Stocking advice?

**livvyy** · 02-19-2013, 03:45 AM

Hi this is my first tank I have ever done so I am an absolute beginner. I have just fishless cycled (around a month it took) my Blue planet classic 50 (50L) curves fish tank (55cm H x 30cm H x 43c W), it has a 3 stage filter and filters about 450L/ph and a heater. I have (white and black) gravel substrate, 3 fake planets 3 real ones (maybe getting more) and 2 orniments (one of them fish can swim through n stuff) that also have fake plants on them.

For my tank I have been looking around and the fish I have decided on (took me about a week to research them and find their compatablities) are as followed:

1 dwarf gourami (one I have been looking at for a while)
1 Macmaster Dwarf cichlid - (any advice on if there maybe another cichlid for my tank maybe better suited)
6 Galaxy Rasbora
4 Dwarf Cory

According to aqadvisor.com my fish tank is about 76% stocked. I would love to start putting fish in this Thursday.

some questions I have:
what fish should I get first?
what fish may also go with these fish that won't overstock my tank?

**fishmommie** · 02-19-2013, 04:06 AM

Originally Posted by livvyy

50 (50L) curves fish tank

1 dwarf gourami (one I have been looking at for a while)
1 Macmaster Dwarf cichlid - (any advice on if there maybe another cichlid for my tank maybe better suited)
6 Galaxy Rasbora
4 Dwarf Cory

According to aqadvisor.com my fish tank is about 76% stocked. I would love to start putting fish in this Thursday.

some questions I have:
what fish should I get first?
what fish may also go with these fish that won't overstock my tank?

Congrats on doing a fishless cycle! And good for you on doing your research. According to my calcs, you have a 10 gallon tank. Your stocking list looks good. I would up the school of dwarf corys to 6 as they function better with a minimum school of 6. You could also add 2 more rasboras and you should be good. Better to stick with 2 schools(the rasboras and the corys) in such a small tank.

Since you cycled fishless, you can stock completely if you like. Just watch the water perimeters closely for a week or two to make certain your beneficial bacteria is keeping up. If you see a little ammonia spike, just do some extra water changes until the tank self corrects.

But if you choose, you can stock in increments. I'd start with the gourami and the rasboras. Leave the bottom dwellers last. The apisto will spend some time in the lower regions and the cory cats are definite bottom dwellers.

Sounds like it will be a really pretty tank!

**livvyy** · 02-19-2013, 04:15 AM

thank you so much :) I wasn't 100% sure if this would work but I shall try getting 6 corys and maybe 8 rasbora? instead of getting those extra fish in the schools would there be another fish that was a lone fish that would go well with these? just playing around with my options and those are deffinants now :)

**ameliaaahx** · 02-19-2013, 04:33 AM

Well done for doing research!!

Unfortunately 50L isn't a very big tank and I think you'd be pushing the limit with 2 schools already. My best advice, if you really want something else, would be to add the 8 Rasbora and 6 Cories when you are finished cycling and then monitor how many nitrates the tank produces per-week for a few weeks. If you are keeping up with water changes and keeping your nitrates nice and low (under 15-20ppm), then you could possibly get away with adding another fish. I used to have a Blue Planet Classic and they have pretty big footprints for a small tank. I think a single Dwarf Gourami or Honey Gourami would be suitable.

**livvyy** · 02-19-2013, 04:56 AM

i may just stick with

1 dwarf gourami (one I have been looking at for a while)
1 Macmaster Dwarf cichlid - (any advice on if there maybe another cichlid for my tank maybe better suited)
8 Galaxy Rasbora
6 Dwarf Cory

Thanks for the help I can't wait until Thursday may just got for the full stock maybe leave cories out for now butttt never know what will happen Thursday :) thank you

**talldutchie** · 02-19-2013, 05:14 AM

I wouldn't mix the cichlid with the dwarf gourami, too much chance the cichlid will dominate that whole tank.
But I also wouldn''t keep dwarf cories on anything but sand and in a planted tank

**ameliaaahx** · 02-19-2013, 05:30 AM

Yeah, I would leave the cichlid out, unless you ditch the dwarf gourami. In a tank that size it's one or the other.

**livvyy** · 02-19-2013, 11:35 AM

Quick question I have my nitrAte between 5 and 10 is this ok (for after my fishless cycle) and I put h ammonia up to about .5 justo feed the bacteria?

And if not a cichild what other fish could I have (same size or smaller) that can be a lone fish?

**Honey Badger 1** · 02-19-2013, 04:23 PM

That's a small tank and I think it will be fully stocked with the gourami, rasbora, and the cory. 5-10 nitrate is great. When you finally stock the tank you will want to keep the nitrates at or below 20ppm, a little higher is ok, but I like to keep it lower for the health of the fish.