Adding New Fish

[loopylootwo]

Ok so i have a 100 litre tank with two fantails and a pleco it has been set up for two days using a an established filter which was in my previous tank for nine months and another filter also well established time unknown as it came with the tank (i will hazard a guess at more than six months). Ok so i have a few questions to ask how can I safely increase the number of fish so as not to put too much strain on the cycle? How long until it is safe to start increasing my numbers? What type of plants are best suited for my fish? and lastly how many would be suitable for this type of tank? Oh and i would like to stick with the fish types I already have.

 

[fluttermoth]

I'm afraid your tank is fully stocked right now. Fantails should really have a minimum of 60l per fish, and that's not counting the plec.

If it's a common plec, which it probably is, it will outgrow your tank, and should be in a heated tank rather than a coldwater one.

I'd rehome the plec, if you can, and just enjoy the two fantails.

Goldies are hard on plants; they like to pull them up and play with them, and eat them, so get used to the idea that you'll have to replace them quite often! Console yourself that at least the greens are good for them Cheap bunched plants like elodea and cabomba are good, and you could try Java fern. That needs to be attached to some rock or wood, but it apparently tastes quite bitter, so most fish leave it alone (but ! can't promise yours will...).

 

[loopylootwo]

The plec/butterfly pleco is a more commonly known as a hillstream loach and apparently won't grow very big they prefer lower temps i thought and fast currents!?

Ps thanks for all the info

 

[fluttermoth]

Oh, a hillstream loach. Yes, they do like cooler water and very fast currents. They are a social fish and should really be kept in groups of around six.

I'm not sure they're a good addition to your tank; they're not an easy fish to keep, and if you have enough flow for them to be happy, your fantails will be swept around, as they're not very strong swimmers. They do best in a specialist, species set up tbh, or with fish with similar requirements, like White Cloud mountain minnows or zebra danios.