Just another Newbi :)

[Flatscan]

Hi, first time poster and looking for a little input.

Ok so I finally decided to get some fish. Something I've always wanted to do. Really love the bright colors of some of them such as Diadema Pseudochromis, Orchid Dottyback or Scotts Fairy Wrasse.

Since Saltwater fish were the fish that really catch my eye, and coral is beautiful, figure that's what I'd go with. Tank, water, fish, food and I'll be set to start up. Was I in for a surprise. Cycling, brackish, powerhead, protein skimmer, live rock, sump, not to mention compatibility between fish/fish, fish/invertebrates, fish/coral, invertebrates/coral even coral/coral!

Ok so after a few hours of disheartening research, I decided I should probably start off with a freshwater tank to get use to testing, water changes, feeding schedules and not to mention easier on the pocketbook.

Unfortunately there just isn't a huge selection of bright colorful fish for freshwater. There are a few like a Beta, but just not a lot that I was really drawn to. So I figure if I look at some live, something may stand out, so off to the local fish shop I go.

Oddly enough, the fish that really caught my eye were not actually brightly colored, but really interesting, and tended to be mostly bottom feeders. Went home and did some more research.

So now, I have a 20g tank I picked up cheap which needs a good cleaning before I start to cycle it. Has a basic light, filter and heater. These are the main fish I'd like to pick up:

1 Pictus Catfish - Love the long whiskers!
1 Red Tailed Shark - Beautiful coloration
4 Kuhli Loach - Very interesting fish, may even get one albino
1 Zebra or Starry Night Pelco - May go with the Star because so unique

So my first concern is the Pictus only gets 4-6 inches, but he does swim a lot and may get a little territorial. I figure if I keep a lot of open space and maybe have hiding places and such a little off the tank floor. Also I'll end up getting a larger tank within the year, probably 55g long, so as long as he doesn't grow to fast he should be ok. Any thoughts?

My second concern, is if the Kuhli will be fine in here as long as I keep everyone well fed? Since they grow to 4 inches as well, I figure the Pictus won't see them as a late night snack provided again that he doesn't grow super fast, but wanted another opinion.

Thirdly they are mostly bottom dwellers, so checking to see this won't be overstocking. I'd hate to over crowd them. Reading on other peoples tanks and setups, it sounds like they should be ok provided they all get along, but want to make sure before I start committing to anything.

I would also like a few other fish in the upper tank if room and temperament permits. I was thinking a Beta would get along, or possibility a few Pea Puffers. Not sure if they would be nippy with the others, or if they might be a little on the small side and dinner for the Pictus. Other suggestions would be great, especially something bright and colorful, royal purple is my favorite!

Also going to go with live plants. Apparently Kuhli like floating plants, so any suggestions on plants that would work with any of these fish would be helpful. Would also like to hear about options for possible invertebrates.

Sorry for the long post, but really appreciate any and all feedback

 

[bgcoop8784]

as far as stocking go i can't help because all i really know from experience are sa/ca cichlids, but i can tell you that i would start small, get just a few of the fish you want and go from there untill you get the hang of everything, make sure your tank is cycled before adding any fish at all, orif you choose to cycle your tank with fish, use some fish that you don't mind having in your tank but also that you won't mind losing in case they don't make it through the cycle process, anything else you wanna know just ask, sorry i couldn't help with the stocking part.

 

[andyjs]

First, welcome to AC!

Your stocking choices need a bit of work. Really out of those fish, the kuhlis are the only ones I would put in a 20 gallon and I would recommend a 20 long (if you're not sure if it's 20 long or not, post the dimensions of the tank and we'll let you know) if possible as it gives more room for a larger group of kuhlis (I'd do at about 6 kuhlis in a 20). A pleco is a possibility as long as it is a species that stays under 4", but plecos are very dirty fish and will create a lot more waste than other fish their size.

Some easy low light plants include java ferns, anubias, and cryptocoryne species. Hornwart is also a good floating plant, but it tends to fall apart sometimes and can make a mess

 

[Flatscan]

Ok so I got my tank set up. Added 4 plants and Cycle, let it run for a day then added some fish.

1 Banjo Catfish
1 Cuckoo Catfish (Synodontis multipunctatus)
1 Long-finned albino Ancistrus bristlenose plecostomus, female I believe

The Cuckoo is little under an inch, and the other two are about 1 and a half inches. It's been about a week, Ammonia and Nitrate have remained at 0 and Nitrate was almost 0.3. Did a 40%-50% water change and added several pieces of wood.

Because the Cuckoo is so small it was recommended to hold off on the Pictus and Shark till he gets bigger, so looks like they will be on the waiting list till I get the 55 tank after all. Because the tank looks so empty (Banjo always hiding), decided to pick up some more fish.

5 Endler Guppies
3 Fancy Guppies
3 Cherry Shrimp
1 Zebra Nerite Snail
1 Green Cory

Everyone seems to have settled in and doing fine. The Cory and Cuckoo chase each other around a little but it isn't one sided and doesn't appear to be aggressive. I also realize that when the cats get bigger the guppies may become lunch, but that's ok. Either they last till I upgrade to the 55 and they can stay in the 20, or my cats will get healthy meal.

I wasn't sure how well the shrimp would do, but so far they are completely ignored, and well same goes with them as the guppies, either they last till the upgrade or I'm going to have some fat cats.

One problem I found, was I picked up some algae wafers (Hikari) but they make such a mess when they finally fall apart. Anyway to prevent this? Thinking of trying to use only a quarter wafer, or see if I can pick up a small dish to keep it contained. Any ideas?

 

[Flatscan]

Make that 3 South Green Corries. The one just didn't seem to be settling in, so pickup two more today since they are schooling. Only been about two hours now, but he seems to be settling down a lot more with the others.

 

[Coler]

Tank sounds nice - pics please

The one thing I would comment on your stocking is that your cory cat is not going to be all that happy without some company of his own kind - they do best in groups of at least say 4 - 6. The same could be said of your cuckoo catfish - happier in a group of more than 3.

The more important point about the multipunctatus however is that its an African Rift Lake catfish from Lake Tanganyika which does better in very hard high Ph water - say Ph 8 plus - which your other fish don't like. Equally as important, the multipunctatus is a much more active and pretty aggressive bottom dweller and is likely to stress out your other catfish. There will also be a lot of competition for food down there - again a source of stress.

If I was you I would bring back the cuckoo catfish and swap it for say 4 corydoras and I think you might just be ok with the bristlenose and the banjo although you will want to stay well up on your water changes as plecos and their cousins are heavy on bioload. If you wanted to ease up on bioload and be a little more conservative just keep one of the banjo or bristlenose and have 6 or 7 corydoras.

The corys are beautiful little fish, much more enjoyable in a group and waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay happier that way - they are actually pretty much a schooling bottom fish. You will have a bundle of cuteness at the bottom of the tank if you go down that road.

 

[Flatscan]

I’ve been doing a lot of research in the last week or so, and it actually turns out I have a Synodontis petricola not the multipunctatus. This is good. The reason I only picked up one was because the Cuckoo is supposed to become territorial when he gets bigger. The petricola only gets to around 4 inches and will continue to school. Will be picking up 2 more once I get my tank conditions under control.


I actually prefer the Syn over the corries and would sooner swap them for more Syn’s. When I saw the Syn at the store, I decided to go with him over getting a Pictus. He’s very active and curious. Even when I am moving stuff around in the tank he comes over to see what I’m doing rather than hiding. He’s also very social, even shares his little cave with the banjo. The corries are like bees in a box, constantly buzzing everywhere. I’m just happy everyone gets along, not counting the guppie eating endler! He’s still living in a coffee cup till I can get down to the store to return him.


Bottom seems to be ok so far, even the shrimp don’t get bullied when they go for the sinking flakes or pellets, so we’ll see. I’ll actually be picking up a 10g to move the guppies into along with some cardinal shrimp. I may end up moving the corries over as well, but haven’t really decided anything solid yet. One step at a time.

 

[Flatscan]

Ok here's some pic's, however I had forgot how bad my camera is so there not very good. Nothing as refrence for size, however everyone is about an inch and a half or less, which is probably the only reason my Cherry Shrimp are ok.

Banjo Catfish


Long-Finned Albino Ancistrus Bristlenose Plecostomus


Synodontis Petricola


The tank. It's 20g with several plants and 4 chunks gnarly of driftwood piled in the middle.