Hi,
Relative newbie curious to have some thoughts on stocking ideas/recommendations for a new tank.
I have a Juwel Rio 125 litre with T5 lighting, “pimped” internal Jewel filter with 2kg of biogravel. Sand substrate over Tropica aquarium soil. Fairly heavily planted, nature style (vallis, java moss, java fern, anubias bateri, water wisteria and indian fern). pH 6.5-7. Tap water source is, I’m afraid, hard (London). Pond snails everywhere (perhaps I should get a handful of assassins?).
In term of stock I’m drawn to the more unusual (to an non-expert!) shaped fish. The following appeal in particular (suggested numbers in brackets), and (at least as I understand it) are all peaceful and should work as tank mates:
Many thanks,
Dan
Relative newbie curious to have some thoughts on stocking ideas/recommendations for a new tank.
I have a Juwel Rio 125 litre with T5 lighting, “pimped” internal Jewel filter with 2kg of biogravel. Sand substrate over Tropica aquarium soil. Fairly heavily planted, nature style (vallis, java moss, java fern, anubias bateri, water wisteria and indian fern). pH 6.5-7. Tap water source is, I’m afraid, hard (London). Pond snails everywhere (perhaps I should get a handful of assassins?).
In term of stock I’m drawn to the more unusual (to an non-expert!) shaped fish. The following appeal in particular (suggested numbers in brackets), and (at least as I understand it) are all peaceful and should work as tank mates:
- Pearl Gouramis (1 M, 2F) – love these! Pretty much certain unless seriously inadvisable.
- Bristlenose plec/ancistrus (1) – interesting looking plus an algae eater and a size contrast to the other fish (is there another dwarf plec that’d be suitable instead?)
- Corys (5-6). For general tank cleaning duty! But what type? Perhaps bronze, pepper, or three stripe? Or pygmy (8). I assume (newbie alert!) that mixing types of corys means it no longer counts as a shoal (else I’d get a mixed shoal). However, might not be necessary or compatable with african dwarf frog (competition for food). I was considering Otos (4-6) instead, preferring their look and that they’re all-level fish; but Corys seem easier to look after and mean I can (hopefully!) avoid algae/keep tank clean!
- Khuli loach (acceptable minimum number? 2-3?) – Interesting fish and would help address the snails!
- African dwarf frog/congo frog (2 - max 3)
- Plus a shoal of mid-ish level fish:
- I have some (9) glowlight tetras I could move over from a smaller tank (who’d probably appreciate the extra space) and maybe turn that into a multi breed shrimp tank (currently 5 amanos) … or something else (?). If the tetras stay put, I’d be looking for 1-3 top / top/mid or all level fish to go along with them (which also has 5 amano shrimp).
- Else:
- White cloud minnows (6); or
- Three-lined pencilfish (Nannostomus trifasciatus)(6?); or
- Threadfin rainbow fish (top/middle tank) (6)
- Something else…?
- Elephant nose (1) –Interesting and usual. I’d love one of these too, but I suspect I'd be overstocking - since large and full bodied, uses up a lot of the available fish inches! Also perhaps too challenging re water parameters etc.
Many thanks,
Dan