Congo Tetra, Torpedo Barbs and Pentazona Barbs decisions in a 200 litre tank

dinpraad said:

Will a Bosemani Rainbow fish work with this setup?

Click to expand...

Byron said:

Melanotaenia boesemani is recommended for a 4-foot tank due to its active swimming, but @Colin_T has a better understanding of the Atherinid species so if he says "OK" I wouldn't dispute him.

I would increase the Corydoras to at least 15, same or different species. I hope you have sand for the substrate though.

Click to expand...

dinpraad said:

I sure do have white sand for substrate. I am also expanding my plants in the tanks to become fully planted.
15 Cory's. I never thought my tank could accommodate that many of them. Now I know.

Click to expand...

Byron said:

That's a very nice start. I would get some substantial floating plants though, by which I mean not duckweed or even Salvinia, but Water Sprite, Frogbit, or Water Lettuce. Or some of the stem plants can be very useful and effective if left floating (pennywort for one). This will lessen the light reflected off the white sand, helping the fish; and interestingly it brings out the colours of fish more when there are floating plants. Keep your eyes peeled for another chunk of wood, or two or three--not too large, just to add more "surface" objects which the cories will really appreciate.

Click to expand...

Fishfinder1973 said:

Pentazona barbs are shy little fish and don’t grow very big,around an inch and a half.They stay hidden away at the back of the tank,near the bottom in amongst the plants.They are however,tough little fish.
Denison barbs reach around 4 inch and are a mid water fish.The problem is that it takes a quite a few of them to appreciate their schooling behaviour.

Click to expand...

Fishfinder1973 said:

Pentazona barbs are shy little fish and don’t grow very big,around an inch and a half.They stay hidden away at the back of the tank,near the bottom in amongst the plants.They are however,tough little fish.
Denison barbs reach around 4 inch and are a mid water fish.The problem is that it takes a quite a few of them to appreciate their schooling behaviour.

Click to expand...

Byron said:

That's a very nice start. I would get some substantial floating plants though, by which I mean not duckweed or even Salvinia, but Water Sprite, Frogbit, or Water Lettuce. Or some of the stem plants can be very useful and effective if left floating (pennywort for one). This will lessen the light reflected off the white sand, helping the fish; and interestingly it brings out the colours of fish more when there are floating plants. Keep your eyes peeled for another chunk of wood, or two or three--not too large, just to add more "surface" objects which the cories will really appreciate.

Click to expand...

dinpraad said:

Interestingly I have 2 more bogwood which I had not decided how whether to put in the tank.
Will you advise i put both in and remove the smaller one currently in tank. Or keep all 3.
Or which one out of the 2 big ones I should add.

Will look into floating plants when I visit my local acquatic centre on Saturday.

Click to expand...

Byron said:

The tank length is a prime consideration here, so now we have the dimensions [and leaving aside the parameter issue] and dealing with the species initially mentioned, I would rule out the Sahyadria denisonii (the "torpedo" barb) which needs a group of 8-10 and being more active and larger, at minimum a 4-foot (120 cm) length tank. I know it is just 20cm difference, but that can be significant especially with a adequate-size group of active fish.

The Phenacogrammus interruptus (Congo Tetra) similarly would be better in a 4-foot minimum tank; A group of 10+ is best, and the males do seem to like doing relay races with two, sometimes three of them, and I had mine in a 3-foot tank temporarily (re-working the 4-foot 90g) and that was clearly pushing things for them.

The Hyphessobrycon columbianus would be better with a few more, say 8-10, so if you like this fish, I would add maybe 3-4 more. It will make a difference. Same (getting more) might hold for the Corydoras too, but no info is given on numbers.

The Desmopuntius hexazona (your "pentazona" barb) suits the space; a group of 9-12.

Click to expand...