My One and Only Tank (right now)

**Mister Limpet** · 02-10-2013, 08:08 PM

30 gallon tank. Coasting with little attention for the last 5-6 years.

1 Large Silver Dollar
1 lohachata botia (20 years old!)
1 Black Skirt Tetra
1 Clown Pleco

Sorry I'm not too good at pics yet.

**~firefly~** · 02-10-2013, 08:16 PM

Are you looking for advice? Criticism of your neglect?

Not sure why you've posted this sorry.

**Aeonflame** · 02-10-2013, 08:21 PM

Stocking? photos?

**Mister Limpet** · 02-10-2013, 08:27 PM

Ha Ha, no to neither.

I just decided to dive back into the hobby and start a new tank or two. The folks here seemed helpful.

Actually, I have always had great success with my tanks, maybe since before you were born. Not sure why you would criticize.

When stocked lightly and fed properly, tanks actually need little attention.

**steeler1** · 02-10-2013, 08:32 PM

Yeah it looks to me like posted here because you mostly have Characins in your tank.

**Aeonflame** · 02-10-2013, 08:43 PM

The good thing about this site is that suggestions will be offered. The longevity of your loach shows that it was well cared for. I hope you will take my advice.

Silver dollars are schooling fish and need to be in groups of their own kind. A school of silver dollars needs a tank much larger than 30 gallons.
Black skirt tetras are also schooling fish.

I would rehome the silver dollar and bump the school of black skirts up to at least 7

**Mister Limpet** · 02-10-2013, 08:56 PM

AF: Thanks. These fish were all in schools back in their day. All are 10 years old or near. What do you do when the school dwindles down due to old age? Keep adding to it? Doesn't make sense to me.

The Silver Dollars used to be in a 70 gallon, which has been empty for a year now, and I'm not sure what I want to do with it.

**Aeonflame** · 02-10-2013, 09:02 PM

I end up in that same predicament with schooling fish, so I can relate.

If the 70 is still functional, maybe it's time to set up another silver dollar tank?

**~firefly~** · 02-10-2013, 09:07 PM

My post looks rude now you've edited your opening with a stocking list and photos now! I originally suspected you were a troll - apologies.

Yes, time for a bigger tank and a lovely big school again. That's a healthy looking, and very mature dollar you have there.

**Mister Limpet** · 02-10-2013, 09:21 PM

Thanks AF and firefly, (no offense taken) I accidentally hit post on my OP before I was ready.

While I want my fish to be happy, I have a problem with the notion that once we acquire a school of fish we must keep it for the rest of our lives! He/she really doesn't seem too stressed as is.

Right now I'm leaning towards native caught cold water fish in the 70. I've done this in the past and really enjoyed them, but I'm in no rush here.