50 gal (200L) tall stocking list advice

[smithson]

Hi all,

About to start cycling a new 50 gal (200L) tall tank after a few years out of fishkeeping.
Tank dimensions are: 71 x 51 x 65 cm

Originally it was going to be mostly live-bearers, but I'm thinking instead along the lines of:

• 16 Cherry Barb OR 10 Cherry Barb + 8 Forktail Rainbowfish
• 3 Apistogramma Cacatuoides (2f, 1m)
• 4 Panda Cory
• 1 Bristlenose Pleco

I'm missing some top-dwellers. I was looking at Hatchetfish, but potentially difficult to keep?

AQ advisor puts me at ~100% stocked - not sure how accurate that would be.

Any advice on numbers and alternatives appreciated.

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

What is the GH (general hardness) and pH of the water?
You can usually get this information by contacting your water supply company (via website or telephone), or by taking a glass of tap water to the local pet shop and having them test it for you. Write the results down in numbers when they test it and ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm or dGH).

The following link has info on rainbowfish.
http://rainbowfish.angfaqld.org.au/Melano.htm

 

[smithson]

Water company is a little vague on these metrics.

Their latest data shows Total Hardness CaCO3 averaging 35 (ppm)? (but low/high of 5 - 75).
PH Average 8.3

I'm hoping to grab a test kit at the weekend to monitor this myself.

I also have an RO/DI filter - so can produce "custom" water if needed, but I'd rather not have to.


I'll take a read of that link, and also check out profiles of these fish to see if they match my parameters.


Thanks