Would Like Help On Deciding On A Big Tank For These Fish...

[NeonSagaris]

I am moving house in about a year and a bit, and when I have moved I would like to have a big tank. Something that is bigger than 200 litres (52 Gallons). I have a rough list of the fish I'd like to have in my big tank, but I'm not sure what size tank I'd need for these fish, but I'm moving in over a year so the list may change! Here is the current list:

. 10 Neon Tetras
. 10 Rummy Nose Tetras
. 4 Neon Rainbowfish
. 2 German Blue Rams
. 8 Black Bar Endlers
. 6 Pygmy Corys
. 6 Panda Corys
. 1 Pleco (not sure what kind yet)
. 2 Bamboo Shrimp

Thanks guys. Also, if you think there's something wrong with the list, please say.

 

[garyspence84]

That's some list

 

[NeonSagaris]

Well, they are all fish I love!

... So what size tank do you think then?

 

[paradiddle]

250L

 

[sadguppy]

They're all quite small so a massive tank wouldn't be necessary. A 240 perhaps, if you are set on upgrading? Or a 300.

 

[NeonSagaris]

OK thank you all, so around 250 litres then. The biggest fish will probably be the Rainbowfish, so yeah, they all are pretty small! Should I have three Rams when it comes to it? 2 female and 1 male perhaps? Also, do you think all these fish would be happy together?

 

[sadguppy]

I probably have more stock than that in my 200 to be honest. Yell overstocked at me if you like, I take good care of them.

If it was me, I would:

. 10 Neon Tetras - perhaps switch for cardinals
. 10 Rummy Nose Tetras - I would swap these out for more neons. I had some and they were very shy and never really stood out. Bigger shoals are better - I have 21 cardinals in my 240 and they are stunning!
. 4 Neon Rainbowfish - go for six, they like to shoal. Consider one of the bigger species like red or boseman rainbows, they would be stunning
. 2 German Blue Rams - A trio or single would also work. Make sure you have soft water as rams are picky.
. 8 Black Bar Endlers - very small for a big tank, may get lost, I would go for something else personally, or skip them and get the extra ram.
. 6 Pygmy Corys - these are tiny, I had to move mine into a smaller tank so i could actually see them, I would get 8-10 pandas instead
. 6 Panda Corys - I would up this to 8-10. Fab!
. 1 Pleco (not sure what kind yet) - Go for something more interesting like a green or blue phantom, or royal panaque (my all time favourite looking plec!) and wait to add them last so that the algae can build up. While you are waiting research different types, don't go with a BN in a big tank or you may regreat the lost oportunity to have something FAB!
. 2 Bamboo Shrimp - Get more. You'll never see them otherwise.

In my 240 I have:
21 cardinal tetra
1 angel
1 dwarf gourami
6 yo yo or similar loaches
6 peppered cories
7 harlequins
6 red rainbows
2 very bristley bristlenose plecs!

It is a mixture of fish I rehomed when I bought the tank and some I had already, and it works very well for me, lots of maintenance though! You can see pics in my signature if you are interested as it is a similar sized tank.

 

[leighton_87]

Personally I'd up the rainbowfish to 6 - like all shoaling fish the more the merrier

I'd leave the rams as a pair

And I'd be very careful about what Plec you get

But great list!

 

[garyspence84]

All the fish on your list will probably get along fine. I would up Tue number of shrimp though, to maybe 15. 2 tiny shrimp in a 4ft tank will be near impossible to see, but if there was more of them they will feel safer and come out a bit more.

Rainbows can be quite fiesty, they might see the shrimp as food once they've grown to adult size. But I can't say for certain weather that will happen or not.

But as above.... 240-300 ltr tank would be grand

 

[NeonSagaris]

Thank you everyone!

6 Neon Rainbows sound great! I also will probably get 20+ Neon Tetras now then instead of Rummys as well! I could get, say a lot of Pygmy Corys, they swim around a lot more than any other Cory, and also more Pandas sound good. The Bamboo Shrimp are huge, they aren't tiny, they would probably just be a little smaller than the Rainbows when they're fully grown! So should I stick to two or go for three Rams, still not sure yet. I like the look of Green Phantom Plecos, they wouldn't attack other fish would they? And with the Endelrs... I really love them, one of my most favourite fish! I could get about 12 maybe, they are very bold, zippy fish, so they probably, hopefully, won't get lost.

 

[blackops]

I have a green phantom plec they are lovely fish and mine hasent attaked anything
 
what about a red dwarf  gourami they look very nice

 

[NeonSagaris]

I have been considering Gouramis but, if I were to get any kind of Gourami, it would have to be Golden Honeys. But the Red Dwarfs are very nice as well.

 

[RCA]

My LFS recently got in some "Splash Tetras", check them out on You-Tube to see their full beauty.  They do not look like much but seem to school very tightly and look amazing on mass.  Check out how they breed though as they leave the water!  There is a clip showing this on You-Tube.
 
I recently got some Pencil Fish that are quite cool, especially the males trying to vibe for their bit of territory.  I have 10 but they do not school as I was expecting.
 
Another fish I like is the Rasbora Espei also known as Lambchop Rasbora.  I have 11 of these in with my Betta and they are a great alternative to the well known Neon, and are brighter than the more well known Rasboras.  Pictures often do not do them justice so again You-Tube them.  I found them very hard to get hold of and had to wait patiently for a few months to get them, but persistance with my LFS paid off, great little fish, that school well.  They are great, like little Piranhas when they get fed, poor old Betta did not know what hit him at feeding time!
 
NB: I also have information about how to identify the different Rasboras, let me know if anyone wants it and I will look out for it.
 
PS: I have just deleted the links as not sure if I can post links to fish info.?