New tank - what to stock it with?

[Southerngirl]

Hey all

We've just bought a new tank, a 65 litre (17gal??) and can't decide what to stock it with. I have about 6 tetras (silvertips & black neons) that I want to transfer, but would like to put something else in. I'd love to have a clown loach or two, but reading the species profile it says they need a minimum of a 55gal. Was also considering angelfish but again I think my tank might be too small.

Suggestions??

[dorkfish]

true, both clown loaches and angels will get to big for your tank. However the species profiles here aren't up to date and I suggest you use the species profiles over at age of aquariums (http://www.aquahobby.com/e_home.php) for better info. As for a fish, have you considered somekind of gourami(preferably drawf, but any oher small gourami species is OK) or a betta?

[Web Gazelle]

If your new tank is completly cycled then you should double your population of neons and silvertips. The more the merrier with those fish.

[Southerngirl]

Thanks for the suggestions.. - we were planning on getting some more tetras, but want something different too. I'm not keen on gouramis, I mean I like them but have had them in the past and had trouble in keeping them alive.. as for bettas my husband doesn't like those, so they're not an option.

I've been looking at corys and otos, quite keen on the otos, would these be good additions??

On the subject of otos, I realise that they like to eat the algae, since the new tank doesn't have much algae growth yet (apart from on the plants that were transported from the old tank) would it be ok to put them in another tank I have? It has quite a bit of algae growth, and only one inhabitant - a rainbow shark.

[dorkfish]

Youve got a be kidding me? If a gourami dies when your doing proper water changes and aclimate them properly as well, then something is seriosly wrong with your tank.

[Southerngirl]

I think it was something to do with the water, I did have a discussion on here about it at the time they died, I was having water problems. I think the water was too acidic or something..
However, I have learned a lot since then.. maybe we should give them another go.

[Southerrngirrl]

Still thinking about what to put in my new tank. What about getting 3 more silvertips, 2 more black neons and say 3 small corys (leopard or panda).. that would give me 15 fish.. too much for this size tank??

Also with the tetras, the ones I have all sort of hang out and mix together, what if I was to introduce another kind of tetra like cardinals, serpae or rummy nose. Ok to do that or not? I'm keen to get a bit more colour if I can.

[Roan Art]

Still thinking about what to put in my new tank. What about getting 3 more silvertips, 2 more black neons and say 3 small corys (leopard or panda).. that would give me 15 fish.. too much for this size tank??

Also with the tetras, the ones I have all sort of hang out and mix together, what if I was to introduce another kind of tetra like cardinals, serpae or rummy nose. Ok to do that or not? I'm keen to get a bit more colour if I can.
Tetras need to be in schools of at least six of the same species and more is better. The only reason they are hanging out together is because they aren't in proper schools, and I suspect your tank isn't long enough for all those fish. What are the dimensions of the tank -- length, width, height? Gallonage isn't as important as footprint when it comes to schooling fish.

The number of fish is also moot. Again it comes down to how much room they have to swim and where in the water column they prefer to be.

Roan

[Southerrngirrl]

I meant to measure it last night but forgot, its not that long at all. I'd say its taller than what it is long. I had no idea tetras should be in long tanks... kicking myself now for not researching more. Although its bigger and longer than what they were in before.

[dorkfish]

Do you know what the PH of your water is? Any PH from 6-8 should be fine for gouramis as long as the LFS water is the same or you aclimate them long enough.

[Southerrngirrl]

Tested it last night it was fairly neutral around 6.8-7.0, back when I did have the gouramis it was testing between 6.0-6.6. The water comes out of the tap (rain water from a tank) at about 6.8-7.0. For some reason the water in the tank was turning quite acidic, still don't know why, although back then I was adding all sorts of chemicals and additives which I probably didn't need. I don't take that approach anymore and only add chemicals and stuff when I absolutely need to. Would gouramis be more suited to the shape of my tank?

[Web Gazelle]

What type of gouramis are you looking at getting? Dwarf Gouramis tend to get sick easier and could get stressed out with the active shoaling fish that those tetras are. I think you will do best with a few more tetras and some cory cats. Pandas are cool fish. BTW my rasboras are doing just fine with a male rainbow shark for a tank mate.

[Southerngirl]

Probably would be Dwarf gouramis, they are the smallest.. others would be too big for my tank?

Yeah, you probably have a much larger tank that I have. The rainbow shark was originally in a tank with silvertips, glowlights and platys.. very very small tank, he kept chasing the platys A LOT, then when they all died he started chasing the tetras.. so we just decided to move him to another tank, same size but all by himself.. he seems quite happy there. We know that he will eventually outgrow it, and do plan on getting a much larger tank for him.

BTW the dimensions of the tank are 60Wx59Hx32D

[Web Gazelle]

Your tank is just a little smaller than mine. Dwarfs should be fine but you should try to get 2 or 3 females and 1 male. The male will be alot happier. A single male by himself may get shy, hide alot and stop eating. This will cause stress and could result in sickness and death.