Stocking A 125 Litre

[NeonTetra97]

Hi everyone,
 
I am looking at stocking a 125L with mostly tetras, I wondered how many would be a suitable number? I have seen so many conflicting suggestions ranging from 30 to 10 neon tetra sized fish. I currently have 3 BN plecos, and 5 Cardinals. My plan would be to slowly increase the number of cardinals to 10, then later add in another variant of tetra. Most likely rummy nose or ember. I am unsure if this would be sensible stocking levels? Or if I might even have room for a couple more fish after this?
 
Any advice would be great

 

[bigcheed]

my current stocking for my roma 125l is as follows.
8 cardinals
6 black phantoms
5 embers
1 pair german blue rams
1 bn plec
plus various snails and a colony of amano shrimp.
i am however getting rid of the black phantoms as i am re homing my endlers from another tank into this one. they are free of charge to anyone who wants them by the way. im in the northwest. wigan area pick up only.

 

[NeonTetra97]

my current stocking for my roma 125l is as follows.
8 cardinals
6 black phantoms
5 embers
1 pair german blue rams
1 bn plec
plus various snails and a colony of amano shrimp.
i am however getting rid of the black phantoms as i am re homing my endlers from another tank into this one. they are free of charge to anyone who wants them by the way. im in the northwest. wigan area pick up only.

Exactly the tank I've got, and that list is very inspiring! I don't know why but I have always admired german blues but never considered them for my set up until now! And the black phantoms look brilliant to. Being a fan of tetras the embers are high on my list but now I have so much more to consider, thanks for the ideas bigcheed! Oh, and how do you find caring for the german blue rams in comparison to say the cardinals? Do they require any specific care? 

 

[NeonTetra97]

And I forgot to ask but are the rams male and female or a single sex pair?

 

[Byron]

The number of fish any aquarium will safely accommodate depends upon several factors, many of which are frequently forgotten or more likely not even recognized.  Obviously the size of the fish and the number is important, but so is the species particularly when you begin adding more than a single species.  The environment is a major issue, meaning the water parameters (fish react to these in varying ways), the aquascape (many fish need this or that), and of course their behaviours (active swimmers, sedate fish, fish likely to nip, territorial fish, etc).  When fish with differing needs/parameters/environment are combined, there is a greater impact biologically.
 
Considering the tank size and your present fish, I would suggest staying with sedate fish to match the existing.  More cardinals is good.  Rummys are a good tetra, though I would like to see them in a longer tank--I assume the Roma 125 is 80cm (31 inches) and this is not much length; rummys are more active swimmers and will be happier with more length to swim.  Ember are fine, and a group of 12 would still allow you another shoaling fish.  I don't know your water parameters, but if on the soft side you have the option of hatchetfish (the Carnegiella species like the marble are quieter) and pencilfish (some would be ideal, others less).  There are other quiet tetra that remain on the small side, like the Loreto.  Another thing to keep in mind when considering fish is the level in the aquarium that they tend to inhabit.  Cardinals are mid to lower level fish.  Finding some higher level species (one reason I mentioned the hatchets, and pencils which tend to be such) will make things more interesting.
 
Some corys perhaps for the substrate area; no issue here with the BN.  By the way, male BN are territorial so provide lots and lots of chunks of wood to break up the space.  The wood will benefit the other fish being considered too.  As will dried leaves.
 
I'll leave it for Chris to respond about the rams, except to say that you really wouldn't want two males in this small a space; a pair being bonded male/female would work, or you could look at the similar Bolivian Ram which as a solitary fish makes an ideal community tank citizen.
 
Byron.

 

[bigcheed]

my german rams are male and female pair. i havnt had any problems with them at all. my water ph is 7.2. seems to work well and my fish seem more than happy. ive even caught my cardinals spawning more than once when the lights go out. my rams have spawned a couple of times but they seem to get bothered by the black phantoms and end up eating the eggs. thats one of the reasons im changing them for smaller fish. the phantoms can be a bit bullish. they dont fin nip but they do make there presence felt.

 

[NeonTetra97]

The number of fish any aquarium will safely accommodate depends upon several factors, many of which are frequently forgotten or more likely not even recognized.  Obviously the size of the fish and the number is important, but so is the species particularly when you begin adding more than a single species.  The environment is a major issue, meaning the water parameters (fish react to these in varying ways), the aquascape (many fish need this or that), and of course their behaviours (active swimmers, sedate fish, fish likely to nip, territorial fish, etc).  When fish with differing needs/parameters/environment are combined, there is a greater impact biologically.
 
Considering the tank size and your present fish, I would suggest staying with sedate fish to match the existing.  More cardinals is good.  Rummys are a good tetra, though I would like to see them in a longer tank--I assume the Roma 125 is 80cm (31 inches) and this is not much length; rummys are more active swimmers and will be happier with more length to swim.  Ember are fine, and a group of 12 would still allow you another shoaling fish.  I don't know your water parameters, but if on the soft side you have the option of hatchetfish (the Carnegiella species like the marble are quieter) and pencilfish (some would be ideal, others less).  There are other quiet tetra that remain on the small side, like the Loreto.  Another thing to keep in mind when considering fish is the level in the aquarium that they tend to inhabit.  Cardinals are mid to lower level fish.  Finding some higher level species (one reason I mentioned the hatchets, and pencils which tend to be such) will make things more interesting.
 
Some corys perhaps for the substrate area; no issue here with the BN.  By the way, male BN are territorial so provide lots and lots of chunks of wood to break up the space.  The wood will benefit the other fish being considered too.  As will dried leaves.
 
I'll leave it for Chris to respond about the rams, except to say that you really wouldn't want two males in this small a space; a pair being bonded male/female would work, or you could look at the similar Bolivian Ram which as a solitary fish makes an ideal community tank citizen.
 
Byron.

 
Hi Byron, I really like the idea of some higher level swimmers, and the Loreto tetras look really nice. Hopefully one of my lfs stocks them. I have paid particular attention to the BNs and have provided separate pieces of driftwood for them and they seem really happy so far. The marble hatchetfish and pencil fish look really interesting! Thanks so much for a very detailed response, it has given me a lot of much appreciated information  
 

my german rams are male and female pair. i havnt had any problems with them at all. my water ph is 7.2. seems to work well and my fish seem more than happy. ive even caught my cardinals spawning more than once when the lights go out. my rams have spawned a couple of times but they seem to get bothered by the black phantoms and end up eating the eggs. thats one of the reasons im changing them for smaller fish. the phantoms can be a bit bullish. they dont fin nip but they do make there presence felt.

 
Ahh okay so looks like a male female par would be better suited for me, interesting to hear about the Cardinals, I will have to look into this as I might have just never recognised that behaviour. Also very interesting to hear about the phantoms, as I liked the look of them but will reconsider now that you have mentioned this.
 
So it looks like I will be getting a pair of German Blues, and probably Loreto or Ember tetras and I will do some reading around the hatchetfish and pencil fish. I won't be buying any for a little while though as I want to get the environment just right and will be planting some taller plants to both improve the look of my tank and provide some cover for the rams when I get them. And when I do my weekly water change I will post some test results and make sure they will fit any future inhabitants.
 
Thanks again for all the help

 

[Byron]

On the blue ram pair.  You will have more success if they select themselves.  To do this, stand (or sit) in front of the store tank for several minutes, 15+, and don't move.  Observe the fish behaviour.  It will be easy to spot the more dominant males, they will be continually challenging each other.  The females tend to be more interested in picking at the substrate for food or something.  When you spot the male you like, see if there are females around him that he tolerates in close company, which here usually means he ignores them.  There is your pair that will likely bond and get along.
 
Rams (all varieties of the common ram, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) tend to be better an live longer with warmer water, 80F-82F.  Not all fish will manage so well, so keep this in mind when considering species.  The Bolivian can be happy with slightly lower temperatures.
 
Byron.