Decision on stocking and decor

[debiasir]

Hi Forum,

Over the next coming months I will be setting up my 45 UK gallon tropical tank. I have never owned a tank of this size before so would like as much help as I can get.

This is my proposed design for the tank (very precise I know):

· Sand 2 cm deep
· A stone hill in the far left corner with a small air stone in it.
· 2 small terracotta pots
· Various sized false plants around and about (don’t feel competent with real plants yet)
· 2 small bits of drift wood towards the right of the tank in front of the filter and a small bit of drift wood in the centre of the tank
· A 10 cm long air stone somewhere in the tank hidden in the middle of a small wall made from small stones.
· The filter is in the far right corner as standard
· Plan on having 2 submersible heaters totalling the recommended output either side of the tank.
· I have two strip lights that will be staying as I don’t need great lighting as the tank will have no live plants and will have plenty of natural light during the day without being in direct sunlight
· Some sort of decorative background to add some colour

What fish and how many do you recommend to cycle the tank.

Also what to stock it with? I am after a community tank!! My fav fish are: tetras (all sorts), dwarf gouramies, plecs, red tip sharks, male guppies and angels.

Sorry for the long post but I really want to be 100% certain about the fish and suitable décor prior to setting up and begin the cycling process.

Thanks for any responses.

Ross

 

[fatbobsufc]

What fish and how many do you recommend to cycle the tank.

Please consider fishless cycling - it's a pinned topic in the beginner's section.

Also what to stock it with? I am after a community tank!! My fav fish are: tetras (all sorts), dwarf gouramies, plecs, red tip sharks, male guppies and angels.

All those fish are fine for a community tank EXCEPT Angels. Also, you need to be careful with red tip sharks as they can bully.

Good luck

 

[debiasir]

cheers matey

Think i am going down the fishlesss cycle

i have changed my mind on sand and going for gravel and the RTS and angels i am leaving out of my stocking ideas now

Thanks again

 

[fufanu360]

angels work in communities

as long as there are no really small fish

edit: wut abouts some cories?

 

[Blue Lobster]

Start soaking the driftwood now.

Have you considered a school of Bala Sharks? They are hardy and active midwater fish.


I would say 4-5 bala sharks will fill that tank nicely. They are great, but jumpy.

They will hit 7-10 inches each so it kinda maxes you out on the inch to gallon deal.
Either one or no less than 4 Balas, they are not good in 2s and 3s.

Either way, throw a plec0 in to clean the glass and a couple fancy corydoras in there for uneaten food patrol.

 

[fatbobsufc]

angels work in communities

as long as there are no really small fish

I don't think this is a good idea Since some of the other fish mentioned were tetras and guppies. I once had to remove a Fancy Tail Guppy from a tank with a couple of Angels as it was getting ripped to shreds. For a peaceful community tank - especially a newly cycled beginner tank - I would definitely omit the Angels.

 

[philbozz]

hmm, I went to get some red black sharks the other day and was told they don't get along with each other - I had two together for months and months, only reason one died was because he jumped from the tank

The one I've still got gets along fine with the rest of the fish, only major annoyance is the golden barbs that eat anything - crab food, algae wafers other fish. The original purchase was 6 tetras, they didnt last long with the barbs


On the subject of the wood - Give it a good soak for atleast a week, I put mine in after just 1 day or two and the water went considerably brown for a long time

Those silver/bala sharks are nice aswell, not sure why they died but they were dragged off into the crabs lair pretty quick

Don't put fish in straight away, just run the tank as it would be(but without fish) for a week first.

My suggestion for first stock would be just 2 or 3 Swordtails and a few mollies and/or platys - Thats what I started with and then once the tank is a few weeks older you can start adding more stock in.

 

[fatbobsufc]

My suggestion for first stock would be just 2 or 3 Swordtails and a few mollies and/or platys - Thats what I started with and then once the tank is a few weeks older you can start adding more stock in.

You should make sure the tank is fully cycled BEFORE you add any fish. Fishless cycling can take a number of weeks. It's important that you have passed the ammonia and nitrite spikes before adding fish as this can cause irreversible damage to them and can even be fatal. As i said earlier in the thread - the beginner's section has a pinned topic on fishless cycling.

 

[debiasir]

cheers for your ideas and comments and help.

Prob wont be setting this tank up for a while now as we might be moving house in the next 2 months so its pointless setting it up then dismantling it but i am going to talk to my LFS man tomorrow to discuss stocking options etc.

Managed to get some nice bits of bog wood off ebay about 13 inch long and £15 each dont know if thats about right or too expensive but they are nice.

I think i am gonna try a few live plants to see how i go then i may add more