New to the hobby and have some stocking questions.

[cparker]

Hi all, I'm new to the fish keeping hobby and have started out with a 66 gallon tank. I'm letting it cycle now but have some questions about stocking it. I'm confused about how many fish I can keep in it. Here are some fish I really like and was hoping to house inside, can someone let me know if this would be overstocked?

1 Black Angelfish
2 Blue Gouramis
1 Bristlenose Pleco
1 Koi Angelfish
1 Marble Angelfish
1 Blue Acara
Maybe a very small type of freshwater eel

Thanks!

 

[jaylach]

First your choice of fish, on a quick search, seem to have similar water PH ranges so that is a good start although the eel would be in question without knowing the species.

As to overstocking I don't know the mature size of the desired fish except that Blue Gouramis get to 5-6 inches. You never look at the size when you get them; you always look for the mature size. Still, unless other fish get big, I don't think that you have an overstocking issue except that male Blue Gouramis can be territorial and could possibly be an issue with angels. Also angels could possibly be an issue as to 'nipping' with the Blue Gouramis.

Anyway I'm pretty old school and thee is an old 'rule of thumb' as to stocking. Of course there are exceptions but the old general rule of thumb was one inch of mature fish per one gallon of water.

I'm sure that others will respond as to possible details between your wanted fish species.

 

[Colin_T]

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

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 (Water Analysis Report) 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).

Depending on what the GH of your water is, will determine what fish you should keep.

Angelfish, discus, most tetras, most 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.

If you have very hard water (GH above 300ppm) then look at African Rift Lake cichlids, or use distilled or reverse osmosis water to reduce the GH and keep fishes from softer water.

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

Blue gouramis are aggressive when mature and can cause problems to angelfish.

Angels are better off on their own or in a group of 6 or more. Having 3 angels can be an issue if 2 pair off. Tank space is the limiting factor when keeping angelfish, they need a tank that is at least 4 foot long.

 

[Lcc86]

As Colin says, check your water hardness and other parameters, it is much easier to go for fish that fit those parameters naturally than to try and change the water parameters to fit the fish you want, as you'll constantly be chasing the perfect parameters and it becomes very tedious.

I don't keep any of the fish you've listed but love the look of acaras, if your water parameters fit their needs I'd go for a group of those and forego the angels altogether as they get really big, but that's just personal taste.

 

[10 Tanks]

Hello c. If you're starting up your first tank, then you've made a huge step forward by getting a larger one. Good for you. The bigger the tank, the better your chances of success. You'll also want to start with a very hardy fish species and not one that has demanding requirements for keeping them. I'd suggest you research the easiest fish to keep and have them for some time before you graduate to the more demanding kind.

10

 

[cparker]

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

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 (Water Analysis Report) 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).

Depending on what the GH of your water is, will determine what fish you should keep.

Angelfish, discus, most tetras, most 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.

If you have very hard water (GH above 300ppm) then look at African Rift Lake cichlids, or use distilled or reverse osmosis water to reduce the GH and keep fishes from softer water.

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

Blue gouramis are aggressive when mature and can cause problems to angelfish.

Angels are better off on their own or in a group of 6 or more. Having 3 angels can be an issue if 2 pair off. Tank space is the limiting factor when keeping angelfish, they need a tank that is at least 4 foot long.

Thank you very much! I'll call my water company to get the specifics. The tank is 4 feet long, 16 inches wide and 24 inches tall.

 

[cparker]

First your choice of fish, on a quick search, seem to have similar water PH ranges so that is a good start although the eel would be in question without knowing the species.

As to overstocking I don't know the mature size of the desired fish except that Blue Gouramis get to 5-6 inches. You never look at the size when you get them; you always look for the mature size. Still, unless other fish get big, I don't think that you have an overstocking issue except that male Blue Gouramis can be territorial and could possibly be an issue with angels. Also angels could possibly be an issue as to 'nipping' with the Blue Gouramis.

Anyway I'm pretty old school and thee is an old 'rule of thumb' as to stocking. Of course there are exceptions but the old general rule of thumb was one inch of mature fish per one gallon of water.

I'm sure that others will respond as to possible details between your wanted fish species.

I was thinking either a peacock eel or a half banded spiny eel.

 

[cparker]

Hello c. If you're starting up your first tank, then you've made a huge step forward by getting a larger one. Good for you. The bigger the tank, the better your chances of success. You'll also want to start with a very hardy fish species and not one that has demanding requirements for keeping them. I'd suggest you research the easiest fish to keep and have them for some time before you graduate to the more demanding kind.

10

Thanks, I went with a large tank because I read they were easier than a smaller one, which was surprising to me.

 

[jaylach]

Thanks, I went with a large tank because I read they were easier than a smaller one, which was surprising to me.

Surprised or not it is true as in a larger tank being easier to maintain. It is just a simple fact that, of course, a larger tank holds a larger volume of water. The larger the amount of water means that it takes more to mess things up.

Just as a bit of advice from an 'old timer' never ever forget to condition the new water when doing water changes to remove chlorine! Also NEVER use Stress Coat as the conditioner as it contains free aloe which, over time, will adversely affect the gills on your fish.

LOL! I'd recommend under gravel filtration but I'd likely be tared and feathered and then run out of town on a rail. Still, it is the filtration method that I still use as it has some benefits that other forms of filtration, in my opinion, lack. While it is the filtration system that has the largest area of filter media, as the entire substrate is the filter, don't even consider if you are planning on doing a sand substrate.