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Fishkeeper123

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Dec 21, 2024
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Hi there new member,
I have had 2 panda garras and 8 leopard danios for around 3 months. I’m going to get 160l tank and have done most of my stocking but am still looking for a bit of advice. The fish I that is definite is the 8 danios, at least one panda garra and a BN pleco, I’m like the idea of swordtails and a dwarf cichlid( either kribensis or Bolivian ram). Will I be able to have all these fish, I would only have one dwarf cichlid and then maybe 4-6 swordtails 1 male 3-5 females. Would this all be okay, would the danios attack the swordtail? Or is this overstocked?
 
Since your doing litres, I have to ask your tanks dimensions.

Most of your fish list would like some flow. I've kept danios, garras & bns (none together) with extra water movement; dwarf cichlids not so much. But you "might" be able to allow water flow & calmer areas for the dwarf cichlids. It can be hard to get that just right.

Personally, I would go with fish that prefer more water movement & more garras rather than cichlids. Maybe some smaller loaches? I love loaches so my judgement is skewed toward them, lol.
 
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It’s not be decided completely as still looking for a great tank but the tank will be 3ft long if that helps. I think i like the look of swordtails but a bit concerned of the amount of fry. So would have stocking like
• a BN
•8 long finned leopard danios
• a panda garra( not sure I want to add anymore but might)
• 4 swordtails
• something that will eat the fry( betta, killifish what would be the best option?)
• would I still have room for another loach? What loaches could I get? ( hillstreem, kuhli, yo-yo, or any others that would work)
 
My advice is generally the same. Most of your fish are compatible so behavior isn't the issue. I assume your question is focused on how many fish can live in a 160l (42 gallons) before it's overstocked. It comes down to this: more fish = more waste. More waste = more water changes. Adding many fish at once causes dangerous chemistry swings. My advice is to get one kind of fish per month. Add slowly over time. Test your water regularly. Some people are great at regular maintenance and do 25% water changes every 7 days like clockwork. Others tend to change water when they have time but never find the time. If you add slowly, you'll know when it starts turning into work you don't enjoy vs. a quiet Zen enjoyment of maintaining a small space. Adding slowly also helps the bacteria and other forces adjust to smaller changes in the bioload. Besides, you might find something else interesting to add later and you'd still have room for it as your tastes evolve.
 
Pinkey said:
My advice is generally the same. Most of your fish are compatible so behavior isn't the issue. I assume your question is focused on how many fish can live in a 160l (42 gallons) before it's overstocked. It comes down to this: more fish = more waste. More waste = more water changes. Adding many fish at once causes dangerous chemistry swings. My advice is to get one kind of fish per month. Add slowly over time. Test your water regularly. Some people are great at regular maintenance and do 25% water changes every 7 days like clockwork. Others tend to change water when they have time but never find the time. If you add slowly, you'll know when it starts turning into work you don't enjoy vs. a quiet Zen enjoyment of maintaining a small space. Adding slowly also helps the bacteria and other forces adjust to smaller changes in the bioload. Besides, you might find something else interesting to add later and you'd still have room for it as your tastes evolve.
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Interestingly, many people consider 25% water changes every week to be quite the norm. I have tried this regimen, but sometimes I don't have enough time.
 
I currently do w water change every to weeks(30-40%) but the danios don’t have much waste and neither the garras. Everywhere I’ve looked apparently the garras restrict what I can get so was worried about tankmates and also overstocking it.
 
I have just got a 180l tank and got a pair of Bolivian rams and a Bristlenose pleco. Might get some more fish in a month or so, but unsure.
 
Alan_ Mackey said:
Interestingly, many people consider 25% water changes every week to be quite the norm. I have tried this regimen, but sometimes I don't have enough time.
Click to expand...
+1
I generally do 50-75% WC on all my tanks weekly including my salt tanks. I stock heavy and have lots of messy carnivores though. It doesn’t hurt anything to skip a week of maintenance if need be, nitrates are more of a long term health thing unlike ammonia and nitrites.
 
Fishkeeper123 said:
I have just got a 180l tank and got a pair of Bolivian rams and a Bristlenose pleco. Might get some more fish in a month or so, but unsure.
Click to expand...
So is that a 36” x18x18”-ish tank? If you have enough cover, a small group of peacock gudgens might be cool without adding too much load.
 
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