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[ChaosLogan]

Hello all

I currently have two tanks, one 30 gallon and one approximately 28 gallon. The 28 gallon is not being used right now but I am planning to set it up. I currently have in my 30 gallon tank

1 leopard pleco
1 albino rainbow shark
2 Neon Tetras
4 black Neon tetras
4 Parisatia (?) tetras

Now I have these fish because I read / was told that they are all low maintanence hardy fish, and they have survived beautifully for almost a year now. But I want Bala sharks and they don't mix well with Tetras.

Also I have no live plants in my tank. I never thought about them before. However I do have a good amount of plastic plants and some rock formations for the fish to hide in.

Now my questions.

1. Is it better to leave the fish where they are and put the bala's in the unused tank or would the bala's take better to the bigger tank ( i know it's only 2 gallons).

2. Is there a benefit to having live plants in your tank? If so what is it?

Thank you

ChaosLogan

 

[ChaosLogan]

by quite large do you mean you need a longish tank?

My 28 gallon is about 3ft long and 1.25ft tall. It is a kind of weird dimension but would that be enough room for them to live in. Or do they need a taller tank?

 

[gadazobe]

They need the length more than the height. How many did you want to get?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I don't think your tanks are big enough for bala sharks, but then I think there are very few tanks that are. Although I am not sure if it is 30UK or US galls, I think either is too small by about 120UK galls! I would never keep the in mine, not just because of how big they get but how fast they are.

They get up to 12" and I have seen bigger. They like to school. To make it worse they like to swim far and fast and whenever I see them they are belting up and down the tank, big ones would barely have room to turn around.

I looked at:

http/www.petfish.net/bala.htm
http/aquadex.info/fish/Balantiocheilos_m...elanopterus.cfm
http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di...=21&pCatId=1177
http/badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile21.html

There is loads of info on them, but it is generally saying the same thing.

 

[ChaosLogan]

Well I knew that they were schooling fish (shoaling as someone pointed out), so i thought 3 would be good. But if the tanks I have are still too small then that won't do.

By the way, it is US gallons.

So then my other question on the plants, is there a benefit to the fishes or no?

Thanks for your replies.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I think that plants are very beneficial for fishes. I think they reduce nitrItes or 'trAtes There are also the oxygenating ones.

It also makes the tank more natural and gives them somewhere to hide. And to top it off, they look bloody good!!

If your tank is 30 US that is 25UK, there is no way that is big enough for bala(s) I'm afraid.

 

[smileandnod]

I have just had to buy a new tank for my Balas. I'm up to 5 feet now just over 100 US gallons, and I've only had them two years or so!! This is my third tank since getting them.

They like some depth as well as length, and they will make use of as much water as you can give them. However, as far as I understand, the fast swimming thing is usually a sign of insecurity. Watch them in a *very* large water space, and they are quite serene and calm. You also need at least 5 to keep them happy.

Oh, and a lot of people say they are easy to keep, but they are very sensitive to water quality. And they can be nervous too.

It is acceptable to keep them in a three foot tank until they get to about 2.5 inches, at which point you will need to start buying bigger and bigger tanks.

Clown loaches can also get very big, twelve inches or more, but they don't grow so quickly.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Ian.

 

[ChaosLogan]

Then what other types of fish would you suggest for the 30 gal. I like how tetras look but 10 in the 30 gallon is almost a waste of the space. What other fish would you suggest that could go well with them or even in the 28 gal?

Oh, would my local fish store be able to give me quality info on how to add plants or is that something that I definitely need to read up on?

Thanks again

P.S. I am Scottish too.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi ChaosLogan

There is another advantage to having plants in your tank.

The beneficial bacteria that convert the fish's waste products cling to all the surfaces of your aquarium including the filter media and gravel By adding plants, you are providing more surfaces for them to grow on.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Well hello there fellow Scot!

If you got more neons that would be cool. Or if you like how neons look, you might like cardinals. I only have 4 of them in my biggest tank but they make a big impression and they are bigger than neons. Mine are over an inch.

You can see about them here - http/freshaquarium.about.com/cs/characin...rdinaltetra.htm

Hmmm or what about corys? Get a few of them and they are interesting wee guys.

I don't really know what to recommend as I don't know what you are after. I like weird and colourful fish, especially catfish and loaches but you may be totally different.

What are you looking for in your fish?

 

[ChaosLogan]

Weird and colorful sounds nice. That's partly why I got an Albino rainbow shark and the neon tetras. Even my pleco isn't the basic brown run of the mill type, though not too uncommon. I just liked how the balas moved across the tank. Maybe I am looking for a fish that will kind of be a mid to upper level swimmer. Schooling or single fish are okay by me. I will check out your last link and read up. Thank you for your suggestions.

Oh, and I will definitely look into the live plants. When vacuuming your tank, will that disrupt their roots and hurt them?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Hmmm

I am not sure. Are there small species of rainbowfish? *has a look*

Well, these ones get to about 3" and so would be ok I think - http/www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfact...sh/mtrifasc.htm

I like these I have ordered 2 of them for my tank, arriving on Friday.

There are also madagascan rainbowfish which look nice - http/www.aquazoo.co.uk/page.cfm/Type=Fish/ID=231

I like the way rainbow fish move through the water.

What kind is your plec? I have got an L134 (Leopard Frog) ad I hand fed him today!! He never comes out as he is usually strictly nocturnal but was getting more confident when I moved him into the bigger tank, and then he went shy, but I think he is getting better again. In fact I can see him now! There's a pic of my tank here - http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?sh...showtopic=23199

I am getting another plec on Friday as well, it's either a L052 (butterfly plec) or a L066 (King tiger). It depends whether they get the L052 in time for my new fish being sent. I order my fish mail order so I can get some stranger one, pets at home is not very good for anything beyond the 'bread and butter' fish.

Sorry for going off track! LOL

Back to fish for you...

Do you like catfish or loaches? I think that they can add something a little different to an aquarium. Try having a look at http/www.loaches.com and http/www.planetcatfish.com That's where I found lots of fish when I couldn't think what to add to the tank.

I hope this post wasn't too much of a ramble and helps you, even just a little!!

 

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