Here are my plans for my 1st tank!

[Vampyre]

Well i was dead set on a 55 gal. But i walked into to a local pet store and they just started a speical on the 75's (48x18x21) with glass top single light fixture and blub. For $150. Or for a dule blub its $40 more. The brand is the marienland. the matching stand is $159 and ill be getting 2 emperor 280's and the heater online.

Because of this speical the 75 gal is only $20 more then the 55 gal.

My stocking idea for the 55 was as follows.

6 red swords (4 females, 2 males)
4 Angle fish (of assorted colors)
6 corys (2 different sets of 3)
2 dwarf gourami

But now that im getting a bigger tank then planned what else do you guys recomend. increse the numbers of some of the fish i already planned on getting. Or adding something else.

Here are some of the things ive been thinking about

10 red swords (6 females, 4 males)
6 Angle fish (of assorted colors)
8 corys (2 different sets of 3)
4 dwarf gourami (the flame red ones and the blue ones)

or

10 red swords (6 females, 4 males)
6 Angle fish (of assorted colors)
6 corys (2 different sets of 3)
4 gourami's

Ooo this tank will not be planted at least not right now.

I was also thinking about putting a samll school of congo tetras in there aswell. and maybe putting a few upside down catfish in there with the corys.

But like i said if you have any suggestions at all just chime in

cheers.

[Rockin_Sunset]

because people have told me that they both get nippy. i was thinking of that for my first tank and then i found out it was not a good idea

[vato]

I would take out the swords, once the angels get bigge they will pick on these things evdlessly! Also the dwaarfs will pick on each other, maybe get one dwarf and one blue gourami or something. The congos would be good tank mates for the angel because they can out swim them and they are also pretty hardy. The upsidedown cats are a cool touch, I've always wanted some, but never done it.

[StreetCypher]

Congo tetras are pretty. Just make sure you don't put in any fin nipping fishies. Gouramis tend to be a little nippy...

Just remember, before you buy fish, make sure the tank is suitable for them (cycled, hiding spots, no BW fish for FW, plants, diet, compatability, territory, overstocking, etc. etc.)

:)

[Vampyre]

Ive been researching this for about 3 1/2 months. and the only part that i have not really read into yet was about the gouramis.

Ohh and about setting the tank up right. dont worrie i already have it all drawen out. I actually have 3 layouts to choose from.

Cheers.

[Captain Hook]

To give you an idea, here is what I'm planning to do with my 72 gallon:

1 - featherfin syno (catfish)
1 - albino rainbow shark
2 - bristlenose plecos
Pair of kribensis
2 Pairs of angelfish
6 - Rainbowfish (ornate and australian)
6-8 - Rosy barbs

Your idea of red swords is good because they are very nice. I was going to get a pair of them too but decided to go with the kribs.

[Vampyre]

funny you mention the bristlenose plecos as i was thinking about replacing the corys with 2 of them. and replacing the Gouramis with rainbow fish.

[dwayne]

What an awesome deal... $1 a gallon!!!

If I were you, I'd stock the tank like this:

Your original idea for a 55gal:
6 red swords (4 females, 2 males)
4 Angle fish (of assorted colors)
6 corys (2 different sets of 3)
2 dwarf gourami

New idea for 75:
8 red swords (5 females, 3 males)
8 cories (2 different sets of 4... were you planning dwarfs? if not, maybe only get 6)
8 zebra danios
2 dwarf gouramis -OR- 4 angels
1 bristlenose pleco
1 rainbow shark

HAVE FUN... I'm jealous!!!

~Tara

[Vampyre]

Well i have decided to scratch the gourami idea in favor of either the rainbow fish or the small school of congo tetras or zebra dainos.

thanks for the last post got me thinking about the rainbow shark as well as corys with a bristlenose pelco.

[dwayne]

Anytime Vampyre...

Now that I look back at what I suggested, that WOULD BE a bit overstocked if you did the 4 angels... my bad!!! :rolleyes:

~Tara

[Vampyre]

8 red swords (5 females, 3 males)
6 cories (2 different sets of 3)
6-8 zebra danios or congo tetras or 4 rainobow fish
4 angels
1-2 bristlenose pleco
1 rainbow shark

that is what i have come up with so far. Or maybe just ditch the corys all together for the pelcos. I am still researching this a bit. but ill be getting the tank this weekend when i can get a buddies truck. then when ever the filters arrive from big al's ill start the fishless cycle.

[TKOS]

With those fish I would suggest at leate using really nice silk fake plants. When angels are small they are pretty docile but get aggressive when they pair off. Line of sight blocks and hiding spots can really help tune down aggression.

Bristlenose plecos are great at eating algae with some veggie additons to the diet. Cories are good bottom scavengers with the additon of some extra sinking pellets.

[Vampyre]

Well i got the tank and stand today. <^.^> but im actually considering going marine instead now. dunno why. but it cant hurt to research it.

either way im going to have one hell of a tank either way i got. i can wait.

cheers. :-F

[dwayne]

Have you ever kept any fish tank before? I'm not sure, but I think marine tanks are very difficult to maintain... go over to the saltwater section and see what's doin'...

I'm not trying at all to discourage you or anything, but just in case you didn't realize how much work a marine tank is compared to freshwater... but the marine fish are SO PRETTY!!!

~Tara

[OrionGirl]

Marine tanks are not more work than fresh. They require attention to some additional parameters, can be a bit more costly to setup, and more care in stocking, but actual maintenance doesn't have to be more. I spend more time on my planted FW tanks than on the SW reef.

[dwayne]

;)
I stand corrected, thanks OG! Like I said, I wasn't trying to dissuade you in either direction Vampyre... that was just my understanding of a marine tank...

That being said, if you have the extra set-up dough for a salt water, GO FOR IT:D!! I love saltwater fish (well, I love all fish, but there seem to be so many different pretty options w/ saltwater)...

~Tara

[OrionGirl]

NP! :) Marine setups got a bad rap early on, when you couldn't buy packaged slat mix but had to fiddle around with trace elements and such. Nowadays, it's pretty easy. Still have to cycle the tank, and most do water changes, but really, once the tank is up, it's no more challenging than a FW tank, IMO.

[Vampyre]

Ok after reading a for a few hours im sticking with FW for at least a year :-) (cost is just a bit high for a first set up to do it right)

I love the SW setup mostley because i am a Full padi scuba instructor with well over 500+ dives in the log book. So i regulary jump into the biggest fish tank of them all.

what i would do to have a queen angle swiming around in my living room.

Well now i am considering going semi planted and see how they do. Ill have the bulb from the tank deal. Im going to order the twin strip all-galss fixture so that will give me 1.6 wpg. Ill be using flourish and excel for fert. And have the lights on timers 10 on 14 off. Ill probley add co2 some time in the future once i get the hang of everything else. (my home theater is my first and major hobbie. Projector with 92" screen and top of the line def tech surrond gives you an idea of what i got)

Now since ill have some plants in there will the bristlenose pelcos wreak havoc on the real plants? I know the some or most do from what i have read up this forum.

And to answer the ? if this is my first tank? yes it is. I had a gold fish bowl when i was a kid. But the family went on vacation and let a family friend take care of him. And when we got back the fish had black spots all over him. He dided the next day :-( I keep saying that the family friend killed him. Heck i can even rember doing weekley water changes back then aswell.

anyways thats enough of me.

o one more small ? with the heaters i will be getting 2. should i get 2 125's or 2 150's thanks so much.

cheers :-F

[anonapersona]

If you are going to have this a plnated tank, you might look at setting it up so that the fish do not have to endure a cycle establishing.

Planted tanks can do a silent cycle. That's how I did the school tank. Set up gravel, lights, CO2, then plant as much as possible. Let the plants take off, after a couple of weeks, add algae eaters (otos and shrimp) but no food. After a couple more weeks, add regular fish and feed them. Add fetilizer if the plants need it.

Takes about 4 to 6 weeks to be fully stocked. No algae!

see Chuck Gadd's site for the details.

[Vampyre]

I read that guide (very good site) but i wont be heavley planted. Im going to start out with about 6 total plants and then add from there as the tank progresses over the year.

cheers :-F