Setting Up New 6Ft Tank

[homefree28]

Hi All,
I'm a new member on this site, and this is my first post.
I am setting up a new 6ft tank and am currently cycling it and getting ready to move my current fish from the 2.5ft tank to the 6ft.
There are so many fish to choose from to populate my tank, and I want to make sure I do it right.
So far I have:
1 x Balloon Molly
2 x Yellow Dwarf Gourami
4 x Silver Sharks
1 x 3 Spot Gourami
1 x Dwarf Gourami (blue/red striped)
2 x Clown Loach
2 x Pictus Catfish
(hence the reason for my new tank). These guys need more room to roam.

My new tank is freshwater tropical, and with the current fish is at 25C.

I was thinking of getting a couple of schools of Danios (Zebras & Glowlights x 10 ea) as the schooling fish, 6 glass catfish, 2 additional clown loach and 1 more pictus (a friend needs a home for hers).

Can anyone advise if this new tank set up will be suitable? I'm fairly new to the aquarium game (got my first tank at Christmas and LOVE it) so want to make sure I do it right and all my fish friends are happy.

Any suggestions on tank mates, plant life, hidey holes etc would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Homefree28

 

[justin85]

Welcome to the forum.

Will you be puting rocks or bog wood in your tank? also are you puting plants ?

Glass cat fish are lovely fish, but verry shy and will need cover to feel safe and be active.

 

[KittyKat]

I am setting up a new 6ft tank and am currently cycling it and getting ready to move my current fish from the 2.5ft tank to the 6ft.

Great, it's definitely a step up from a 2.5 ft. Why did you decide to properly cycle instead of moving over the filter media into the new filter?

There are so many fish to choose from to populate my tank, and I want to make sure I do it right.

That's what we like to hear

Ouch, ouch, ouch! I'll go through them one by one for you…

* 1 molly - apart from balloon mollies being one of the more warped fish, they are also social fish, so benefit from others of their own kind; I generally recommend 5+ fish of one sex, unless you want to breed them, in which case at least 2 females per male; might be "too fragile" to mix with some of the other stock; hardwater fish
* 3 dwarf gourami - really need good quality water; are they 1m 2f?; neutral water fish
* 4 bala (silver) sharks - schooling, keep 6+, and ideally 10+; 6 ft tank is not big enough, I've seen them stunted in a much larger tank (ca. 8*3*4 ft), not compatible with the smaller fish, really; soft-neutral water fish
* 1 three spot gourami - I really don't like keeping fish on their own unless they're solitary, not very nice for them; a 6 ft tank will take up to 1-2m 3-5f; neutral water fish
* 2 clown loach - schooling fish, keep in groups of at least 6+, and ideally 10+; sometimes don't take to late introductions, so add new fish *when* moving to new tank; should have lots of caves; ideally should have an over 6 ft tank, but a 6 ft is a good start as they're slow growers; soft-neutral water fish
* 2 pictus catfish - eat small fish like balloon mollies and dwarf gouramis; shoaling species, keep 6+; bothers slow fish at night (clown loaches and gouramis) so not really compatible with them

In other words, I would actually leave the molly and the dwarf gouramis in the 2.5 ft tank and move the rest up, with a view to finding the pictus (or the three spot gourami and the clown loaches) a new home. Some of the fish you have there will live for a very long time, so you're really looking at having the tank with the same stock for 20-25+ years, unless you will be willing to part with them.

I was thinking of getting a couple of schools of Danios (Zebras & Glowlights x 10 ea) as the schooling fish, 6 glass catfish, 2 additional clown loach and 1 more pictus (a friend needs a home for hers).

Danios will become pictus dinner, glass cats are not suitable for a tank which is that active (they will hide and die), the clowns and pictus need to be in larger groups still.

Schooling and shoaling species (like danios, tetras, barbs, rasboras, loaches, corys, etc.) must be kept in groups of at least 6 and ideally in groups of 10-15+. There are even some species which in practice should only be kept in groups of 10+. This is because in the wild, they live in groups of a few hundres to tens of thousands, and without these groups, they do not have the confidence that they need, and sometimes they even end up behaving quite oddly compared to how they should.

Come back to us with your thoughts on the above and we can work on a stocking list. Also, what are the other two dimensions of the new tank? For the moment, I am thinking something along the lines of:
* 2m 4f Trichopodus trichopterus of various colours
* 10-15 clown loaches
* 25 larger schooling fish of one species (danios, barbs, rasboras or similar)

 

[homefree28]

I am setting up a new 6ft tank and am currently cycling it and getting ready to move my current fish from the 2.5ft tank to the 6ft.

Great, it's definitely a step up from a 2.5 ft. Why did you decide to properly cycle instead of moving over the filter media into the new filter?

There are so many fish to choose from to populate my tank, and I want to make sure I do it right.

That's what we like to hear

Ouch, ouch, ouch! I'll go through them one by one for you…

* 1 molly - apart from balloon mollies being one of the more warped fish, they are also social fish, so benefit from others of their own kind; I generally recommend 5+ fish of one sex, unless you want to breed them, in which case at least 2 females per male; might be "too fragile" to mix with some of the other stock; hardwater fish
* 3 dwarf gourami - really need good quality water; are they 1m 2f?; neutral water fish
* 4 bala (silver) sharks - schooling, keep 6+, and ideally 10+; 6 ft tank is not big enough, I've seen them stunted in a much larger tank (ca. 8*3*4 ft), not compatible with the smaller fish, really; soft-neutral water fish
* 1 three spot gourami - I really don't like keeping fish on their own unless they're solitary, not very nice for them; a 6 ft tank will take up to 1-2m 3-5f; neutral water fish
* 2 clown loach - schooling fish, keep in groups of at least 6+, and ideally 10+; sometimes don't take to late introductions, so add new fish *when* moving to new tank; should have lots of caves; ideally should have an over 6 ft tank, but a 6 ft is a good start as they're slow growers; soft-neutral water fish
* 2 pictus catfish - eat small fish like balloon mollies and dwarf gouramis; shoaling species, keep 6+; bothers slow fish at night (clown loaches and gouramis) so not really compatible with them

In other words, I would actually leave the molly and the dwarf gouramis in the 2.5 ft tank and move the rest up, with a view to finding the pictus (or the three spot gourami and the clown loaches) a new home. Some of the fish you have there will live for a very long time, so you're really looking at having the tank with the same stock for 20-25+ years, unless you will be willing to part with them.

I was thinking of getting a couple of schools of Danios (Zebras & Glowlights x 10 ea) as the schooling fish, 6 glass catfish, 2 additional clown loach and 1 more pictus (a friend needs a home for hers).

Danios will become pictus dinner, glass cats are not suitable for a tank which is that active (they will hide and die), the clowns and pictus need to be in larger groups still.

Schooling and shoaling species (like danios, tetras, barbs, rasboras, loaches, corys, etc.) must be kept in groups of at least 6 and ideally in groups of 10-15+. There are even some species which in practice should only be kept in groups of 10+. This is because in the wild, they live in groups of a few hundres to tens of thousands, and without these groups, they do not have the confidence that they need, and sometimes they even end up behaving quite oddly compared to how they should.

Come back to us with your thoughts on the above and we can work on a stocking list. Also, what are the other two dimensions of the new tank? For the moment, I am thinking something along the lines of:
* 2m 4f Trichopodus trichopterus of various colours
* 10-15 clown loaches
* 25 larger schooling fish of one species (danios, barbs, rasboras or similar)

 

[homefree28]

Wow - thanks so much for the replies. So much to think about.
Firstly, when we purchased our first lot of fish, the sales person obviously sold us fish which were not going to be compatible together (or alone) and wouldn't last long in the tank we got (being the 2.5ft). It's a shame I didn't do the research properly in the first place.

My new tank is 6'x 2.5'x 1.6'
I have also used filter media from my current tank (when I cleaned filter on weekend and did a water change) into the new tank, but wasn't sure if it was then suitable to add the fish - better to be safe than sorry.

I am quite partial to all my fish, and don't wish to part with any of them. They have become part of the family. However, if they are not happy or will struggle in either tank, i will try to find new homes for them. I will not euthanize them just to make my tank 'pretty' though.

At the moment my pictus are only 2" and I believe they should grow to about 6" (is this right?). My balloon molly is about 1" and definitely doesn't fit in the pictus mouth now, and they don't seem to bother each other at the moment. Actually, my tank is quite peaceful at the moment even with one silver shark being about 4" in size.

I was considering adding to the 2 main Gourami's I have - being the 2 spot (about 5") and the dwarf red/blue (about 3"). I'd be happy with additions of those (will have to find a good stockist who can determine male/female). I think my 2 spot is female and my dwarf is male as he's quite pretty.

I took some water to an aquarium place the other day and was very happy to hear that my tank was one of the cleanest he had seen in years. I do a partial water change every week and a gravel clean. I love looking after my fish, so don't have a problem with water quality in keeping healthy gourami.

Thanks for the tip about the clown loach and moving them and introducing new fish at the same time. That I can do!

OH, and I'll also be putting in plenty of drift wood, caves, hidey holes (we have 6 car wrecks for hiding spots), silk/plastic plants etc.

Wow - can't believe how much there is to think about, but am so thankful that I have additional help from you both. I am definitley willing to listen and learn as I want a happy/peaceful aquarium where everyone is happy.

I think I've answered the questions, but if I haven't please ask again. I haven't learned how to use this forum properly, so I'm sure I'll go through a few teething issues (please bear with me).

Thanks again,
Homefree28

Welcome to the forum.

Will you be puting rocks or bog wood in your tank? also are you puting plants ?

Glass cat fish are lovely fish, but verry shy and will need cover to feel safe and be active.

Hi Justin,
Yes, I will be putting in rocks, car wrecks (good hiding places), driftwood, caves, plastic/silk plants etc. There will be plenty of hiding spots and cover.
Perhaps the Glass Catfish aren't for my tank. They might be too shy and I don't want them to feel unsafe. Plus, I'm learning more about the Pictus and am not sure the Glass Catfish will survive long with their reputation.

 

[justin85]

Glass cat fish are not hard to keep as long as there kept in numbers 6 or above and there is hiding places for them, most the time they will be in hiding as they are nocturnal fish but they do come out and look stunning.

 

[KittyKat]

Firstly, when we purchased our first lot of fish, the sales person obviously sold us fish which were not going to be compatible together (or alone) and wouldn't last long in the tank we got (being the 2.5ft). It's a shame I didn't do the research properly in the first place.

Naturally, but the more important part of that is that you do realise what the mistakes were and will not make them again.

My new tank is 6'x 2.5'x 1.6'
I have also used filter media from my current tank (when I cleaned filter on weekend and did a water change) into the new tank, but wasn't sure if it was then suitable to add the fish - better to be safe than sorry.

If you move *all* the old media into the new filter, or move the old filter into the new tank, then you can move the fish immediately (if the water parameters are different, drip acclimatise them). If you moved only part of the filter media, then you seeded the new filter.
Is that 2.5 front to back (deep) or tall? If it's the depth, then the tank will last quite a bit longer for the sharks and loaches than it would have otherwise done.

I am quite partial to all my fish, and don't wish to part with any of them. They have become part of the family. However, if they are not happy or will struggle in either tank, i will try to find new homes for them. I will not euthanize them just to make my tank 'pretty' though.

Extremely few people kill off fish that they do not want, these people really are in the minority. Most will find the fish new homes with other hobbyists and some will take the fish back to the LFS (which is not the best idea, because anyone can walk in and buy them for an inappropriate tank).

At the moment my pictus are only 2" and I believe they should grow to about 6" (is this right?). My balloon molly is about 1" and definitely doesn't fit in the pictus mouth now, and they don't seem to bother each other at the moment. Actually, my tank is quite peaceful at the moment even with one silver shark being about 4" in size.

5" SL (standard length), which would be about 6" TL (total length). The molly will grow to at least 2", and possibly slightly larger, but the pictus are really nasty buggers once they grow up.

I was considering adding to the 2 main Gourami's I have - being the 2 spot (about 5") and the dwarf red/blue (about 3"). I'd be happy with additions of those (will have to find a good stockist who can determine male/female). I think my 2 spot is female and my dwarf is male as he's quite pretty.

No, you don't need to find someone who can sex them *you* have to learn how to sex them. You should never rely on anyone to sex your fish for you because sellers are quite likely to take wild guesses or just make up the sex however it pleases them.. or really make genuine mixtakes. In the best case, you'll be able to discuss the sex of the fish with a knowledgeable seller; in the worst case, you'll be able to sex the fish on your own.

Gouramis are territorial and relatively aggressive, so the smaller tank will not take any more dwarfs, but they will not do as well in the bigger tank in the long term. Also, it is a good idea to start learning the scientific names because that is the best way to identify the species.

I took some water to an aquarium place the other day and was very happy to hear that my tank was one of the cleanest he had seen in years. I do a partial water change every week and a gravel clean. I love looking after my fish, so don't have a problem with water quality in keeping healthy gourami.

If you don't have a test kit set, get one. Liquid test kits are the only ones worth using, and the most useful ones are (in that order): ammonia, nitrite, KH, GH, pH and nitrate.

Thanks for the tip about the clown loach and moving them and introducing new fish at the same time. That I can do!

That pretty much applies to all fish like that (including adult gouramis), as they can be a bit territorial with unknown individiuals.

 

[KittyKat]

Glass cat fish are not hard to keep as long as there kept in numbers 6 or above and there is hiding places for them, most the time they will be in hiding as they are nocturnal fish but they do come out and look stunning.

Glass catfish (Kryptopterus minor, K. macrocephalus and Ompok eugeneiatus) are all diurnal, not nocturnal. They will be hiding most of the time because the tank is too exposed, too bright or because the tankmates are too active.