New Tank - Inhabitants And Stocking Questions

[Paula2]

Hi all

We've just set up our new 75g tank, and still getting fish... Have spoken to our lfs but thought I'd run our fish list (current and wishlist) past everyone for any comments/thoughts..

Set up: 75g, 25oC, pH 7.6, GH 6, Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5.

2 x Fluval 305 filters and a 2ft airstone.

Tank was set up and running for nearly four weeks before first fish (danios) were added, we've added a couple every week since then.

Currently we have:

11 Zebra danios
23 Neon tetras
Pair Blue rams
1 Bristlenose catfish
1 Butterfly pleco L168
4 Corydoras trilineatus
6 Kuhli loaches (I swear they're in there somewhere!)

Plan is to get a few more corys to add to the group, a pair of Bolivian Butterfly cichlids, a borneo sucker and a small school (5-6) of Boeseman's Rainbowfish.

Any comments? Our lfs said that with out set up that the stocking levels would be fine, but I don't want to have too many in there..

Thanks in advance

cheers
Paula

 

[Xebadir]

That should be fine, though watch for agression/interactions by the ram pair with the butterfly cichlids. Good thinking to increase the cory school. Remember to stick fairly closely to the 1 inch per gallon rule to maintain safer stocking levels. Your LFS seems to have come through with ok advice: Also its important to watch the space at various levels of the tank: if your bottom seems to clogged with fish for them to act normally then perhaps youve overstocked it: same with the middle and top level. Nice work on slowly adding the fish to prevent spiking much safer than a mass drop. pH from memory sounds a bit high for these species, is that whats coming out of your tap or are you buffering it?
Hope this helps.

 

[Captain Retardo]

You said you can't see your kuhli loaches. did you just get them recently? If not, give them more hiding spots, the more hiding spots they have the more they will come out into the open!

 

[Paula2]

Thanks!

That's our tap water pH, I didn't want to fiddle with chemicals if I could avoid it. I have read that I could add peat to the filter to lower the pH? Is that recommended? Would it affect the hardness as well?

At the moment the danios and tetras are absolutely everywhere in the tank - top, middle and bottom! It's a 6ft tank and we have driftwood piles/terracotta logs etc at both ends, and it's lightly planted with anubias, java fern, java moss and a few extras.. would the rams and bolivian butterflies take an end of the tank each each or get in each others way? The rams are currently pottering around all over the place.

If the bottom will get too crowded, we were going to get the extra corys but leave the borneo sucker out, but there seems to be enough room to keep everyone happy. The bristlenose and L168 went in together and have sorted out their spaces.. The danios are zooming around the place, and the tetras are hanging out here or there, so hoping there'd be enough room for the rainbows as we saw some in the display tank at the lfs and they look great

There were some other fish we wanted to get but didn't think they'd suit, so we have a 40g tank waiting in the back room for some phantom glass catfish, gourami.... also??? ... a quieter tank..

The loaches are new - I saw one last night, and I've seen a few hanging out in a little ball of java moss that I pushed in between some driftwood roots... There are two piles of mangrove roots in there, plus some extra pieces of clay pipe/tubing.. the bristlenose has taken over a pipe, the other pleco is hanging out in a driftwood tunnel, and the loaches seem to be in the roots at the back of the tank

Hopefully they'll come out a bit more, they're cute little fellas!

 

[Captain Retardo]

Your pH is perfectly fine, don't make any changes to it. Although it is just a little bit high for the German Blue's, but still, do not make any changes to the pH, It will probably create just more problems...But a pH of 7.6 is exactly on the mark for the Bolivian Rams that you will get. BTW- My pH is 7.6 too...

The loaches will usually take a week, maybe 2 to come out, but after that they are out in the open during daylight, they are so awesome!

Your Kuhli's and Cories will probably be your favorite fish in your tank!!! Atleast they were for me! They are the best!

 

[Paula2]

Cool!! Thanks