Yet Another Stocking Topic...

[LellowFish]

Right-oh, seeing as I have now managed to get my 2ft tank from my father-in-laws house to my own, I can now think about re-starting it. It's completely empty right now and I have kept the filter that I bought for it. However, I need a new heater, light etc. Pretty much everything except the filter.

So while I'm getting all of that together I can think about fishless cycling and stocking it. I have already been thinking about dividing the tank for two male Bettas to be housed in but was also thinking about Dwarf Cockatoo Cichlids? 1 male/2 females. I'm very, very open to suggestions for it but would prefer something hardy and relatively easy to care for as I'm still finding my feet.

Thanks in advance!

Edit: Size might help...24x12x12"

 

[KittyKat]

It's too small for cockatoos. You should look at something more along the lines of..
* 10-15 dwarf mid-water schooling fish such as ember tetras
* 1 male Betta
* 8-10 dwarf/pygmy Corys

 

[LellowFish]

Okay so no to the Dwarf Cichlids. Is there anything else I can put in it?

 

[twodoctors]

Right-oh, seeing as I have now managed to get my 2ft tank from my father-in-laws house to my own, I can now think about re-starting it. It's completely empty right now and I have kept the filter that I bought for it. However, I need a new heater, light etc. Pretty much everything except the filter.

So while I'm getting all of that together I can think about fishless cycling and stocking it. I have already been thinking about dividing the tank for two male Bettas to be housed in but was also thinking about Dwarf Cockatoo Cichlids? 1 male/2 females. I'm very, very open to suggestions for it but would prefer something hardy and relatively easy to care for as I'm still finding my feet.

Thanks in advance!

Edit: Size might help...24x12x12"

Depends on your pH.

Adrian

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, good thoughtful stocking ideas from KK as always. And continuing with Adrian's thought, it -is- always nice (not necessarily essential) to be aware of the general end of the scale your tap water chemistry is on - you can plan a stocking that you know will really like your chemistry as opposed to one that is just getting along in it. Does that make sense?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[LellowFish]

That makes perfect sense, Waterdrop. I will test my tap water as soon as I have a spare moment and get back to you all. Hopefully all will be well on that end! This is my first time having the tank from completely bare as opposed to being given the tank when it was already set up and stocked so it's all new to me.

 

[KittyKat]

Sorry, no cichlids that I know of.. Betta is best "colourful" alternative!

 

[LellowFish]

Okay, having just tested my tap water here are the results.

pH: 7.6
High Range pH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0 - 0.25 (Not bright yellow of 0 but definitely not green)
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0 - 5 (Again not bright yellow but far more yellow than orange)

 

[KittyKat]

In that case, I'd probably go for espei rasboras (not harlequin) over tetras. The pH should drop in the tank with time, especially if you add plants and bogwood.

 

[LellowFish]

Only the one type of fish?

 

[KittyKat]

There are plenty, but that's the most common. What are you actually looking for? Biotope? Community? Large fish? Colour? Natural?

 

[LellowFish]

Hmm, I only really have access to Pets @ Home unless I trek into Glasgow or mail order. I don't honestly fancy transporting fish from Glasgow out to here to be honest but I could mail order if I could get a specific delivery day. As for biotope etc, I'm really open to suggestions as I don't have anything specific in mind. Colour would be good but apart from that, just something that relatively hardy.

I'm sorry for the stupid questions.

 

[KittyKat]

Pick at most one from each section:

Mid-water schoolers:
* 10-15 dwarf mid-water schooling fish of one species (pH >7.0: espei rasboras, galaxy danio, emerald danio; pH <7.0: ember tetra, ruby tetra)
OR
* 8-10 5cm mid-water schooling fish of one species (pH <7.0: cardinal tetra & other tetra) - I would not recommend this option because the fish should have more swimming space and should have lower pH

Centre piece fish:
* 1 male Betta - good option, compatibility with other fish does depend on individual though
OR
* 1 male dwarf gourami - I think should have larger tank, to be honest
OR
* 10 male guppies (pH >7.0, not compatible with mid-water schoolers) - good option, but can be fragile, depending on origin
OR
* 2m 6f platys (pH >7.0, not compatible with mid-water schoolers) - I would not recommend this option because you are likely to have a population explosion

Bottom dwellers:
* 8-10 dwarf/pygmy Corys - prefer pH under 7.0, but ok in over too.. compatible with all centre piece fish and all mid-water schooling fish, should have sand
AND/OR
* shrimp - pick a species which prefers pH over 7.0, may not be compatible with Betta or gourami, depending on the individual

Those are only a few of the options and leave room for potentially slightly larger schools.

And to be honest, unless you have an exceptional P@H, you would be much better off trying to find a good independent LFS.

 

[LellowFish]

Thanks for the information The best LFS I have access to (though very limited as I do not drive) are along Paisley Road West in Glasgow. Other than that it would be P@H as my area doesn't have a good pet/fish store.