Stocking Levels

[Benihana]

We're a few days into our fishless cycle so we have sometime to amend our 'wishlist' but at the moment we are looking at the following, in a 96ltr tank with external filter.

Pygmy Cory x 7
Cardinal Tetra x 5
Kuhli Loach x 3 (maybe 5)
Bristlenose Plec x 1 (maybe 2)
Pearl (or Sparkling) Gourami x 3

How does this sound to everyone? Thanks for any advice

 

[community begginer]

sounds bout right to me. instead i would have:
7 pygmy corries (they like being together),
5 cardinal tetras,
drop a pearl gouramie and have another bn plec in its place. ( i find it unfair to not have a mate for him but one for the others). hehe. and maybe if you wanted drop a kuhli loach and add 3 -4 more cardinals.
just some sugggestions.

you could have more fishies if you have strong filtration. just means more water changes.

P.S. you might also want to drop cardinals and have neon tetras instead. trade 5 cardinals for 10 - 15 neons. they make minimal waste for there size and look great when in a shaol.

i hope i have helped you out a bit.
regards, community.

 

[-germ-]

With the pearl, even though they are considered one of the more peaceful gourami i'd say either get one lone male, or get one male with 2 females....
2 gourami, be it male and male or male and female; is taking an uneccessary risk, Edit to add; however 2 females would be fine...

 

[snapefish]

Nice mix. If the plec is there just to keep algae at bay have you considered shrimp? I have 6 Amano in a 96 litre and they do a much better job than anything else I have ever kept and probably at a lesser bioload.

Mark

 

[Benihana]

Thanks for the advice guys. Nice to know I have taken on board what i've been told on this v.helpful forum and i'm now getting a good mix. Couple of questions to the suggestions raised please:

Community Begginer: You suggested 2 Bn plec. Will 80cm x 30cm be big enough for 2 when fully grown? Tank will be well planted (live) and have bogwood & caves. If I drop to 4 Kuhli Loaches will they still be as active? You mentioned more fishes if we have strong filtration. We have a tetratec EX 600. Would this be adequate to stock further? We decided to go for Cardinals over Neon as we have heard they are hardier?

Germ: The plan for the Gourami's, as you have suggested, is 1 male to 2 female. Do they reproduce in captivity? We are probably not experienced to deal with fry so early on.

Snapefish (Mark): The plec is there for algae but also because I think they just look so fab. If I decided to follow your advice and get Amano Shrimp, would I still be able to press on with our choices in the numbers indicated? How many in your opinion could we go with?

Thanks again for all your advice/assistance.

Dave

 

[-germ-]

No you generally have to provide a breeding set up to get them to breed....
To ensure it doesn't happen make sure you have good water movement at the waters surface and this should prevent any succesful bubble nest creation.

 

[Benihana]

No you generally have to provide a breeding set up to get them to breed....
To ensure it doesn't happen make sure you have good water movement at the waters surface and this should prevent any succesful bubble nest creation.

We have a 3inch bubble disc attached to a Hena 100 air pump. Will this be sufficient in your opinion?

 

[-germ-]

Yes, its unlikely they'd breed in a community tank anyway.