Stocking

[Meggie :)]

So if I ended up getting some bolivian rams or german blue rams, could I still have the scape I was planning? Manzanita wood with moss, anubia, java fern tied on...a little section of carpet of baby tears (not full tank if I am to get cories or plecos obviously) and some other plants, swords maybe, here and there with dark sand substrate?

What about stocking? Can you help me change as needed?

GBR or Bolivian ram: No idea how many...2?
Mollies or balloon mollies: 3
tetras or harlequin rasboras: 16
Cories: 12?
Pleco (clown? Bristlenose?): 1-2?

Thanks so much!

 

[minnnt]

Your plans sounds great! Numbers don't look bad either! I would be tempted to cut back on the Cories though, maybe to 8?

Dark substrate for sure aswell

 

[Meggie :)]

Alright, thanks so much? 1 pleco or 2? What kind of cory? Panda maybe?

Now i just have to find my wood

 

[minnnt]

Panda's would be a nice choice, especially with the darker substrate. As would Albino Bristlenoses. They will stand out much more than Browns would. No reason to not have a pair. Make sure you get a male ad a female though as 2 males will probably fight.

Just be wary of the tank temperatures though, GBR's usually like it a little warmer where as most Corydoras prefer it cooler apart from species such as Sterbai's which can tollerate higher temperatures.

I would also try to find a trio of the wilder coloured Green Mollies, absolutely stunning imo!

You can add some small rock work too to provide coverage for your BN's and Cories too. Maybe try and hide some coconut caves amongst the wood and plant the top of them? Some moss high up in the tank is always a firm favourite of mine also.

 

[Meggie :)]

Rock? Like smooth rock or the kind used in iwagumi scapes?

And as for the GBR's or BR's, should I get 1 male 1 female, 2 males, or 2 females?

Thank you!

 

[minnnt]

1 male and 1 female. 2 pairs maybe pushing it a little with territories etc.

Which ever rocks take your fancy.

 

[Meggie :)]

One more thing (I think ) what kind of cycle do you suggest? Fishless with just rocks, wood, and substrate then add the plants and fish later? Or a fish in cycle, in which case how many and what of my stocking should I add in the beginning?

Edit: Oh yea and to test and see if rocks are okay, just pour vinegar over it and see if it bubbles? If it does then I can't use it, if it doesn't fizz/bubble then I can use it?

 

[minnnt]

Could you not kickstart it by seeding it with your current filter media? Then in theory you could add the same percentage of fish you currently stock. For instance if you used 1/3 of your current media then you could add 1/3 of the amount of fish you already have. I would never recommend a fish in cycle...

As for the rocks, yeah i think thats correct.

 

[Meggie :)]

Would that work? My only running tank is my ten gallon and my current filter is a penguin biowheel 100 (but I cut sponge to fit, I'm not using the carbon filter that comes with it) and the fluval 405 is huge compared to it...and my stocking in it is 3 balloon mollies, 1 guppy, and some shrimp and balloon molly babies (the adults are all female no worries )

 

[minnnt]

Use a 1/3 and add the 3 Mollies. (How big are the fry from the 10g?)

You will have to be keen on the water changes, but yeah, should work!

 

[Meggie :)]

Would so little filter media work?!

The fry are still pretty small...Except for one that is about half grown...but I love my balloon mollies in my tank too much to put them in harms way of cycling my fifty gallon...I've had them for too long to do that Maybe I'll buy some new from the store and use them for the fifty gallon at first, then transfer the adults from my 10 gallon later on?

Please correct me if I'm wrong but this is what I'm getting: So put the substrate/wood/rocks/plants all in the tank, put some of my existing media along with the new media for my fluval 405 (if that is what I can get)...After a few days put in some balloon mollies and let the mini cycle take place? Just three fish in the fifty gallon until it cycles?

 

[minnnt]

In a round about way yeah.

Your current media is used to supporting the fish you mentioned earlier, so by using a third of your cycled 10g media in your new filter you will be able to stock a third of your current stock. Mollies are notoriously hardy so should do pretty well in your new tank with the seeded filter.

 

[Meggie :)]

Awesome thanks! Should I give it a couple days, after using whatever way I use to lower the PH, to make sure that the PH is stable before adding any fish? Can mollies survive the PH needed for the rams?

 

[minnnt]

If you can attain something around 7 then this should be a happy medium for everything i would have thought. Like i said, i have no idea how the ph down works so you would have to have to research it first. I would give it a double dosing of water dechlorinator too. Then add the donated media, then add the fish.

 

[Meggie :)]

Why a double dose of dechlorinator?