New 95 Litre Tropical Tank Help!

[BethK]

i would do 4 of one and 4 of the other, in a 90ltr you'll be fine

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Hold your horses!

This thread has gone from "baby steps" to running the 100 metres in 9.6 seconds in the space of a day!!

• So what fish are you planning?
• Have you researched which need groups of 6+ and which may need to be in low numbers to prevent a "war" breaking out?
• Are you sure they all need similar water conditions including temperature range?
• Do all the fish like similar water movement? For example, I would never put Gouramis in with my Squirrel Loaches (who like most of my fish need lots of water movement to get saturated oxygen levels)
• Are there any aggressive or territorial species, like cichlids?
• Sensitive species like Cory catfish need a tank that has "cycled" and then further matured at least another four weeks, possibly more, depending upon which species you want.
• Cichlids and other species should be added later on, so that "peaceful" fish can settle in and not be told by territorial fish that the whole tank is their home.
• Where have these two Spotted Danios suddenly appeared from?
• Danios are very social fish and need groups of at least six (6), if not 10+. They are also very active for their size and need at least 3-foot long tanks, but ideally 4-foot or longer.
• Where has this other tank with a spare filter suddenly appeared from?
• The bacteria in this spare filter will only still be alive if they have had food (ammonia and nitrite) and oxygen to keep them alive.
• If the two Spotted Danios are now the only fish in the new tank, you need to be testing the water for toxins (ammonia and nitrite, to a much less extent nitrate) at least once per day. You are now "fish-in cycling."
• If you get readings above 0 for ammonia or nitrite from your liquid test kit, you will need to do a proportional water change, adding de-chlorinator to the fresh water that has a similar temperature. ANy sign of either and you need to do an 80% water change immediately and be prepared to do another a few hours later when you test again!
• After two weeks of "double zero" (no ammonia or nitrite) readings every time you test, you can then reasonably safely add new fish, no bigger than the total size of your Spotted Danios. I suggest you get another two Spotted Danios and if all goes well with readings and your hopefully four fish, get another four Spotted Danios two weeks later.

Like delivering letters (my job), preparation is key to both your fish and you (in that order) happy. Research and plan, do not take impulse actions to advice given from anyone, make a considered judgement after acquiring knowledge from several sources...

 

[BethK]

as far as this thread was concerned, it was only throwing ideas around for fish, OP has said he isn't putting them in yet

but good question, where did the danios come from

 

[kelvinrankin767]

if you are looking for some pretty looking and hardy fish which is always good for a beginer try platys, guppies, corydoras they are very active if kept in the right groups and water quality but are good and hardy so if you make any begginer mistakes there is a better chance of them surviving.

 

[weezawoo]

Hi Firstly, I haven't chosen on any apart from the Danios that I previously had in my other tank previously. After talking to someone in a shop he advised that the Danios can go in tropical as can go in temps of 24-28degrees. I just have had a look and like the Corydoras. This is the reason I ask if they are compatible BEFORE I go and buy any other fish.
The Danios I only have 2 as previously I only had a 15litre tank, the shop who sold me the fish knew I had this small tank yet said they would be fine (along with 4 other very small fish) I put the fact that the other 4 died down to bad advice and a shop clearly not with the best interest of the fish at heart.
The other tank was as I said the coldwater one I upgraded from and had not been turned off as it still had the fish in it before I transfered them (and don't worry I didnt just chuck them in )
I only went into an aquatic shop (different from the first one) to buy some more plants and he started asking questions to which he advised that it would be good to put the fish in as they are hardy and will help to speed up the cycle, he said it is better than the fish-less option. He also said using the old filter would help to put the bacteria into the tank.
I will be sensible and wont add 10 fish or something at once, it will be 2 at the most each time and at least week in between them, depeding on the water.

I am trying to do a lot of research,but it is hard when I am told different things by people, also my BF's mum has coldwater fish and saidit should be ok to do as the shop guy said!

Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Any chance of some pics of these Spotted Danios, weazawoo?

Do either of yours look like the ones on this profile...
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Danio&species=nigrofasciatus&id=210?

If so, a river/stream setup (which is what I have going on in my Rio240 [most of my fish in sig] and Korrall60 [for just Squirrel Loaches, Rabbit Snails and temporarily 4 adlut Pearl Danios and their seven fry])with suitable fish is the way forward!

Some of my fish need a bigger tank than my Rio240 (the denisonii; bakeri; canarensis; pulchellus) when they get bigger (I have a 5x2x2 ready in waiting), so these are non-starters for your 95l... But some of my fish are suitable and many others too, but the nice thing about river/stream setups is that it requires specialized tank setup with lots of flow and therefore lots of oxygen and a cooler than normal temperature, so suitable fish will make your decisions a bit easier!

I shall try and throw down some ideas of smaller riverine fish that need water <26C over the next day or two...

 

[weezawoo]

Unfortunately I can't upload photos atm to my comp but as soon as I can I will upload!
Mine are like it but don't have any kind of stripe on them just all spotted! I was told they were spotted Danios so I hope it is correct!
I am looking at simple fish to keep as don't want to end up killing fish from lack of knowledge etc!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Hmm, how about this species profile then?
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Danio&species=tinwini&id=1347

Like most profiles at the above site, a few ideas are given about suitable community fish

 

[weezawoo]

tried to take a picture but my phone camera just doesnt pick up the detail very well at all!
Fish look more like that most recent profile than the other one, but the cream kind of bit on the belly isnt quite as visible.

 

[weezawoo]

ok went to a store today and am now pretty sure I have leopard danios

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Leopard Danios are usually most happy is moving water, upto around 25C. They are not what I would call a specialist envirnoment species, so your choices as tankmates are not limited that much... Just be wary of aggressive fish, fish that have mouths that could fit a Danio in (and probably would at some point) and fish that need temperatures outside the 18-25C range (but keep in mind that any species that needs less than about 23C will serverely reduce the number of compatable fish.

Are you testing the water regularly to test for toxins? Any values above zero for ammonia or nitrite requires a prompt water change, possibly with the addition of a gravel/sand vacuum and a gentle rinse of the filter sponge(s) in tank water (not tap water)

 

[weezawoo]

Water is fine, have checked with liquid tests etc!!!

Thinking I would like the following after going to many fish stores to check out the fish:

2x Leopard Danios (already there)
6x cherry barbs
3x rummy-nosed tetras
3x harlequin rasboras
2x panda cory's
2x albino corys
1x red tail shark

A couple of the guys in the different shops advised the 2 different types of corys would be ok together and will actually shoal together.
Also I was advised 2 sharks would fight and I would need 6+ and I don't think I have space for this in my 95litre tank.

Does this sound good???

 

[Ben M]

hi, i wouldn't go for the red tailed black shark, as they are aggressive, and would harass the corys. also, i would get all of the same species of cory, as they prefer to be with their own kind. what are the measurements of your tank? and the cherry barbs, harlequins, leopard danios and rummynose tetras all prefer big groups, so i'd have one or 2 big shoals. a nice shoaling fish is the copper harlequin (Trigonostigma hengeli), much like the harlequin, but with a gold band and they grow slightly smaller. copper harlequins and rummynose tetras are the best schooling fish i've ever kept, so if you want a tight shoal i'd get a big group of just one species.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

To cut a long story short...

The Red Tail Shark will probably become very nasty as it ages... Too aggressive for your other fish in my opinion.

All other fish are social and get security in numbers of 6+ of their own species.

Given the above, perhaps two schools of six Corys would be too much for a 95l, but hopefully others will comment on this

I would say your first port of call would be to make the Danio group get to six, in two seperate visits to buy from shop, with two weeks between each purchase if fish are well and toxins are zero.
Then the six Cherry Barbs at least two-three weeks later (if all is still well).
Then the six Harlequins a minimum of two weeks after that.
Not sure if I would add the Corys next or the Rummynose to be honest, probably the latter, but its marginal.

 

[weezawoo]

Tank is 80 x 30 x 40cm

The guy in the shop (althought not sure how much knowledge he has) said with only one shark he should be ok and wouldnt become territorial.

Also think the Copper harlquins will be the ones I get, apparently they are the same thing??? or is this not true?

Will this be roughly a good stocking level?