Hi all! I have always wanted an aquarium but never had the room/money to take care of one properly. Now in my first (small) home, I just bought a 46Gal bow front. There'so no water in it yet (my wife wants to paint the dining room where it's going first-fairly bright but no direct sunlight), but have a canister filter and heater said to be good enough for a 55Gal, so hoping that'll be fine. I also got a nitrogen cycle starter and tap water treatment for new water at my weekly changes. Plus a few coral/cave/tall plant inserts for hiding spots. Anything else I should make sure to have before I start?
Also, I was looking up stocking parameters, and besides nobody liking the 1 inch per gallon "rule" I haven't found much besides people saying it just takes experience to figure out; not really helpful for a beginner. I went through my local aquarium shop and wrote down the name of every fish I might like, then came up with a preliminary plan, which I'd love to know if feasible or a big noob mistake?
I figured after the tank cycles and tests clean, I'll get 6-8 Xray tetras or Cherry Barbs to start with (~16"). Then a few weeks later I'll start slowly (1 species at a time a week or more apart-I live 45 minutes from the city, so never go near the aquarium shop more than 1-2 times a month) adding the rest of the fish I want. I was thinking 1 angel (~6"), 1 African Butterfly fish for the top of the tank (~4"), a bristle nose pleco (~6"), and 6-8 Dwarf Siam Botias (15-20"). Too much even if I only get 6 of the schoolers?
thanks!
Also, I was looking up stocking parameters, and besides nobody liking the 1 inch per gallon "rule" I haven't found much besides people saying it just takes experience to figure out; not really helpful for a beginner. I went through my local aquarium shop and wrote down the name of every fish I might like, then came up with a preliminary plan, which I'd love to know if feasible or a big noob mistake?
I figured after the tank cycles and tests clean, I'll get 6-8 Xray tetras or Cherry Barbs to start with (~16"). Then a few weeks later I'll start slowly (1 species at a time a week or more apart-I live 45 minutes from the city, so never go near the aquarium shop more than 1-2 times a month) adding the rest of the fish I want. I was thinking 1 angel (~6"), 1 African Butterfly fish for the top of the tank (~4"), a bristle nose pleco (~6"), and 6-8 Dwarf Siam Botias (15-20"). Too much even if I only get 6 of the schoolers?
thanks!
