Considering GBRs, what do you guys think?

[SunSchein89]

Well, the tiki look on my 20 was nice for awhile and everything, but I want to change things up I think. So I was looking into a pair of GBRs. I see most places say 20 gallons is a minimum for a pair, so I think I should rehome some of my fish. Here's my current stocking:

5 platties
5 glo light tetras
5 cories
1 female BN pleco
1 big (ivory?) snail of some sort

Do you guys think removing the 5 tetras would free up enough room if I took out all the tiki decorations as well? It would leave just assorted plants, a big piece of mopani wood, and I'd probably try to find a flat rock or two to throw in there as well.

pH was also at about 7.6 or so and hardness is kind of up there last time I checked, but it's always been stable and the tank has been established for over a year now. From what I see, this should be alright given they're not wild caught and I acclimate properly and everything?

What do you guys think? Should I go for it? GBRs have always been one of my favorite freshwater fish, but I never considered getting them because my tanks were full and I didn't want to set up a new one.

[Sandz]

I personally think the platies would be the one to remove, the Glo fish are schoolers and can serve as dithers.

[Taurus]

I suggest you read up on the requirements needed to keep Discus. The needs of Discus are about the same for GBRs.

:22:

[SunSchein89]

I suggest you read up on the requirements needed to keep Discus. The needs of Discus are about the same for GBRs.

:22:

Although I haven't read into it extensively, a quick glance and a few minutes of reading around on different websites all pretty much said to have a 20 gallon minimum for a pair, a lower pH and softer water is preferable, but not always necessary for captive bred GBRs, and to have stable water conditions and a tank that has been well established for awhile. As far as I can tell, I have all of those things, but I just wanted to get some more insight into some of the nuances that experienced keepers have learned on here.

Things like which fish will do better in the tank with them, what kind of tank layout is best, is 20 gallons really enough if I remove some of the clutter and other tankmates, etc.

[Sursion]

Do not underestimate how finicky the GBR is. They are among the hardest of freshwater fish to keep. Do your research, and be prepared for a lot of responsibility.

That said, I wouldn't put two into a 20g.

[Taurus]

I suggest you read up on the requirements needed to keep Discus. The needs of Discus are about the same for GBRs.

:22:

Please let me clarify. The water quality and parameters including temperatures for GBRs are about the same as for Discus.

[Taurus]

Things like which fish will do better in the tank with them, what kind of tank layout is best, is 20 gallons really enough if I remove some of the clutter and other tankmates, etc.

I won't keep a pair of GBR in anything less than a 20 gallon long and the tank would be an Amazonian set up with driftwood, plants, and soft water. Tank temperatures should be 80-82 degrees f. Water must be super clean or RO\tap combination. Running Purigen in your filter may be a good idea too.

[SunSchein89]

Hmmm.... ok. So let's say I remove the tikis, buy a second Aqueon 20 HOB and run purigen in both. Up my water changes to 50% per week? (What would you guys recommend on that one? Obviously something like 75% every other day would do wonders, but something more realistic). Grab another big piece of drift wood, and rehome the platties.

Annnnd, only get one GBR. What do you think about that plan? Also, if I were to only get one, would a male or female work better, or does it matter?

Thanks for the help thus far thumbs2:

[Taurus]

I personally think the platies would be the one to remove, the Glo fish are schoolers and can serve as dithers.

I agree with Sandz on the platies. A second filter would be fine as long as you don't creat to much current. The Purigen would help and is a good idea.
One GBR? I would get a male as they are a bit more brightly colored. If you do use the Purigen, I would do 50% water changes twice per week. Make sure the new water is conditioned and at the right temperature.

GBR really do need water temperatures at 80 degrees f or slightly higher.

[Sandz]

I have kept 2 gbr in a 10gal before without major issue, it was when I took them from 10gal to 55 gal that they killed each other during a "lovers quarel"... a 20gal long should be fine provided you do weekly water changes and keep from overstocking and have good filters. GBR need to be in an understocked tank so if you can meet those conditions go for it.

[SunSchein89]

Yeah the only problem is I have a 20 high which doesn't provide much more of a footprint than a 10. Granted the cories and BN pleco are basically always on the bottom, so it'd just really be the 5 glo lights, plants, and wood left taking up space in the water column... I'm gonna mess around with the tank here in a minute: add my new Aqueon 20, change around the plants, take the tikis out, and add the new piece of wood I got. I might even take the platties out awhile while I'm at it.

I'll post a picture up later and see what you guys think as far as stocking 1 or 2. Breeding would be cool if I can do it. At least get some of that money back :ssmile: . Speaking of, does anyone know a typical price from a LFS for a GBR?

[Sursion]

A BN Pleco will grow too big for a 20g high and it's also way too dirty. Pleco's are huge ammonia producers.

[Strider199]

I have two GBR in a 29 gallon tank with a Fluval 205 and a Bio-wheel HOB filter. Their tank mates consist of 6 neon tetras, 4 glow light tetras, and 5 harliquins. I bought a female first and her colour wasn't that bright until, I introduced a male. Now they both look great but I'm still holding my breath.

You never know when one of them will take out the other one. They are great fish and the tetras schooling around and past them, keep the GBR occupied.

[SunSchein89]

A BN Pleco will grow too big for a 20g high and it's also way too dirty. Pleco's are huge ammonia producers.

The BN is a female and I've had her in there for several months with no ammonia problems to speak of. The plants seem to happily pick up any of the waste produced and the cories and snails make sure all the extra food is eaten. She hasn't gotten much bigger than when I got her either. I'd say she's definitely no more than 3".

All that being said, do you really think the one pleco would be the deciding factor as to whether or not I can add one GBR to the tank?

[Sursion]

Bristlenose pleco's get 6". A year isn't a very long time.

Also, I don't know how dirty every fish is. I just know pleco's are really dirty (despite being a cleaning-fish). It was just a suggestion.

[SunSchein89]

Bristlenose pleco's get 6". A year isn't a very long time.

Also, I don't know how dirty every fish is. I just know pleco's are really dirty (despite being a cleaning-fish). It was just a suggestion.

Gotcha. I had always heard 3-4" for a BN. If she does happen to get much bigger I'll end up rehoming her. Hate to cramp her in the tank, but for now she seems to be a good size and hasn't been any more messy than the tetras that I've noticed.

I was going to take a picture of all the aquascaping I did, but the tank is still a tad bit cloudy, so I suppose I'll wait until tomorrow. Looks much better than it did, I must say; should've done it ages ago.

[Taurus]

Gotcha. I had always heard 3-4" for a BN. If she does happen to get much bigger I'll end up rehoming her. Hate to cramp her in the tank, but for now she seems to be a good size and hasn't been any more messy than the tetras that I've noticed.


You heard right. BN plecos max out at around 4". But that's still a lot of fish for a 20gh. Problem is the pleco will occupy the bottom area of the tank and so will the GBRs. The space for the GBR(s) is getting tighter all the time..not good. Please do post a picture of the tank when you can. It would help.

You've got corys in the tank too and they occupy the bottom areas of the tank too. The fit for GBRs is sounding tighter all the time.

[Taurus]

I have two GBR in a 29 gallon tank with a Fluval 205 and a Bio-wheel HOB filter. Their tank mates consist of 6 neon tetras, 4 glow light tetras, and 5 harliquins. I bought a female first and her colour wasn't that bright until, I introduced a male. Now they both look great but I'm still holding my breath.

You never know when one of them will take out the other one. They are great fish and the tetras schooling around and past them, keep the GBR occupied.

Strider, this is almost an ideal set up for a pair of GBRs. I hope you have good luck with them.

[Sursion]

You heard right. BN plecos max out at around 4".

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5-8 inches.

[SunSchein89]

Seems to be a lot of conflicting anecdotal evidence on the max size of a BN pleco, so I guess I'll just see how it goes and if she starts to get much bigger, I'll find a new home for her.

I didn't realize the GBRs stayed mainly on the bottom, either. Is it more like the tetras kind of hang out in the lower regions, or more along the lines of how a cory stays on the bottom and just darts up every now and then?

It appears that the water is still a tad bit cloudy yet, so I checked the ammonia, and sure enough it came up ~.25. I had to change out the filter pad on the first one since it was gunked up pretty bad and washing it off didn't help. I'll get a picture up here in a minute when I'm done eating since it's not all that bad. I'll see if I can get a good one of the pleco while I'm at it.

[Taurus]

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Conflicting information is right..lol.

I know mine is only about 3.5" long and it's fully mature. Same fish from a different region or strain could grow bigger. :ssmile:

[Taurus]

I didn't realize the GBRs stayed mainly on the bottom, either. Is it more like the tetras kind of hang out in the lower regions, or more along the lines of how a cory stays on the bottom and just darts up every now and then?


GBRs do range from top to bottom depending on how you feed them. But they like to hide out in nooks, crannies, caves and plants. Makes them feel safer.

[SunSchein89]

Ok, here we go, got some grainy cell phone pics for ya.

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There's the pleco

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and the tank.

[Strider199]

That is a nice planted tank.

The GBR I have mainly stay near the bottom of the plants and rocks but when it's feeding time they are where the food is. hehehe

After a feeding I have noticed that the Rams both search the gravel and rocks for food that has settled. The other fish in the tank lose interest in the stuff that hits the ground so having the GBR's picking up the grounded food is awesome since I do not have a Cory in the tank. Thought about one but with the Rams doing what they do I dont think I need a Cory. If you are tight for room and you have another home for the bottom feeders in your tank, the Rams would love that planted tank SunSchein89.

[Strider199]

Strider, this is almost an ideal set up for a pair of GBRs. I hope you have good luck with them.

Thanks Taurus.

[SunSchein89]

Thanks Strider :shappy: . I was rather happy with how the new layout ended up. I'll have to snag a better camera at some point and get a better picture.... water is still cloudy from bacteria at the moment unfortunately :/. Thankfully I'm running two filters now and should have purigen shortly, so I can alternate changing out pads and reuse the purigen to get rid of any possible mini cycles in the future.

I don't really know that I have room for the cories elsewhere, in my house at least. The 10 gallon already has 5 otos and cherry shrimp, and the 5.5 only has a betta who has been by himself so far. I was thinking of trying out one of the platties in there, but that's about it.

Sooo, I dunno. I'll at least get the tank ready and have the water quality good and everything set up and then figure out exactly what to do stocking wise. Maybe I'll start up my empty 10 in the closet and give the cories a nice sand substrate or something. But the setup looks good otherwise, then?

[Taurus]

Oh yes. It looks like GBR heaven! I just don't know if the size of the tank is big enough to allow you to keep the water quality up. You'll have to keep up on water changes, but all those plants will help out too.

If this was my tank, I'd start with a single male GBR and see how he does. Opinions may very. :ssmile:

Oh, and don't forget to get the water temperature up to at least 80 d f.

[SunSchein89]

Cool, looks like I'm on track then. I was going to just get the one male to start and see how he does. A female would be cool, but I realize may not be possible. Before I even get him, though, I'm going to be testing the water quality and making sure I can get it to ideal numbers before buying him. We'll see how the extra filter and two 50% water changes a week does (keeping my fingers crossed I don't have to do 3 :lol:) I'm already bumping up the heater slowly as we speak to get it up towards 80-82.

Thanks for all the advice guys, I hope to be the proud new (and responsible thumbs2: ) owner of at least one GBR in the near future and you've definitely helped.