Can I Add More?

[Dieses Madchen]

So, I have a 40g hex. I have 1 male swordtail, 5 female platys, 2 juvie platys (.75 inch) 1 female betta, 7 albino cories, 4 inga snails, 1 albino BN

I would like to add a shoaler, but the problems are a.) I think I may be at capacity, and b.) its a hexagon, so I do not know it it is wide enough for most shoaling species.

The tank is 21 inches across and the filter is for tanks up to 55g.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Well, I answered my own question (i'm a research hound) and I think I am nixing the idea of adding to my hex. I really like harlequins and cardinals, but I think they are more suited to a longer tank and I do not want to be cruel.

 

[the_lock_man]

Something small like a chilli rasbora or a celestial pearl danio would be OK, I'd have thought.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Aren't danios quick swimmers though? I wouldn't think my tank is long enough for them to have the room they would like to swim. I think what is going to happen in the future (my dream) is that if I ever get my 6ft tank for my SA cichlids, I'm going to move my malawis into the 75 and use the 55g for shoaling fish It will happen one day...

 

[the_lock_man]

Aren't danios quick swimmers though? I wouldn't think my tank is long enough for them to have the room they would like to swim. I think what is going to happen in the future (my dream) is that if I ever get my 6ft tank for my SA cichlids, I'm going to move my malawis into the 75 and use the 55g for shoaling fish It will happen one day...

Not CPDs, they are tiny. They were formerly known as Galaxy Rasboras, which to my mind, is a more suitable name - they really are nothing like a zebra danio.

 

[Tizer]

i got 10 CPDs in a 30 litre tank (attempt at breeding this year) and they hardly move around much at all would be a bit lost in that tank though i would imagine.

 

[BLUFOX]

+1 go with the chilli rasbora there beautiful fish

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I will have to look into them. But looking at my current stock, how close am I to capacity? I do not want to overload my tank either.

 

[the_lock_man]

I will have to look into them. But looking at my current stock, how close am I to capacity? I do not want to overload my tank either.

Since I don't have a tank of anywhere near that capacity, I can't visualise how it would look with your current stock, but I have enough faith in your judgement to suppose that there is physically enough space in the tank for them. I also have enough faith in you to be able to maintain the tank properly. The filter is rated for a tank 37½% bigger than it's working in, so it seems reasonable to suppose that you have the filtration capacity for a sensibly-sized shoal.

Happy days!

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Thank you for the advice. I am pretty sure that all of my tanks are very understocked, with the exception of my 75g, but since the 5 fish in there are only 3inch apiece it looks that way (all of them get 9+ inchech) I have a severe fear of overstocking lol. I'm quite anal about it. I also have a huge fear of incompatability lol

 

[the_lock_man]

No need to be anal - the fish aren't going to explode if you overstock.

Both of my tanks used to be hugely overstocked. The smaller one is now fairly understocked, but only because I have put a new, lower power, pump in because the one that came with the tank was giving me a turnover well in excess of 10x - and my fighter hated it. I've now got it right down to about 4x, and he's happy as a pig in wossname, but that does mean that I have to understock somewhat, so he's onlky go a shoal of chilli rasboras for company.