How Many Fish Can I Add

[matthewgardner]

Hi all.

I have a 55l tank with 9 Harlequins in at mo, its a fairly new tank but they seem happy in their home.. have a bit of hair algie growing here and there and was wondering if any one could give me some advice on what to add next and if my tank can handle it?

was thinking of some kind of bottem feeder but am not suer how many fish i can get in this tank..have a quite a few plants in as well.

Thanks a lot.

 

[Truck]

you could have a shoal of 6 corys and 2 honey gouramis, but thats pushing it stocking wise.

 

[matthewgardner]

you could have a shoal of 6 corys and 2 honey gouramis, but thats pushing it stocking wise.

Thanks for the help Truckasauras.....

does any one else have any thoughts was goin´g to leave it a good mounth before i add any more.

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Matthew.
With only 9 rasboras in a 55 litre tank, you have room for a few corydoras or similar fish. Generally the smaller cories would be good for a tank that size and they look better in groups of 5 or more of the same type.
Cories are a bit sensitive to water conditions compared to rasboras so if the tank hasn't been set up for at least 2 or 3 months I would wait to add them in later.

 

[matthewgardner]

Welcome to the forum Matthew.
With only 9 rasboras in a 55 litre tank, you have room for a few corydoras or similar fish. Generally the smaller cories would be good for a tank that size and they look better in groups of 5 or more of the same type.
Cories are a bit sensitive to water conditions compared to rasboras so if the tank hasn't been set up for at least 2 or 3 months I would wait to add them in later.

Thanks for the welcome and advice Oldman....( lol) sorry..... :

just wanted something that might eat my hair algie before it speads...should be ok though i have quite a few plants.

 

[waterdrop]

Never hurts the algae situation to up the battle by increasing your gravel-clean-water-changes and even the frequency of your filter cleans. Also increase the number of plants in order to increase the competition for plant nutrients with the algae.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[matthewgardner]

Never hurts the algae situation to up the battle by increasing your gravel-clean-water-changes and even the frequency of your filter cleans. Also increase the number of plants in order to increase the competition for plant nutrients with the algae.

~~waterdrop~~

thanks Water drop

Dont think i can fit any more plants in ! Am i right in beleiving that efective algie eating fish would grow to large for my tank?

 

[waterdrop]

No, "otos" are very tiny! (otocinculus (sp?))

 

[OldMan47]

The issue you may be facing is simple enough. No particular fish is the answer to your problem. I love my otocinclus but they are only there to help keep the algae outbreaks to a slightly lower number. Ultimately you need to control tank parameters to control algae and you will find that no fish ever replaces manual cleaning by you.

 

[matthewgardner]

The issue you may be facing is simple enough. No particular fish is the answer to your problem. I love my otocinclus but they are only there to help keep the algae outbreaks to a slightly lower number. Ultimately you need to control tank parameters to control algae and you will find that no fish ever replaces manual cleaning by you.

Thanks,

it seems all the advice points to some ottos and a good cleaning routine, to early for ottos yet i think though.

 

[vinylman]

Not too early for Otos as long as the ones you buy are nice and plump; that means they're eating well in the shop. It's the thinner ones you need to avoid - they get VERY stressed after their long trip, then get transported AGAIN to a shop and have to start eating all over again. I bought another five last week (made sure they were all fat boys) and they haven't stop eating since I put them in their new home. Slow acclimatisation helps, too.

 

[rabbut]

Ottos are sencitive to water quality though, and if it's a new tank being fish-in cycled....