Which fish to start with for a community tank?

[frizzlefish]

As soon as this tank is cycled I'm planning a community type tank - some tetras, a few corys at the bottom, maybe danios, etc.

60g tank BTW


Which fish come home first?

[cocoa_pleco]

danios are good beginner fish, then corys, then tetras

[Chrona]

Try fishless cycling (info in sticky). You can add most if not all your fish at the same time that way and not have to worry about dying fish because of high ammonia levels. Plus it's faster than fish cycling.

As for fish, cories, tetras, dwarf gourami, danios, barbs (careful of fin nippers) will all work great

[crackatinny]

Silver dollars are a nice peacefull community fish, and stick together in a group.

[frizzlefish]

great - I was a bit worried about who would like neighbors and who wouldn't if I just introduced them a group at a time. I don't want bigger fish picking on smaller ones just coming in to play!

[Chrona]

great - I was a bit worried about who would like neighbors and who wouldn't if I just introduced them a group at a time. I don't want bigger fish picking on smaller ones just coming in to play!

Yeah, that's another benefit of fishless cycling, especially with cichlid tanks. Since you introduce everyone to a new environment, they are all on the same page and less likely to get territorial as opposed to introducing new fish to an established tank with established borders.

[frizzlefish]

So I am doing a fishless cycle - but is it a good idea to add so many fish at one time? I was thinking a group of 6-7 here and there would be better than 20+ at one time?

[Drumachine09]

If you have your tank "trained" to handle a large bioload, and dont add as much as it can support, some beneficial bacteria will die off.

[Chrona]

So I am doing a fishless cycle - but is it a good idea to add so many fish at one time? I was thinking a group of 6-7 here and there would be better than 20+ at one time?

Fishless cycling (adding 5 ppm ammonia per day, etc) simulates a much higher bioload than your tank can hold, so you get no ammonia spike if you add all your fish in at once. In fact, it is encouraged, because any delay in adding fish will, as drummachine said, result in die off of the bacteria that you built up. A member tested this concept a while back adding a full tank of cichlids after fishless cycling and got no ammonia spikes.

[frizzlefish]

Ah I see. That makes sense then.

[Drumachine09]

I make sense? Thats a first. What are your ideas on stocking?

[frizzlefish]

LOL!

Stocking what? Who me?

[cocoa_pleco]

stocking fish

[frizzlefish]

You mean in my tank? I have no idea that's why I asked. :)

I know the fish I'm picking out to put IN the tank are on the compatability charts but I didn't know if we'd encounter any territorial problems if say the gouramies were before the tetras, etc.

[roulfi004]

-Most beautiful and peaceful are Clown Loaches. Very nice bottom feeders. I have 1 and i love it. A joy

-Silver Dollars and Silver Sharks are nice for big tanks like yours. Dollars are hardy fish

-Avoid tiger barbs. they are easy to take care of but could pose fin nipping problems

[frizzlefish]

Do loaches have any problems with any other fish? So far I've been planning this -

(60g)
-8-10 cory cats
-6-8 long finned danios
-6 zebra tetras
-8 neon tetras (if I can find them!)

then maybe 4 dwarf gouramis? Saw some honey something ones at the LFS I went to.

my hubby likes the loaches he saw at a LFS so how many of those? I don't think he saw clown loaches - these looked like snakes without stripes.

How about angels? They are beautiful!

[hungryhound]

Do loaches have any problems with any other fish? So far I've been planning this -

(60g)
-8-10 cory cats
-6-8 long finned danios
-6 zebra tetras
-8 neon tetras (if I can find them!)

then maybe 4 dwarf gouramis? Saw some honey something ones at the LFS I went to.

my hubby likes the loaches he saw at a LFS so how many of those? I don't think he saw clown loaches - these looked like snakes without stripes.

How about angels? They are beautiful!

We have Yoyo loaches in our 46g community tank and absolutely love them. The original plan had been to get clown loches, but we were concerned about their size (they can grow rather large), and thus went with the Yoyo loaches, which don't get as large.

We also have some Dwarf Flame Gourami's and in general they are very peaceful. The only aggression we see is within the species, they leave all the other fish alone. It also helps if there are places that each Gourami can have as their own territory.

[Drumachine09]

I reccomend albino corys. They are generally the most active of the cory specices IME

[Glasstapper]

I reccomend albino corys. They are generally the most active of the cory specices IME

I'll second this suggestion. You just can't go wrong with these cute little guys. The more you get of them, the better they'll show you those awesome personalities. I loved mine. They were almost as entertaining as my tiger barbs.

(by the way, tiger barbs could work in peaceful communities, but the trick is to make sure you have enough of them to keep their aggression to themselves. Usually 8 is suggested, but more would be like insurance, you know?)

[frizzlefish]

Oh yeah, I remember having those albino corys when I was a kid!

What about angels? Too territorial for this kind of tank?

[gm72]

Just to chime in with an opinion, I think you mean Zebra Dannios, not Zebra Tetras, am I correct? If I am right, you may find some fin nipping with the Zebras and the long-fins. They will also likely nip at the fins of angels. Of course, your mileage may vary.

[frizzlefish]

I think the LFS I went to has both. The zebra tetras have a wide, dark line across the middle and a whitish stripe above that. Let me see if I can find a photo somewhere...

[frizzlefish]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Here's a link to a picture of something very similiar name but I see it's a different name than what he has listed in the shop.

[gm72]

Cool, I don't remember ever having seen those before. Thanks for the link to the pic!

[Lady Hobbs]

I wouldn't get angels for this tank. They grow very fast and before long will need 10-15 gallon per fish. Right now mine are sharing a tank with loaches and silver dollars and are getting too crowded. They do best in communities of their own species.

[frizzlefish]

Great advice thanks everyone!


Tested the water today and WHOOPPIE!! CYCLED!

Same readings as yesterday 0 amm, 0 nitrites and 10/15 nitrates! It's fishy time.

Doing a water change when I get home and then to the LFS tomorrow.


Now, talk me OUT of ordering online huh???!?!

[hungryhound]

Congratulations on the cycle.

Let us know what you decide on.

Now, talk me OUT of ordering online huh???!?!

I am slightly confused on this one. Do you want us to tell you to order online or that it is better to buy in person?

I have no problem with ordering online, but I would much rather buy my fish in person. I can pick out the ones that I want and I don't have to pay the extra shipping charge.

[frizzlefish]

I'm hoping someone talks me down from buying online when I could just get my arse out to the 3 different shops within 45-60 minutes away! LOL

Seriously, I've looked at liveaquaria.com and I'd love to get some of the more brightly colored tetras I've seen there but I'm a little nervous about the prospect of getting fish....... in the mail........ in a box?? Anyone ever do it? It's not like I'm buying a $50+ whatever, they are just about $2-3 a piece but still?

[wijnands]

To be honest, I'm surprised you'd even consider it. Yes, that site looks like a good store. However, you'd be sentencing your new pets to a trip trough the fedex system.

Why not go to your local shops, bring your kids if you have any and make an event out of it.

[frizzlefish]

Right - that's exactly what I was thinking too.

Just go out and get them. But point and click is sooooooo easy!!!!

:)

[hungryhound]

You do realize with that site it is 34.99 to have them mail you your fish. Granted that is for any order under 224.99 cents, but that is still a lot. Not to mention that you are buying the fish sight unseen.

link ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])

Order Subtotal Standard Rate Upgrade Options
(Where Available)
.......................Next Day Air..........Priority Overnight.....Saturday
Up to $224.99.......$34.99 ......................$44.99.............$57.49
$225.00 and up.....$39.99.......................$49.99.............$62.49

Personally, i would rather waste a tank of gas and get the fish I want then point and click on the Internet. It might be worth it if you cannot find a particular fish at a local store, but I would give your local store a a try first.

[frizzlefish]

And thank you - that officially talked me OUT of it!



:) I'll go , I'll go. Let's hope I find that the store is nice, clean and the tanks look great too.

[hungryhound]

And thank you - that officially talked me OUT of it!



:) I'll go , I'll go. Let's hope I find that the store is nice, clean and the tanks look great too.

Your welcome.

I also looked at buying there when I first set up my aquarium, but quickly decided to try out my wonderful LFS when I saw the shippiung and handling charges.

[wijnands]

In this country it's actually illegal to mail live animals.

[frizzlefish]

Which country are you talking about wijnands?

[wijnands]

the Netherlands