Would these fish eat my plants?

[FishSticks]

I'm kind of new to aquarium plants but I have been getter better at it so I decided to get a larger aquarium with a lot of plants, but I was wondering if there would be any problems with the fish I want to keep and them eating the plants. Here are the fish I plan to keep...

• Several Different Gouramis - Top
• School of Tinfoil barbs - Middle
• School of Bala Sharks - Bottom
• School of Clown Loaches - Bottom

Does this sound ok, could someone also give me suggestions on how big the aquarium should be?

I've had a good experience with some aponogeton bulbs I bought at PetCo. So I'll probably use those plants, they grow really nice and big. And they are the easiest in the world to keep. I don't think I'm ready for all the other fancy plants I hear about )

 

[jams.alaskan]

What size tank do you have? I know nothing about the sharks so I can't answer to them but the others I have had and have had no problem - however - the plantings with them were no more then bunched plants, and I never took that great of care with them...

ALASKA

 

[FishSticks]

I haven't bought the tank yet, that's what I was wondering. How big would the tank have to be? Most of the fish I want grow way over 5 inches.

I'm not worry about the Bala Sharks because I heard they do good in a well planted tank. I'm more worried about the Tinfoil Barbs since they can grow up to 14 inches, I'm worried that they'll dig up the plants and eat them!

 

[Lateral Line]

Tinfoils and Bala's will reach 14". Tinfoils are plant nibblers, and a 14" plant nibbler is a lawn mower.

The others should be okay, but that'll need to be a big tank.

 

[FishSticks]

Do you think a heavily planted 55 gallon aquarium will do?
I'm starting to doubt wether to put the barbs in or not, is there any other fish you recommend that swim in middle level of the tank, grow big, and won't eat my plants.

 

[noelberg]

IMO the tinfoils AND the balas in a 55 would be too much. Some plants just taste nasty to the old fish - I recommend these if you want to keep plant-munching omnivores.

Java fern
Anubias
coffeefolia
and most Swords

 

[FishSticks]

IMO the tinfoils AND the balas in a 55 would be too much.

Too much fish or too much water?

 

[carrcn]

Too many fish. The general rule of thumb is 1" of fish for each gallon. Some fish need more. But you wanted a school of balas plus quite a few others. 4 balas would fill your tank by that rule. Might want to try and find some other fish you like that don't get quite so big if you want to keep a few different kinds of fish.

 

[AquaSeaFoam]

According to the "rule of thumb" four balas would fit, but nothing else would. Also this "rule" doesn't account for the body mass of fish. 50 neon tetras would look great in this tank, but balas are fast swimmers and a 55 gallon just wouldn't provide the space they need to thrive. Bala sharks can get up to 14" also. a school of them would need over 100 gallon tank ideally.
Like Lateral line said, tin foils will eat your plants.
What kind of gouramis are you thinking of getting?
The clowns should be okay, but i would only get 3 for a 55 gallon tank. I should say that my clown loaches have been nibbling on my sword plant and crypt. making rather unsightly holes in the middle of all the leaves. so that is a possibility.
If you are looking for something with a "shark" look you could get 1 red tailed black shark. They get about 6" but they usually fight with others of their own kind, and rainbowsharks- so get only one of either of those.
I'm partial to Rainbowfish, but they really are lovely and some get pretty big. I have been able to find bosemanis and red rainbows on sale for $3 ea. Around here they also sell "australian rainbowfish" for about a dollar. These fish can get about 5" and like to school. They swim in the upper and middle levels of the tank.
soo...
would you like ?....
1 redtail black shark (OR rainbowshark)
3 clown loaches
5-6 rainbowfish

of course this should be your decision, it is your tank.. these are just some suggestions.

 

[drobbins27]

What about Silver Dollars? They tend to be lawn mowers though...How about some barbs like Gold Barbs, Cherry Barbs or Tiger Barbs?

 

[FishSticks]

AquaSeaFoam you read my mind! I got one redtail black shark this week and put in my 10 gallon while I get the 55 gallon one. But I really wanted to keep gouramis. This is what I was thinking:

• Redtail Black Shark
• School of Clown Loaches
• Couple Three Spot Gouramis and Dwarf Gouramis

I don't really mind if the loaches nibble on the plants, aponogetons grow pretty fast.

 

[Nina7777]

definately can't fit a school of bala's in a 55 gallon. I have 2 in a 55 gallon and although they wont "eat" your plants they will continously uproot them with there swimming and also when they get scared!
I'm still debating getting a 180 gallon tank or trading them in.

 

[AquaSeaFoam]

3 Spot gouramis can get up to 15cm while dwarves stay around 6 cm. There may be some bullying issues with them, but it all depends on the fish i suppose. here is a link about three spot gouramis:
http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/gtricho.html
But it may work out also! Exactly how many gouramis of each kind and how many loaches are you planning on?