Stocking levels?

[nicadh]

Can anyone point me to a guide for stocking levels for a 40G (uk) tank please? I know it depends on full grown size, and fish compatability but I can't find a general guideline on how many! Tank has been cycling and water quality looking good and stable now so I am going to add just a couple of fish at the weekend and keep a close eye on things before considering any more in time.
Thanks

[MonkeyPox]

It would be helpful if you provided what types of fish you were interested in.

[Northernguy]

It would be helpful if you provided what types of fish you were interested in.
and how you are cycling?

[Lab_Rat]

What kind of fish are you interested in keeping?

For a community tank your size I would go with something like:
8-10 schooling fish
8-10 second schooling fish
8-10 cories
centerpiece fish/pair/trio depending on species

Now there is a ton of variability here, and obviously some schooling fish stay smaller than others. If you can say what you have available and are interested in people here can help you come up with a plan.

[rich311k]

You do not want to add random fish. Look around your stores see what you can get and what you like and we will love to help you come up with a plan.

[nicadh]

Fishless cycling - but keen to take it all very slowly when the fish come in too.

Looking for a couple of small angelfish (that will obviously grow in time) and later adding 3-4 dwarf gourami, + a bristlenose much later when there is some natural food for him.

[rich311k]

3-4 dwarf gouramis will not work, they tend to pick at each other. You may be better off with one angel but two will be ok if theyget along. You can add the BN when you are cycled and feed algae tabs and veggies.

Consider some corys for the bottom and a pair of dwarf cichlids would be very doable.

[nicadh]

I had read if you get one male and 2-3 females with the gourami that they are more settled? Is it just the gourami with themselves that is the issue and could I get around that with different numbers do you think? I'd rather have the angels than the gourami if I had to choose.

[Lab_Rat]

Fishless cycling - but keen to take it all very slowly when the fish come in too.

Looking for a couple of small angelfish (that will obviously grow in time) and later adding 3-4 dwarf gourami, + a bristlenose much later when there is some natural food for him.

Glad to hear you're doing fishless cycling!

How tall is your tank? Angels do best in a tall tank, due to their shape. Do you have access to female dwarf gouramis? If so, a trio of 1m/2f would be nice, otherwise you're likely to have fighting going on. You could do several honey gourami, they're quite attractive and a sociable species.

Any ideas on schooling fish? I like to add schooling fish first, with the least sensitive species before the more sensitive ones. I add my centerpiece fish last (except for algae eaters, that's a good idea to wait til the tank is mature for them) because the centerpiece fish I choose tend to be more aggressive to I don't want them to think the whole tank is theirs.

[rich311k]

It is the males that squabble, just with themselves. If you can find girls then yes that will be find, but they are hard to find and not much to look at.

The three spot gouramis are the ones that can be terrors. (glods, bluesd etc.)

[nicadh]

Ah - didn't realise the females were so hard to get hold of - will have to check the local fish store and see what they have then before making a decision. I know they have a few different types but no idea if they are males/females as didn't pay that much attention when I was there buying the tank and bits.

[nicadh]

Tank is 55cm tall

[Lab_Rat]

Female dwarf gouramis are a dull greyish color so they're not very popular. They are very difficult to find since they're not as pretty as the males. Another peaceful gourami option would be a trio of pearls 1m/2f. The femae pearls are pretty easy to find.

Your tank sounds like it's tall enough for angels (I'm not an angelfish keeper though, Rich may have more insight), so I would either do a lone angelfish or a mated pair.

[nicadh]

Any suggestions for schooling fish? - looking for nice bright colours really, compatible with the angel(s) and the maybe gouramis. Are neon tetras too small do you think?

[Lab_Rat]

Neons are the natural food of angelfish in the wild. You can try them, and some people report success, but just be aware that when the angels get big the neons may become dinner. Harlequin rasboras are very nice little fish, and a bit deeper bodied so less likely to become dinner. Von rio flame tetras are also quite attractive and would do well in that tank. Emperor tetras are not exactly colorful but are very striking fish as well. Cherry barbs would also work. Other options would be lemon tetras, pristella tetras, diamond tetras, etc.

[rich311k]

Neons are to small with the angels. I like pristellas, lemons, serpaes, Colombians, congos, rummy noses. Lots to pick from.

[nicadh]

Yeah - would rather not have a delayed menu for the angels in time! I'll take a list of possible options with me to the shop tomorrow and see what they have and what looks nice from the choices. I haven't heard of most of those, but then again I only know a limited number of fish types and I know the fish store has a huge selection so there is bound to be something suitable and it will be nice to see something a bit new to me too. Meanwhile I'll google some of them and look at the photos on here too.

[Lab_Rat]

Good plan!

[nicadh]

Oooh loving the look of the serpaes. Now to hope they have some!!

[VoidParadigm]

I'd personally recommend against any gourami with any angels. However I've personally never kept angels, so I don't know this from experience, and do know other people have had luck with them sometimes. Is there one or the other you prefer more?

I'm not much other help, I'm afriad. :lol: Random curiousity, though. Is this your first tank or have you had aquariums before? If it is your first, fantastic. I've never had any tank bigger than a 40g, yet I've owned fish since I was four or five. :lol: Would love to one day get something so much bigger. 250+! Haha.

[mac]

IME Angels and Gouramis are a hit and miss scenario. Both are territorial. And more so with the Gouramis IME, unless the Angel is in a breeding mood.

Another problem I have had is some Gouramis do tend to nip at long fined fish a bit. Which can be a bother with Angles.

As for Serpae Tetras. I would not try them. They are again a hit miss fish, with a large reputation for aggression, and shredding of long finned fish. IME not that good a fish unless by them selves, or with fish of similar temperament. I would look more at Bleeding Heart Tetras.

With Angles you have to be careful getting more than 1. They do and can get territorial with each other. Unless you can find a pair. Then you have problems with the pair terrorizing other fish.

IMO I would just get the one.

mac

[nicadh]

No it's not my first tank, but it has been a long time since I had one - previously had a 15g with guppies, and ignorant fish keeper! However they thrived and bred well despite my "lack" of proprer care!!

Well - I am now the proud owner of some lovely little von rio flame tetras. I will see how they go over a while and think hard about the gourami/angelfish and numbers of what I get too. The good news is that our fish shop does have female dwarf gourami so if I did decide to get them and see in the end I do have an option.

Thanks for all the advice everyone thumbs2:

[nicadh]

Any thoughts on the German Blue Ram? I saw some in the shop and they look beautiful. Reading up they seem like a possible compatible fish for my tank. Thanks

[Sharon]

As far as compatibility goes, a a pair of GBRs would be fine. They have a rep for being very sensitive, and have problematic health issues if not purchased from a reputable source. What's the PH of your water?

Congrats on doing research before buying...it's nice to see!thumbs2:thumbs2:

[nicadh]

pH is at 7.5 - very hard water here too.

[Sharon]

That would be a problem for GBRs...

[mac]

With water that hard I would not try it. Unless you can find a breeder who has bread them in that water.

You could try to soften the water. By adding some drift wood to the tank, if you are really wanting the GBRS.

Just one question you planing of possible Angle and Flame Tetras? There is a chance the Flames would become a meal.

mac

[Lab_Rat]

Just one question you planing of possible Angle and Flame Tetras? There is a chance the Flames would become a meal.

mac

I don't really think this is a concern as it would be with neons. Flame tetras are wide bodied, even though they do not get large. They do not have the torpedo shape you worry about with angels.

[mac]

I don't really think this is a concern as it would be with neons. Flame tetras are wide bodied, even though they do not get large. They do not have the torpedo shape you worry about with angels.

That is true. But so far I have never seen much difference between the long bodied Tetras like Neons, or round or any shape body. My angle has killed and eaten a 3 inch Rainbow. Along with anything bare for Bleeding heart Tetras.

And not only my Angle but I have know heaps of people who do have similar problems. More with very small Tetra types.

IME it is best to get fish which are capable to run from the angle, also of more larger size.

mac

[nicadh]

I shall talk to the fish store about the GBRs - they are very close to us geographically and have the same water supply so are likely to have the same pH and hardness. I did ask them about it re Angels already as I was concerned the pH was too high for them, but they said the stock they have is well adjusted to this type of water - I am pretty happy with that as they have one or two display tanks in the shop with long term fish in that all look in really good health. I suspect and hope therefore the GBRs will be likewise capable of surviving with me if they can do well in the shop water.

The flame tetras are doing good - I think their body shape should be an advantage for them with angels, and the angels I am getting will start off small so the fish will "grow up" as a group, rather than me adding small tetras in with large angels. When I spoke with the shop about the choices they were happy the flame tetras and an angel or two in the size of tank would be likely to be ok.