And Another Stocking Topic

[Naringlo]

So I have the Interpet Fish Pod 120

80x40x43cm 120L 26°c Interpet PF3 Filter pH 6.5 - 7.2. Temp can be altered.

Sand substrate, a few hardly living vallis in the back and I have a rock structure in the middle with lots of caves but it's all low.

At the moment I have 11 Cardinal Tetra (the 12th giant one disappeared) and 6 Sterbai Corys. I was thinking of adding a pair of german rams or a trio 1M - 2F.
Maybe a balloon ram or 2. Just because they look funny.
Also thinking of upping the tetras to 20 and maybe 6 glowlights. Glowlights are really the last on my list though.

And If I'm not at a limit there, a pair of gourami's. (Blue, Red Honey, Opaline).

Any advice here? Tank is looking dull.

Also, I find I lack mid and top dwellers. I may change my mind about some if I were told about some others. I know danios are top dwellers but that's it. Where do gourami's dwell?

Thanks all!

 

[manxjason]

Your tank sounds pretty stocked in all honesty mate. You don't want to add Rams to it, as they'll be very territorial should they lay eggs. With a 120 ltr tank, there's not much room for the remaining fish to keep clear.

Dwarf Gourami are an option in that size tank. Adding the likes of pearls etc, could cause bullying on the weaker one, and if there's not much room for them to escape the hassling, then it would be near constant.

If you're bored with your set up then you could always plan a new stocking list, and trade your current fish in at your LFS, just remember though that there's every chance they'll go to a tank which isn't cycled - i.e. torture! If you can, it's always better to sell them privately, or give away. That way you can ensure their tank is cycled, or at least seed it for them.

To test PH, are you using test strips or liquid? You want to aim at keeping the PH as consistent as possible.

 

[Naringlo]

I have 2 liquid tests for pH. It is consistent I just can't judge the colour very well. haha

When I had rams before, and I have a rock formation so they have their territory. Would that not be sufficient?
But I am surprised to hear it's pretty stocked because it just looks dead empty.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I would up your C. sterbai to 10 and then look at compatable Pencilfish hareem for the upper water. Three social/ semi-social fish (Pencilfish can get fiesty with one another) at upper/middle/lower levels, job done.

 

[Tizer]

You got quite a lot of room left to stock in my eyes, a dozen cardinals wont put much if any stress on your bio load.

I think a pair of Rams would actually be a very good choice for your tank (if you have soft water). Your corys prefer a higher temperature around 27ish so that's a bonus with the Rams too. One thing i would avoid though is the balloon Ram, they are a bit of mongrel fish in my eyes and they are MUCH weaker than your natural strains. Most people i speak to about them say that they never last for long and these are people who know how to keep fish.

 

[Naringlo]

Just did a pH check. It's 6.5. Temp is now 27°c.

I know the filter can deal with a lot of bioload because I've stocked it ridiculously before when I was completely new.

Pencil fish I will definitely consider if they are top dwelling.

Yeah I had a balloon ram before and it just died within 24 hours so with the info just given, I'm going with a no for them.

So I'm thinking now, up the Cardinal numbers, up the corys over time 5 Pencil fish for the top open, a pair or trio Rams (depending if they have Ms and Fs) to go around the rocky area.

I'll probably add this over a really long time because I will be upgrading to a 240L in summer or just after for Discus.

Oh and just to add, would a german ram mate with an electric blue ram or would a blue gourami mate with a red honey gourami? Curious about that.

Thanks for all the advice! Much appreciated

 

[Tizer]

Quite likely, on the Ram front, very unlikely on the Gourami front but having never owned or researched Gourami's very much i'm sure someone who has, will correct me.

People have been experimenting with cross breeding Rams for years now. Some really crazy blues have come out of them which look amazing. But for the average fish keeper, tough to keep. I certainly wouldn't touch them, bog standard Pets at Home Rams will, in my eyes, last far longer.

 

[Naringlo]

Hmmm I had 2 electric blues, they were alright but not very good colouration.

Hmm that's quite interesting. One day I may attempt it but not for now :L

Thanks Tizer!