I'm new and I have questions!

glcasper

glcasper

AC Members
Mar 29, 2008
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I just got a 75 gallon tank and it will be a planted one when I am ready to set it up (I am going in a business trip in a couple of weeks, so I am waiting until I am back and i don't have to leave in the middle of cycling!)
I am not really new to the hobby, but I am new to this size (I have had smaller tanks before) and I want to have different fish I've never had before. (I've had goldfish and livebearers in my tanks before). So here are my questions:
1. I am looking at getting a Rena xp3 filter. Sounds like good quality for the money. Do you think this is a good choice?
2. About fish: I would like to have angels, boesemani rainbows, maybe some gouramis, clown loaches (I know they get huge, but I think I fell in love with the species!) and some algae eater (not chinese!) or ottos, to keep the tank clean. Would you recommend anything else? How does that combination sound? And how many of each do you think would be good for them and wouldn't crowd the tank? Again, these are new to me, so if this group sounds like trouble let me know. That is why I wanted to ask before getting them!
I am sure I'll come up with more questions as I go, but for now that's it!
Thank you!
glcasper
 
Welcome to AC! It sounds like you've already done a lot of research.

As far as your stocking questions:

Angels, like gouramis, are semi-aggressive. While either species will do fine with the rainbows and loaches, angels eventually will fight with angels, gouramis may fight with gouramis, and each species will fight with the other. Your best bet would be to pick one kind of fish. Then for the angels get one or six. One means that there will be NO fighting, while six allows any aggression to be evenly distributed. All bets are off if/when they get older and start pairing up. Dwarf gouramis are much more peaceful than the standard-sized blues and golds. You could have several dwarfs in there.

As for the loaches, they grow slowly, but eventually will need a much bigger home. If that is not in your plans, look into smaller species. There are many that are just as attractive. Avoid skunk and blue loaches, as they are quite aggressive. Small algae eaters include otos, Siamese algae eaters, and bristlenose plecos.


I would probably do:

one angel
12-15 rainbows
8-12 cardinal tetras
8 yo-yo or angelicus loaches
1 bristlenose pleco and 5 otos once the tank is established OR 6 Siamese algae eaters
 
Thanks for the info!
If I do only 1 angel and choose that many rainbows, I can mix different rainbow species, right?
It's a good thing I will have plenty of time to decide on fish! So many choices, so little tank!
And I heard that otos are not very hardy, is that true?
Thanks again!
 
you could definitely mix rainbows.

some otos are hardy, some are not. i'm pretty sure they are all wild-collected, so that comes with shipping issues, bad feeding, possible internal parasites, etc. . . some will eat only algae and are in trouble once they clean your tank, others will happily munch on algae wafers, fresh veggies, and shrimp pellets. i've heard the trick is to buy more than you need - a few will die off right away, and the ones that live past the initial "break in" period will last forever. i bought 8 originally for a 30g tank, still have 5, and mine school with the guppies and eat prepared foods. i think i'm one of the lucky ones.
 
Great, thanks!
As I said, it'll be a few weeks until I can set the tank up, but I will keep you posted. I am way too excited about this to not share... Untill then I'll keep on trying to make up mi mind.
 
make sure you look into fishless cycling
 
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