Stocking A 19gallon Tank, 30x15x12

[crazycallum]

Buying a clearseal 30 X 15 X 12 tank soon which is about 19 gallons i think, i have no idea what i'd want to but in it apart from maybe a red tail shark?
could people give me ideas of what i could stock

 

[Miss Wiggle]

a red tailed shark is too big for that tank i'm afraid

stocking is a very individual thing, there's literally thousands of species out there and everyone has their own preferences.

if you can give us an idea what you are looking for like larger fish, fish with personality, calm community, something unusual etc then we can give some pointers from there, alternatively if you go to a fish shop (and leave your wallet at home) and write down the names of everything you like, then we can try to sort out a list from there or give some other similar suggestions.

is this your first tank? if so then have a read of the links in my sig about setting up an aquarium and the one's about cycling.

 

[crazycallum]

It will be my first big tank yes, iv got a small 3 gallon for my betta though, but want something bigger ah man i really wanted one of them what would be the minimum tank size for one? im probably mostly looking for fish with personality, want lots of swimming around and stuff in the tank not ones that just stay still lol

 

[fishlover500]

Danios are very active and good hardy beginner fish, don't find to much personality but would be good to start off.
Barbs are also good starter fish with some personality.

 

[crazycallum]

After looking on fishlore it says minimum tank size is 10 gallon? is 19 definatly too small? as i might go for a 30 gallon tank....

im also looking to have quite a busy tank, with like alot of different types

 

[Miss Wiggle]

put it this way, the red tailed cat gets to around 15cm long, your tank is 30x15x12..... it's barely going to be able to turn around when it's fully grown. imagine keeping a dog in a room thats only twice as long as the dog itself.

clearly not right!

well as said above, if it's your first big tank then def check out the links in my sig, they'll give lots of advice and info.

if you want lots of fish then i'd go for minature species so you can fit quite a few shoals in then a couple of slightly larger feature fish.

i'd get a shoal of pgymy cories, two different shoals of small tetras, and a trio of something like apistogramma which have bags of personality and come in all sorts of pretty colour morphs.

 

[crazycallum]

but the 30X15X12 is in inches not cm.. so it would have room to turn around wouldnt it

 

[Miss Wiggle]

sorry my bad, thought you were talking in cm not inches

i still think it's too small for a 6" fish though

was just looking if we've a good species profile on them as i really don't trust fishlore, can't find one but here's one for the red finned shark which is close enough for this conversation

http/www.fishforums.net/content/Cyprinid...d-finned-Shark/

it's actually a different species and the temperment is better, but it's the same size and will need the same amount of room as the RTS

 

[crazycallum]

thanks for that what would you reccomend being the smallest dimensions for it? as i havnt completly decided on the 19 gallon one, and how many fish would i put in a shoal?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

well as per that article minimum 34" long, suggest approx 18" wide and tall....... personally i hate the fish so i don't know the exact dimensions, just a rough guide.

if you desperately want the RTS and want to build the whole tank around it then i'd suggest popping over to the cyprinids, characins and aenthenids (spelt wrong undoubtedly) section of the forum where they can offer some more advice, you'll find the loach lovers in there.

a shoal is 6+

 

[OldMan47]

MW is describing a tank that would go about 50 gallons but is not a standard shape. For a fish that large, I would suggest at least a 30 long or a 40 breeder. Both tanks are 3 ft, 90 cm, long.

 

[crazycallum]

What im getting is a 30" long im getting yes? I'm going to get it tomorrow but am going to ask if they have any larger clearseal ones in the back room or something because thats the biggest they have on the shelves, going to pick up some sand etc aswell

 

[K-Holed]

The RTS is a lovely fish. They can be moody buggers though, especially in smaller tanks. One should be fine in a 36" tank. It's legnth of tank that's going to matter here, rather than height.

 

[crazycallum]

I went for the 30 x 15 x 12, i'm still going to get a RTS, would it bettter to put him in first or last?

 

[K-Holed]

Last. That way he hopefully won't take the whole tank as his territory.