Newbie stocking questions

[ISDA89]

Hello everyone,
I'm new in the forum. We just had our 54 gallon tank a month and a half ago and we already have around 50 different kinds of freshwater fishes: 1 Roseline Shark, 2 Bala Sharks, 2 Metallic Blue Guppies, 2 Coral Green Gouramis, 1 Bushy Nosed Pleco, 1 Red Hi Fin Pleco, 14 Neon and Cardinal Tetras, 6 Red Eyed Balloon Tetras, 6 Black Skirt Tetras, 6 Rummy Nosed Tetras, 6 Assorted Male Guppies, 2 small Clown Loaches and 1 big Clown Loach. They seemed to be happy except that my big clown loach George is always hiding behind the plants and would come out at night when I turn off the lights! Lately, I would feed them with brine shrimps and bloodworms and he would start to go out but still rush back in hiding fast!!! Is it normal? Is he intimidated by the sharks since they move fast? Do I have a lotin my tank? I'm thinking of eventually adding angels and discus... please advice.

[mac]

I have made this topic for you ISDA89, so that you can get more help from people, who will see this thread, as a topic instead of half way through a different type of thread.

mac

Hello everyone,
I'm new in the forum. We just had our 54 gallon tank a month and a half ago and we already have around 50 different kinds of freshwater fishes: 1 Roseline Shark, 2 Bala Sharks, 2 Metallic Blue Guppies, 2 Coral Green Gouramis, 1 Bushy Nosed Pleco, 1 Red Hi Fin Pleco, 14 Neon and Cardinal Tetras, 6 Red Eyed Balloon Tetras, 6 Black Skirt Tetras, 6 Rummy Nosed Tetras, 6 Assorted Male Guppies, 2 small Clown Loaches and 1 big Clown Loach. They seemed to be happy except that my big clown loach George is always hiding behind the plants and would come out at night when I turn off the lights! Lately, I would feed them with brine shrimps and bloodworms and he would start to go out but still rush back in hiding fast!!! Is it normal? Is he intimidated by the sharks since they move fast? Do I have a lotin my tank? I'm thinking of eventually adding angels and discus... please advice.
__________________

[fins_n_fur]

I'm a little bit confused. Are all of these fish in one tank, or in a few tanks? If they're in one tank, you definitely don't want to be adding more fish.

[mac]

I'm new in the forum.

Welcome to AC.

We just had our 54 gallon tank a month and a half ago and we already have around 50 different kinds of freshwater fishes:

1 Roseline Shark, 2 Bala Sharks, 2 Metallic Blue Guppies, 2 Coral Green Gouramis, 1 Bushy Nosed Pleco, 1 Red Hi Fin Pleco, 14 Neon and Cardinal Tetras, 6 Red Eyed Balloon Tetras, 6 Black Skirt Tetras, 6 Rummy Nosed Tetras, 6 Assorted Male Guppies, 2 small Clown Loaches and 1 big Clown Loach.[/QUOTE]


There is a few problems with your stocking.

One some of these fish like to be in schools of 5-6 or more.
For instance Rosiline Barbs love a school of 5.
The same with the Clown Loaches they like a larger group. But with the Clown Loaches, you do know that they grow up to 15+ inches, and need a tank of over 100 gallons.

The same thing with the Bala Sharks, They like to be in a group of 5, and they need a large tank as well. Like around 100 gallons.

They seemed to be happy except that my big clown loach George is always hiding behind the plants and would come out at night when I turn off the lights! Lately, I would feed them with brine shrimps and bloodworms and he would start to go out but still rush back in hiding fast!!!

It could be that he is scared because there is not enough numbers.

Is he intimidated by the sharks since they move fast?

No it should not be the Sharks, since the Clown in the right environment are very active fish.

I have a lotin my tank? I'm thinking of eventually adding angels and discus... please advice.

Now you do have a lot of fish in your tank. But with the Bala's removed and the Clowns your tank would be fine, and not over stocked. But in adding Angels and Disucs is a big no no. One the Discus need pristine water conditions which are hard to maintain with all these fish.

What are your water parameters? What is your pH Nitrites Nitrates, Ammonia? Also what is the temperature set at? And when do you do a water change? Weekly or fortnightly? And how much do you change?

Cheers,
mac

[Northernguy]

I completley agree with the others as well.
How long has your tank been cycled?
Got any pics of your tank?

[ISDA89]

My pH is 7.6. Ammonia, and nitrite are zero and nitrate is 5.0.
I change 30 % of water every two weeks and check my levels every three days. Yes, they all are in one tank. We will probably hold off with plans on getting Angels and Discus at this time. George the big clown loach is starting to get out and venture from behind the plants even with the lights on. Last night, I tried to feed them with bloodworms and George came out to join the hunt for the worms. It's fun watching everybody scamper for the food. We'll have to settle with what we have in our tank for now and eventually when they get bigger, we might exchange them back to where we purchased them.

[Red]

I would never add angels/discus to that tank.
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...t=31312&page=4

Thats a thread i made and will give you a base on how big your bala and clown loaches will get. It would be best if you got a tank 125+ to keep all your fish.
Adam

[Northernguy]

Why not plan ahead and get a bigger grow out tank.That way you can watch your fish grow to their full size.

[mac]

My pH is 7.6. Ammonia, and nitrite are zero and nitrate is 5.0.
I change 30 % of water every two weeks and check my levels every three days. .

Your pH is a bit to high for the fish you are keeping. the fish you are keeping live in a pH of 6.8. Now the best way I know to lower the pH is to use peat in the filter. This will make the tank become more acidic which is what you want.

Also I would make the water change to be every week at 30%.

Cheers,
mac

[Lady Hobbs]

Wow! You have WAY too many fish in this tank.

Your pH is fine! My 6 tanks are now and always have been at 7.6 and I've kept all kinds of fish.

Clown loaches can get to 12" (more likely 8") and like to be in groups of their own.

Bala sharks also like large groups and they grow to one foot easily. They are very fast, furious swimmers and need a HUGE tank.

Your guppies will be lunch for these other fish.

I think you need to rethink your entire stocking situation, return some of the fish you have and start over.

Large groups of two or three types of fish (community fish) make a lot nicer tank than just two or three of 30 kinds of fish.

You are overstocked and need good filtration and larger, weekly water changes.