Good First Additions To A Newly Cycled Tank?

[Wansui]

I have a 240L tank that is almost cycled (fishless), and I still don't have the slightest idea of what fish I want. I know I want a peaceful community tank, but I have no idea on how to achieve this. I was thinking to start, a small and peaceful schooling species, 1 - 2 inches in size. Possibly some black neon tetras? I'm very open to suggestions. Also, how many fish should you buy at a time, and how long should you leave it until any other additions are made. My PH is 6.8 if that helps. 
If you guys could think of fish that don't eat plants, that would be great because the 240L is heavily planted. Thanks for reading

 

[Ninjouzata]

If you did a fish-less cycle following the guide on this site you can stock all at once.
 
It's good to sort of fill the levels of the tank. So corydoras or loaches for example on the bottom, barbs or tetras for middle/top, and then some centerpiece fish such as peacock gudgeons, rams, apistogrammas, and gouramis.
^^^Not all of those at once ofcourse^^^
 
Are there any colors in particular that you like? I'm a big fan of rummynose tetras and neon tetras as well as sterbai cories and peacock gudgeons.
 
Do you have a pic of the tank? Would love to see it.

 

[Wansui]

If you did a fish-less cycle following the guide on this site you can stock all at once.
 
It's good to sort of fill the levels of the tank. So corydoras or loaches for example on the bottom, barbs or tetras for middle/top, and then some centerpiece fish such as peacock gudgeons, rams, apistogrammas, and gouramis.
^^^Not all of those at once ofcourse^^^
 
Are there any colors in particular that you like? I'm a big fan of rummynose tetras and neon tetras as well as sterbai cories and peacock gudgeons.
 
Do you have a pic of the tank? Would love to see it.

I have small gravle so corys and loaches are out of the question. Can you think of another bottom dweller that does well on gravle? tetras sound great for the middle. Maybe a school of black neons and another species of schooling fish? and for the centerpiece... I'm a big fan of rams, but I have no idea what kind I would like... preferably a smaller peaceful species, any suggestions?
And yes, once the fish are in, I will be happy to share the results  

 

[Weiro792]

I would say German Blue Rams if you're wanting to go that route. Bolivian rams may get nippy with the smaller tetras. If you're going with Cardinal tetras you may be ok with the Bolivian Rams.
 
Personally I'm partial to the Gudgeons myself, they're very colorful and a great community fish.
 
Also, is it sharp or smooth/rounded gravel?

 

[Wansui]

I would say German Blue Rams if you're wanting to go that route. Bolivian rams may get nippy with the smaller tetras. If you're going with Cardinal tetras you may be ok with the Bolivian Rams.
 
Personally I'm partial to the Gudgeons myself, they're very colorful and a great community fish.
 
Also, is it sharp or smooth/rounded gravel?

German Blue Rams are absolutely beautiful, but don't they need perfect water conditions? I currently have an already established fish tank but I'm no expert. And the gravel is small and mostly smooth and rounded.

 

[Weiro792]

Then IMHO Cories should be fine. The just dig around in it looking for food. As long as there isn't any sharp gravel that can cut them up or wear down their barbs. (The whiskers on their mouths) Thats just my thoughts, maybe someone a bit more experienced has a different opinion? 
 
Yes GBR's are very particular! I've tried keeping them in the past, but no luck. They would be great for 3 or 4 months then randomly die. Nothing else in the tank was sick and they didn't even show any signs, just woke up with them dead 

 
That is why I gave up and went with a fish that is as pretty but very, very hardy. Not to mention easy to breed, the Peacock Gudgeon! 

 

[Wansui]

Then IMHO Cories should be fine. The just dig around in it looking for food. As long as there isn't any sharp gravel that can cut them up or wear down their barbs. (The whiskers on their mouths) Thats just my thoughts, maybe someone a bit more experienced has a different opinion? 
 
Yes GBR's are very particular! I've tried keeping them in the past, but no luck. They would be great for 3 or 4 months then randomly die. Nothing else in the tank was sick and they didn't even show any signs, just woke up with them dead 

 
That is why I gave up and went with a fish that is as pretty but very, very hardy. Not to mention easy to breed, the Peacock Gudgeon! 

I've heard that the peacock gudgeon doesn't accept flake food. I would prefer to have all the fish within the community to have the same diet. (With some frozen food now and again) Flake food is much more convenient for me. I'll take a closer look at my gravel tomorrow, and maybe take a pic of it and see if you guys think it would be ok for corys? thanks for the advice btw

 

[Weiro792]

I've heard that the peacock gudgeon doesn't accept flake food. I would prefer to have all the fish within the community to have the same diet. (With some frozen food now and again) Flake food is much more convenient for me. I'll take a closer look at my gravel tomorrow, and maybe take a pic of it and see if you guys think it would be ok for corys? thanks for the advice btw
 

 
Yeah, that is true. If you were in the states, I have around 50 Gudgeon fry, all of which eat flake food. My adult male will eat some flake food, but prefers frozen or live. I think it just depends if they were wild caught or bread in captivity.

 

[Ninjouzata]

My peacock gudgeons don't eat flakes cause I don't use flakes. They do take pellets though! I usually use new life spectrum small formula.
I havn't had rams so can't comment on them. Bolivian are usually more harder than german though IIRC.
 
I agree that cories should be okay, just make sure the gravel is kept clean. You'll want shrimp pellets for them.
 
I forgot to mention another mid-top fish, rasboras! Harlequin and espei (like a smaller harlequin) look especially lovely to me.

 

[Fishmanic]

I have two tanks--a 35 gal and a 29 gallon.   My present stocking is in my sig.   Both tanks are community tanks and they all get along fine.   If you do cories, it's recommended to get at least five.  My cory stocking is not quite right but they do fine.   I highly recommend a pair of Bolivian Rams--very interesting fish and they get along fine with the other fish in the 29 gallon--not nippy at all.

 

[FTM22]

I second ninj on rasboras, I have a school of 8 in my 40g but you could go for more easily. They were my first fish in and are very hardy; I haven't lost any. Their copper glint is also rather eye catching.

 

[Elena]

Black neons are nice what about a shoal of rummy nose tetra/neon tetra/harlequin or lambchop rasbora/mountain minnow? They are all really peaceful fish. Congo tetras I think are really pretty too. What about some of those glass catfish, they would appreciate a heavily planted tank and hang near the bottom and it wouldn't matter what gravel you have with them.
 
For something bigger what about a shoal of rainbow fish or gourami? Bolivian rams are meant to be peaceful, electric blue rams look amazing but they need quite high temperatures.

 

[Wansui]

I have two tanks--a 35 gal and a 29 gallon.   My present stocking is in my sig.   Both tanks are community tanks and they all get along fine.   If you do cories, it's recommended to get at least five.  My cory stocking is not quite right but they do fine.   I highly recommend a pair of Bolivian Rams--very interesting fish and they get along fine with the other fish in the 29 gallon--not nippy at all.

I'm intrested in the bolivian rams, but if they're kept in a pair I would think that they produce fry. What would I do with this fry? also, can you keep more than one pair of them?

 

[b3cca]

GBRs should be perfectly fine as long as you have the correct PH and softness but be  aware that RAMS may also need a higher temp than most cories, tetras, harlequins and other fish need
 
Well never had a single problem with my GBRs but I'm no expert but Surely water parameters and conditions should be perfect anyway no matter what fish you keep in there, once it's cycled then it's only a matter of regular pwc and substrate clean.

 

[the_lock_man]

Surely water parameters and conditions should be perfect anyway no matter what fish you keep in there, once it's cycled then it's only a matter of regular pwc and substrate clean.

 

Well, yes, but the point is that things occasionally go wrong in everyone's tanks - other species are more forgiving of these occasional blips than GBRs. I sometimes miss a water change (4 very active kids is the main cause), and I wouldn't keep GBRs because I suspect that they may well not put up with the increase in nitrate that my Peacock Gudgeon do put up with.
 
Whilkst on the subject of these, mine take floating food, albeit a little reluctantly. I normally feed them Sera Vipagran granules, which is the same formulation as flake. It starts off floating, then starts to sink.