New Tank Set Up

[rfisher]

Hello All,

Here is a run down of my set up.

Fluval Tank 126 litres 27.5 UK gallons,
Fluval 3 filter underwater filter system,
I have 2 air stones to give two Air bubble columns at either end of the tank,
A Tronic 150 Watt heater set to 24°c, which according to the two thermometers I have one Liquid Crystal on the outdside of the tank and a submersible thermometer are spot on,
Two light tubes one for general Light and the other to promote the Highlights of the fish and to promote Plant growth. They were supplied with the tank.
9 Live plants, 3 at the back, 3 in the middle and 3 at the front. All staggered and not bunched up.

I have been fishless cycling for just under four weeks now and the results I have got tonight are as follows

P.H is 7.4,
Ammonia is 0.25 ppm,
Nitrite is 0.25 ppm,
Nitrate is 40.

I have set the tank up so that one end is slightly more dense with plants than the other, rather than just put everything in in a nice symetrical pattern like most tanks I have seen. I don't have any ornament's yet as I have not decided on a theme for the tank, although I am quite happy with just the plants at the moment.

I know that I have a little way to go yet, with regards to the water chemistry, but I was thinking of putting the following fish into the tank when it is ready.

3 x Kuhli Loach,
5 x Neon Tetra,
2 x Golden Apple Snails ,
5 x Black Tetra

I dont think that I will run into overcrowding problems with this mix. Unless I have completely messed up the Calculations for Fish per Inch.

Is this mix of fish O.K are am I just asking for trouble, I was going to put the Neon Tetra in first and then add the remaining fish over a few weeks providing that nothing drastic happens to the water chemistry.

Any advice on my set up or my ideas would be greatly appreciated. Please be frank with your comments or suggestions as it is the only way I will learn.

Thanks for your time.

Richard

 

[Themuleous]

Glad to hear about the fishless cycle the fish stock sounds good, dont know much about kuhli's (think them might get quite big?) but the others should be fine. Even though you've done a cycle I would add them slowly over a couple of weeks, just to be on the safe side.

Sam

 

[dwarfgourami]

Kuhlies are quite all right; they don't grow big and have a very small body mass in relation to their length. Lovely fish. I would not add slowly over a couple of weeks after fishless - that way your bacteria will die down. What I would do would be to add the kuhlies and the black tetras and the snail in one go, then wait 3 months before adding the neons. Too early on Sunday morning for me to do maths, but I have a feeling that this tank will be very lightly stocked and that you could have room for something else as well. Maybe a few more of each species?

 

[djloach]

3 x Kuhli Loach,
5 x Neon Tetra,
2 x Golden Apple Snails ,
5 x Black Tetra

You should be OK with those fish although I am not sure the Kuhli loaches are compatable with the snails. I think they might eat snails like many other loaches. I might also recommend you get another Kuhli or two. I don't have Kuhli's but from what I have read the more the better. If you have too few they will just hide out and you will never see them.

 

[PaulEbs]

neon's are a beautiful fish to have, although i would recommend more than 5, a shoal of 10 would be perfect, and look absolutely fantastic when in a big group.

As dwarfgourami states, the neons should really go in last.

 

[rfisher]

Thanks for all the replies. They were all really helpful. Glad I wasnt too far off the mark. Once again thanks.