Looking for stocking advice

[King Tut]

I am getting ready to setup a 45 gal tank that I got fairly cheap. I have already ordered two 55 gallon HOB filters, 200 watt heater and a standard 36" hood with light. I am considering changing out the flourescent for a bank of LED's. Just not sure yet. The tank will have plastic/silk plants. As for other decorations that is still in the discussion stages with my lovely wife (She's Chazbot on here). We have discussed doing a castle in the center and then fake coral on one side and rock ledges on the other. Sort of the castle has fell into the water theme. All of our tanks are sort of themed.

As far as stocking that is where I was wondering what everyone thought about the following:

1 Angelfish
2 Black Tetras
2 Red Phantom Tetras
2 White Tetras
2 Head and Tail Light Tetras
2 Diamond Tetras
1 Blue Gourami (Female)
1 Gold Gourami (Female)
1 Moonlight Gourami (Female)
2 Honey Gourami
6 Scissortail Rasbora
3 Otos
2 Corys

Jump in and let me know what you think. I am trying to not repeat anything (except for the Oto) from my current setups (See sig). I am really going for variety instead of just singling out a type. I also know this seems like a lot of fish but I want to see movement in the tank along with the variety. Also with having the two 55 gal/325 gph filters I hope to be turning over the water enough that I'll be ok. I plan on cycling with the Tetras and then adding the Gourami and Angel together as babies. The Otos and cory once I have a good cycle. The rasboras will be added at some point once I have a good cycle but seperate from anything else.

Sorry this got long winded but I want to make sure all my thinking is where it should be. In the tank and not out!!

[blacksnow]

I'm no pro, but that seems overstocked to me =O

Also they are going to tell you not to have 2 angels....

[btate617]

He wants one angel....but yea that is a fair amount of fish.


Brian


also if you already have a tank running why bother with a cycle, use some media from an existing tank.

[blacksnow]

He wants one angel....but yea that is a fair amount of fish.


Brian


also if you already have a tank running why bother with a cycle, use some media from an existing tank.

ooops! my mistake =O

<3

[King Tut]

Thanks I know it seems like quite a few but my 29 gal is heavily stocked and well cycled.

I didn't even think of using some media from my current setup. I will go that route though and probably use some water from there also to get started.

[blacksnow]

Thanks I know it seems like quite a few but my 29 gal is heavily stocked and well cycled.

I didn't even think of using some media from my current setup. I will go that route though and probably use some water from there also to get started.
Water carries little to no bacteria. Everything I read says water is a waste of time =O

I'd just stick in some old media from your existing setup in the new filter. This will def speed things up. good luck!

[thrakuarium]

The tank does seem a bit full but if your comfortable that you can handle it, I'll just offer these views. The angel fish and Gourami prefer a lesser current and with two HOB's you'll probably want to figure out a way to deflect the flow so they can have some calm areas in the tank. The oto's and especially the corys prefer a larger grouping to feel safer. Around 6 is a good number for each. You might want to juggle your numbers a bit and see if that can happen. Maybe drop one type of tetra and a couple gourami to fit the extra corys and otos.

[King Tut]

Anyone have any thoughts on how to deflect the current? One of the thoughts would be to somehow mount a piece of pantyhose??????? Not sure need to think on this for sure. Don't want to stress anyone out with to much current.

Thanks for all the great suggestions so far.

[thatcichlidguy]

And most tetras do better in groups of 8 or more. My suggestion is loose the big gouramis and go for some of the dwarf species instead . Pick two species of tetras for 1 small school of each type. 6-8 pygmi corys. Ottos , maybe 6 but their wont be any real predators so a smaller number might be fine. And the one Angel, it's presence will give the teras a reason to school since they often wont if they don't think there's a threat of some sort. An alternative to the Angel you might consider is Laetacara cuviceps , or L.dorsigera. They are dwarf acaras and are about as tetra safe as Angels. They are also the most common of the Laetacara species and are found in many LFS. Often the L. curviceps is mislabled and is in fact Dorsigera but they look very much alike. Anyway , just a thought.

[Fraoch]

Anyone have any thoughts on how to deflect the current? One of the thoughts would be to somehow mount a piece of pantyhose??????? Not sure need to think on this for sure. Don't want to stress anyone out with to much current.

Wild Turkey posted a neat, cheap flow deflector using a pop bottle:

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showpost.php?p=517424&postcount=11

It'll direct flow around the back instead of blowing it across the tank.

[btate617]

And most tetras do better in groups of 8 or more. My suggestion is loose the big gouramis and go for some of the dwarf species instead . Pick two species of tetras for 1 small school of each type. 6-8 pygmi corys. Ottos , maybe 6 but their wont be any real predators so a smaller number might be fine. And the one Angel, it's presence will give the teras a reason to school since they often wont if they don't think there's a threat of some sort. An alternative to the Angel you might consider is Laetacara cuviceps , or L.dorsigera. They are dwarf acaras and are about as tetra safe as Angels. They are also the most common of the Laetacara species and are found in many LFS. Often the L. curviceps is mislabled and is in fact Dorsigera but they look very much alike. Anyway , just a thought.


cichlidguy gave you some great options. A Laetacara species would be a great choice :thumb:

Brian

[Chazbot]

Wild Turkey posted a neat, cheap flow deflector using a pop bottle:

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showpost.php?p=517424&postcount=11

It'll direct flow around the back instead of blowing it across the tank.


Hey that's COOL!!

[Chazbot]

And most tetras do better in groups of 8 or more. My suggestion is loose the big gouramis and go for some of the dwarf species instead . Pick two species of tetras for 1 small school of each type. 6-8 pygmi corys. Ottos , maybe 6 but their wont be any real predators so a smaller number might be fine. And the one Angel, it's presence will give the teras a reason to school since they often wont if they don't think there's a threat of some sort. An alternative to the Angel you might consider is Laetacara cuviceps , or L.dorsigera. They are dwarf acaras and are about as tetra safe as Angels. They are also the most common of the Laetacara species and are found in many LFS. Often the L. curviceps is mislabled and is in fact Dorsigera but they look very much alike. Anyway , just a thought.

Why would you suggest losing the big gouramis? We're total newbie's here and still learning about the various types of fish. (kngtut is my hubby, so I'm talking about the exact same tank here)

I can definitely agree with what you said about the tetras schooling. The Tetras in our 29 gal (see my or kngtut's sig) will spread out quite a bit as other guys in that tank aren't seen as a threat at all. Everyone gets along great!

[King Tut]

And most tetras do better in groups of 8 or more. My suggestion is loose the big gouramis and go for some of the dwarf species instead . Pick two species of tetras for 1 small school of each type. 6-8 pygmi corys. Ottos , maybe 6 but their wont be any real predators so a smaller number might be fine. And the one Angel, it's presence will give the teras a reason to school since they often wont if they don't think there's a threat of some sort. An alternative to the Angel you might consider is Laetacara cuviceps , or L.dorsigera. They are dwarf acaras and are about as tetra safe as Angels. They are also the most common of the Laetacara species and are found in many LFS. Often the L. curviceps is mislabled and is in fact Dorsigera but they look very much alike. Anyway , just a thought.

These are some great suggestions. I will need to seriously think about the dwarf Gouramis. I did look at some of those today when I was picking up a couple of Otos for another tank. I never thought of the dwarf acara may be a neat way to go. Have some thinking to do. Thanks so much.

[thatcichlidguy]

Why would you suggest losing the big gouramis? We're total newbie's here and still learning about the various types of fish. (kngtut is my hubby, so I'm talking about the exact same tank here)

I can definitely agree with what you said about the tetras schooling. The Tetras in our 29 gal (see my or kngtut's sig) will spread out quite a bit as other guys in that tank aren't seen as a threat at all. Everyone gets along great!I suggested not putting the gouramis in there because as they grow they can get aggressive. They are classified as semi aggressive but my experience with them is that as they get bigger they tend to develope an attitude and can start bullying tankmates. Particularly their smaller tankmates. The dwarf species are typicly more peaceful and more colorful and less likely to harass your other fish.

[Chazbot]

I suggested not putting the gouramis in there because as they grow they can get aggressive. They are classified as semi aggressive but my experience with them is that as they get bigger they tend to develope an attitude and can start bullying tankmates. Particularly their smaller tankmates. The dwarf species are typicly more peaceful and more colorful and less likely to harass your other fish.

Ok, thanks! We'll be giving that some serious thought then. I think I can speak for both of us when I say we want to steer clear of bullies. We definitely like variety and want some movement in the tank (thus the little guys that school) but no fighting and rough stuff.

I'm sure kngtut is checking this post from work, so I guess we've got some more talking to do when you get home, Darlin!

Just fyi, we got our ideas for this tank from here - http://elmersaquarium.com/c106community4angels.htm. That's what this guy is calling an Angel Community Tank. Of course, that's a retailer, too. I'm definitely wide open to the previous and even more suggestions from actual owners! I'd also like to hear what you folks think of the site. Does he know what he's talking about or is he just trying to push the sales through?

Thanks again!

[thatcichlidguy]

Those are some interesting choices , but I think the idea was for an Angel or a gourami tank. At least that's what I get from it. The one choice that shouldn't be there is the Jurupari. Well the photo looks like S. leucosticta and the entire genus (now Satanoperca) get a little big for the average beginers tank(S. daemon gets a foot long and the others average 8"+) and all like to be kept in groups of 5 or more. Plus unless kept in very high quality water will quickly develope HITH. Not exactly beginers stock but a very interesting and docile cichlid. They can get rowdy with each other though, especially at spawning time. Other than that it looks like decent suggestions. All of them would do well with either an Angel or Gourami.

[King Tut]

UPDATE: We have started to stock the 45 gallon. Today we picked up 6 Serpae tetra and 4 balloon mollies. The plan is they will be quarantined in here for at least 2 weeks to see how everyone is doing. We will then move the 7 Black Phantom Tetras over from the hospital tank. After that we will probably be getting 2 honey gouramis to move into the hospital tank for a few weeks. Not sure right after that what we will do...Will keep you posted!