Stocking suggestions.

[Galvin88]

Hi guys,
I would just like to know peoples opinions on what fish i could add to my tank as i am stuggling for ideas, thats if im not already fully stocked.
My tank is 64g
Ph 7.6
Kh between 0-2 but have been buffering upto 5-6kh
Fish:
1 red tail shark
3 botia dario loaches
5 odessa barbs
8 columbian tetra
1 electric blue acara
Do i have room for anymore or do i stick with the current stock.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Hi guys,
I would just like to know peoples opinions on what fish i could add to my tank as i am stuggling for ideas, thats if im not already fully stocked.
My tank is 64g
Ph 7.6
Kh between 0-2 but have been buffering upto 5-6kh
Fish:
1 red tail shark
3 botia dario loaches
5 odessa barbs
8 columbian tetra
1 electric blue acara
Do i have room for anymore or do i stick with the current stock.

What are your tank's dimensions?

 

[Galvin88]

It is 48x20x15

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

It is 48x20x15

Finally...filtration?

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

You have a big tank and there's room for quite a bit more, apparently.
Don't take this as set in stone, but I find this site, Aqadvisor, makes a good starting point.

Rather than add different species of fish, I'd be thinking about building up your shoal of loaches...these are social fishes and the three you already have will have established a hierarchy amongst themselves by now. Adding more will undoubtedly upset this and you'll have to keep an eye on them, but a larger shoal should be a much happier shoal.
(I'll assume your tank is well planted, with lots of hiding places...your Columbians can be a little on the tetchy side).
If it isn't, it would help immensely if it was.
In theory, more Columbians might make for a more settled shoal, (less 'nippy')...or mebbe not. How are they now? (I'm thinking on behalf of your Acara).
You could increase your Odessa shoal...these are nice, peaceful fish and make great community fish.

 

[Galvin88]

You have a big tank and there's room for quite a bit more, apparently.
Don't take this as set in stone, but I find this site, Aqadvisor, makes a good starting point.

Rather than add different species of fish, I'd be thinking about building up your shoal of loaches...these are social fishes and the three you already have will have established a hierarchy amongst themselves by now. Adding more will undoubtedly upset this and you'll have to keep an eye on them, but a larger shoal should be a much happier shoal.
(I'll assume your tank is well planted, with lots of hiding places...your Columbians can be a little on the tetchy side).
If it isn't, it would help immensely if it was.
In theory, more Columbians might make for a more settled shoal, (less 'nippy')...or mebbe not. How are they now? (I'm thinking on behalf of your Acara).
You could increase your Odessa shoal...these are nice, peaceful fish and make great community fish.

I did have plants but the plant i had, not sure what its called, it was like a weed and spread like wildfire so inwasnt a fan and got rid, only have a jarva fern on my drift wood at the moment.
But i am in the process of looking at what plants to add.
My columbians seem fine no aggression or nips (from what i have seen) they seem to school with thw odessa barbs weirdly enough.
So in your opinion i should increase the size of the shoals i already have

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

So in your opinion i should increase the size of the shoals i already have

I would, but I'd also get the plants in. It's about breaking line-of-sight, so the fish can't see the other fish 24/7 and is a tried and tested technique for reducing fish stress and aggression.
Of all your fish, it's the loaches I feel sorry for and I'd be looking to add another four.
From the Aqadvisor site;
"Botia spp. are gregarious, form complex social hierarchies and should be maintained in groups of at least 5 or 6 specimens, preferably 10 or more."

 

[ClownLurch]

More plants both fixed n floating. More loaches.

 

[Wills]

I agree with Bruce add more of what you currently have - 3 more barbs and 3 more loaches. A trio of Gold Panchax could fit nice but not sure you have space.

Wills

 

[Galvin88]

Thanks guys, i am going my LFS saturday so i think thats what i will do. Any recommendations on plants? Im not really clued up on plants

 

[Byron]

I agree that adding more of the shoaling fish species would be best, but this has to come with a caution for the Botia dario loaches. The citation from AquaAdvisor in post #7 is in this case bang on the mark. You do not say how long the three loaches have been together. The social hierarch can be quick to form, and adding new loaches can sometimes backfire. The species definitely should number five minimum, just be prepared.

The "shark" is a smoking gun. This fish usually does not get along with botine loaches, but individual fish can be, well, "individual." Something else to recognize.

 

[Galvin88]

I agree that adding more of the shoaling fish species would be best, but this has to come with a caution for the Botia dario loaches. The citation from AquaAdvisor in post #7 is in this case bang on the mark. You do not say how long the three loaches have been together. The social hierarch can be quick to form, and adding new loaches can sometimes backfire. The species definitely should number five minimum, just be prepared.

The "shark" is a smoking gun. This fish usually does not get along with botine loaches, but individual fish can be, well, "individual." Something else to recognize.

The tanks been up and running around 9 months, so i would say the loaches veen together around 5 months. The shark rarely shows aggression, usualy keeps to its self, but it is still young yet.