New member

[Dexter Leopard Frog]

Hi,

I have just restarted the hobby after not having fish for many years. Our set up is stll quite new at 3-4months old.
The wife and I just love to sit and watch the tank, most of the time its more interesting than watching TV.

We love animals and have 3 dogs of various ages and now of course we have some fish too.

Currently have a 180litre tank stocked with the below listed fish

5x Mollies including a sail fin mollie
4x Platties
5x Guppies
4x Angelfish
1x Blood Red Dwarf Gourami
1x Red Tail Shark
and of course as per my member name we have a Leopard Frog Pleco (we call Dexter)

Similar to the dogs we have given all the fish pet names to (was the wife's idea).

I will welcome all good advice

 

[connorlindeman]

Hi,

I have just restarted the hobby after not having fish for many years. Our set up is stll quite new at 3-4months old.
The wife and I just love to sit and watch the tank, most of the time its more interesting than watching TV.

We love animals and have 3 dogs of various ages and now of course we have some fish too.

Currently have a 180litre tank stocked with the below listed fish

5x Mollies including a sail fin mollie
4x Platties
5x Guppies
4x Angelfish
1x Blood Red Dwarf Gourami
1x Red Tail Shark
and of course as per my member name we have a Leopard Frog Pleco (we call Dexter)

Similar to the dogs we have given all the fish pet names to (was the wife's idea).

I will welcome all good advice

Welome to the forum!

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

Angelfish, most tetras, barbs, Bettas, gouramis, rasbora, Corydoras and small species of suckermouth catfish all occur in soft water (GH below 150ppm) and a pH below 7.0.

Livebearers (guppies, platies, swordtails, mollies), rainbowfish and goldfish occur in medium hard water with a GH around 200-250ppm and a pH above 7.0.
Mollies don't do well in soft water.

 

[Dexter Leopard Frog]

Hi and welcome to the forum

What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

Angelfish, most tetras, barbs, Bettas, gouramis, rasbora, Corydoras and small species of suckermouth catfish all occur in soft water (GH below 150ppm) and a pH below 7.0.

Livebearers (guppies, platies, swordtails, mollies), rainbowfish and goldfish occur in medium hard water with a GH around 200-250ppm and a pH above 7.0.
Mollies don't do well in soft water.

Ok that is kind of interesting and lots of info thanks.
I did not know that but kinda looks like I have fish from two groups there (mmm dammed fish supplier did not mention that - even with his 30+ years experience).
So far I haven't had any issues with water or at least I haven't had a concern about it, so to be honest I have never checked my mains supply. Tank water seems pretty stable around 120-180KH and about 180GH and PH sits very close to 7.
I have relied on my supplier quite alot as he has been in the business for a little over 30 years and I have kind of relied on his experience to ensure compatibility between fish and water type which I had given him a sample of when initially choosing and collecting fish which he tested there and then in shop before supplying me with any fish.

I think now I will also get incoming supply tested too. Thanks.

 

[Dexter Leopard Frog]

Oh I meant to ask in my introduction will my tank stocking be ok when fish are fully grown? I have been told it will be fine but opinions are welcome
Tank is a Rio Juwel 180litre.

 

[Colin_T]

Tank water seems pretty stable around 120-180KH and about 180GH and PH sits very close to 7.

That's not too bad. See how they go and if the mollies start to have problems, see about moving them into a different tank with harder water.

--------------------

will my tank stocking be ok when fish are fully grown?

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?
How often do you feed them?
What do you feed them?
How often do you do water changes and how much do you change?

The angelfish might fight when mature and the red tail shark might go after fish that get too close to his food source.

If the mollies, guppies and platies breed, you could have lots of baby fish to find homes for.

 

[foxgirl158]

If the mollies, guppies and platies breed, you could have lots of baby fish to find homes for.

I’m struggling with that right now. I have 27 seemingly female platy fry. If any are male they are going in a tank at my high school library, and I’m keeping 1-3 of my favorites, but idk what to do with the rest because I don’t want to give them back to the fish store! Lol

 

[Dexter Leopard Frog]

That's not too bad. See how they go and if the mollies start to have problems, see about moving them into a different tank with harder water.

--------------------

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?
How often do you feed them?
What do you feed them?
How often do you do water changes and how much do you change?

The angelfish might fight when mature and the red tail shark might go after fish that get too close to his food source.

If the mollies, guppies and platies breed, you could have lots of baby fish to find homes for.

Our tank is 101cm (length) x 41cm (depth) x 50cm (height)
Its all artificial plants etc no life plants as I presently think water and fish are enough to look after at moment. I know a planted tank is even more to look after i'm not quite ready for that yet.
We feed once a day 2mins its gone, can't remember the type (presently working away from home) but I know its a mix some floats and some sinks and I also give algae wafers every other day for the Plec, the mollies however are a bit greedy and tend to muscle in on that too but Plec seems to be fit for them and able to keep them away until he is done. The red tail shark don't seem to eat anything although he cleans alot.... that concerns me a little but i guess if he was hungry he would soon go after the food too. Mollies guppies and platies all seem to be doing a bit of cleaning too. Dexter (our Plec) is now being more adventurous in tank too. For a while we thought he had escaped because he was near impossible to find but now shows up.
Water changes every 1-2 weeks 20-30% Angels are young and were just added a couple of weeks ago and that's the last fish i intend to put in so water changes might differ a little as i think things are still settling down with the Angels just going in and of course a everything grows, so cleaning frequency may need to be adjusted.
Yeah we were told that the Angels will need to be kept an eye on just incase but i guess it depends on sex whether or not they pair off or not and whether they will give us problems etc.
We did have one fry i think it was a mollie that must have been about 1 week old was kinda lucky to see it but also saw a mollie gulp it down too.

 

[Dexter Leopard Frog]

I’m struggling with that right now. I have 27 seemingly female platy fry. If any are male they are going in a tank at my high school library, and I’m keeping 1-3 of my favorites, but idk what to do with the rest because I don’t want to give them back to the fish store! Lol

Thats crazy lol..... i will have to keep eyes on that as i don't want to be over run with them.

 

[Sgooosh]

I’m struggling with that right now. I have 27 seemingly female platy fry. If any are male they are going in a tank at my high school library, and I’m keeping 1-3 of my favorites, but idk what to do with the rest because I don’t want to give them back to the fish store! Lol

wait a while they might grow up
i've never had them grow up but all my swordtail fry seem female, and im sure theres some males in there

That's not too bad. See how they go and if the mollies start to have problems, see about moving them into a different tank with harder water.

--------------------

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?
How often do you feed them?
What do you feed them?
How often do you do water changes and how much do you change?

The angelfish might fight when mature and the red tail shark might go after fish that get too close to his food source.

If the mollies, guppies and platies breed, you could have lots of baby fish to find homes for.

yeah
the big fish probably need to be rehomed to some sorta monster tank thing
if you do get a big tank, im sure dexter would appreciate being in the big tank too
also aren't dwarf gouramis better off in groups?
idk i am not experienced Lol

 

[emeraldking]

Welcome to TFF. Apparently, you have younger fish. At least, that's what I'm getting from your story that they aren't fully grown yet. I'd leave things the way it is, if you don't have any problems yet.

 

[Dexter Leopard Frog]

Welcome to TFF. Apparently, you have younger fish. At least, that's what I'm getting from your story that they aren't fully grown yet. I'd leave things the way it is, if you don't have any problems yet.

Yes mate fairly new set up. Once fully grown and assuming they behave and get on like good friends do, do you see my stock level as ok or too much or even potential for other swimming tanks friends to join them?

 

[emeraldking]

Yes mate fairly new set up. Once fully grown and assuming they behave and get on like good friends do, do you see my stock level as ok or too much or even potential for other swimming tanks friends to join them?

You do have 180 liters at home. If you'd just look at their future adult size, the number of fish you've got right now will be just fine. But you've got some livebearers in there that will reproduce offspring. But with the angels, the number of those offspring will be controlled by the angels.
Some bottom fish like cories would be a nice addition.

 

[Dexter Leopard Frog]

You do have 180 liters at home. If you'd just look at their future adult size, the number of fish you've got right now will be just fine. But you've got some livebearers in there that will reproduce offspring. But with the angels, the number of those offspring will be in control by the angels.
Some bottom fish like cories would be a nice addition.

Thanks

Some assumptions by me, I'm assuming most cory catfish grow to about same size up to about 2inch? And would be best in a group of about 6 i presume? and since you have mentioned them as an addition to my current stock i guess this will keep my stocking at a manageable level without threat of over stocking. If the Angels don't control the live bearers then my LFS will get asked to help me with any excess as i don't want over run by them but if i have some that survive i can rotate out the older ones etc.

 

[I Like Rare Fish]

I would say you could step up your water change game to every week and do a 40%