New setup for Tetras
- Thread starter McKinneyMike
- Start date
I'm doing a 55 gallon dwarf tank. Everything will be below 2" each. I've got a large stock list and I think it's going to be amazing. I can't wait to get all my stock in. 
I believe yours will be great as well!
I believe yours will be great as well!Yes it is 72x18 footprint. Is there a formula to calculate bio-load that is a reasonably good indicator?I would personally go with Blue Rams.
Your stock still looks quite under-stocked (bioload-wise) given the size of your tank. Your tank has 72x18 footprint, right?
Never had a tank even close to this size before. 29 gallon has been my aquarium of choice until I got this urge to really go big (for me) and make a Tetra tank. I love them and their schooling habits (usually anyway) make them fun to watch.I'm doing a 55 gallon dwarf tank. Everything will be below 2" each. I've got a large stock list and I think it's going to be amazing. I can't wait to get all my stock in.
I have had great success with Bleeding Hearts and Blacks when I give them a heavy diet of live brine. Their colors just jump! I also have Angels in another 29 gallon, but they have always been by themselves. I never knew that they would work OK with Tetra's
I think that I will start with 15 Bleeding Hearts, 15 Congo's and 15 Columbians and see what they look like in the tank first. I would like to add about 5 Calico Angels or Golden Angels if they all play together well enough.
The Ram's scare me if they are difficult to keep. I have never really had any problems with any of the fish that I kept to date, but I really never tried anything out of the norm either though.
You can try my calculator - bioload-wise it seems to be pretty good now. It still needs to be improved from the perspective of aggression but in your case, I don't see any aggressive species. Admittedly, I have not done much testing for tank of your size, but so far, the same algorithm scaled pretty well up to 75g so I don't see why it would not continue to scale well.
Here is the thread:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185743
I've got a 20 extra tall with just a plain light on it. It's less than 1 watt a gallon. I have thriving sword, wisteria and moneywort with no fuss. There are lots of additional plants that can also handle low light. The biggest issue with most is they grow slower, which can be a plus, less frequent pruning.
a large school of congos would be IMPRESSIVE. they get large for tetras and have gorgeous color. DO THIS. the ember tetras soudn like a nice secondary school to keep in there with them. or rummies....oooooooooo
Don't be scared away. If the aquarium is well established and parameters are stable and within their range (75-85F, pH 6.5-7.0) you should definitely give them a try. You will love their personalities. Give them a well planted tank with a nice open area for swimming and give them a try.
tanker
Josh Holloway--Be mine!!!
There is no "TRUE" and accurate way to reallly calculate-- but you initial idea
Columbian Tetra 6
Congo Tetra 6
Emperor Tetra 6
Bleeding Heart Tetra 6
Black Tetra 6
Neon Tetra 30
Cory's 10
Kuli Loaches 10
is OK. The kulies have almost no BIO load. I am not a Black tetra lover--they kind of loose their color when older, but still a beautiful, peaceful, fish. If you really want a "Black-Tetra" I always loved the Black Phantom Tetra.
But back to your stock. I would up all the other tetras to 10, but would only add one school at a time (one every 2 weeks) to balance and let the BIO of tank to keep up.
See my sig. for my stock. Each tetra species I have about 10 except the cardinals (16).
PS...The Emperors and Congos look amazing when bigger!!!! ...From experience!!!
Thanks everyone for the inputs. This will be a slow process as specific species of quality become available.
