flame tetra do you have any suggestions on some other tetra i could add to shoal with the flames to bump their shoal up to a happy size?

 

[MHunt]

How long has your tank been running, you're about fully stocked by the 1" rule, but the fish you've got are all pretty small so a couple more smaller fish may be ok if the tank is stable. How about rather than another shoal of fish that all look about the same, try a couple of bottom feeders, perhaps a Bristlenose plec, or a few small cory's.

 

[finalfantay85]

Tank has been up and running about 2-3 months now. It's finally cycled (didn't know about cycling a tank when i bought it).

I wouldn't mind a bn plec or some cories but it's a fine gravel substrate at the moment so wouldn't that be bad for them? Also is my tank big enough for the plec?

 

[Curiosity101]

I would say no to the plec, too much waste, and they grow to around 5"...would look extremely out of proportion to your other fish and to be honest I would consider it too big for most 60l ish tanks.

However cories would be fine, obviously the smaller the variety you went for the more you could have. But just as an example if you stick to ones that hit 5cm or less when fully grown then you should be fine with a group of 5.

Having said all that, don't add anything else (except the 2 tetra) for awhile. I'd leave it at least 3 months before making anymore additions. You need to let your fish fully mature size wise (and therefore bio-load wise). From here you will be in the best position to A) Judge if your filter could handle more fish and B) Judge if your nitrates are staying low enough and that you are able to keep up with the water changes needed.

 

[finalfantay85]

Yeah I was only planning on adding the tetra at the moment to make up for the two dying over the last 2 months. Do you have any suggestions what tetra i could substitute in if i can't get 2 flames?

I thought the BN would be too big for the tank. Will keep an eye on the water over the next few months and then may think about getting some cory

 

[Curiosity101]

I personally would go for either 2 more harlequins or 2 more flames or nothing.

 

[finalfantay85]

Yeah I know but my LFS is really hit and miss with what they have in stock so i was just wondering if there was another type of tetra i could get to bump the shoal of tetra up to 6 cos i know they need to be kept in groups of 6 to reduce stress. If there isn't i'll just keep hunting until i can get 2 flames.

Ta and sorry if i've been confusing you lol