Newbie with a question

bgourami320

bgourami320

AC Members
Jun 13, 2010
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Brooklyn,NY
Real Name
Bonnie
Hi All,
Well after 30 years of not having a tank decided it was time!
I've been looking at 55-75 gal. tanks, not sure which yet. It seems
like there is so much to relearn. I had a 20 and a 50 gal. Grew my red oscars in the 20 gal, then transferred them to the 50 along with 2 tiger oscars and a jack dempsy and something called a porthole cichlid back then. I have a question about keeping cory's, loaches and pleco's.
I love them all, can you keep them all in one tank or one type of bottom dwelling fish is enough? And do you think a 75 gal. tank is a bit too much after not having a tank for so long? Thanks for any info, glad to be here:clap:
 
A 75 is nice, especially with previous experience. Depending on which species of cory/loaches/plecos it can be doable in a 75 without issues.
 
Glad to hear that, now some research and I'll find some that basically will live in the same conditions. The more I think about it the 75 is what I'm going to go with. I'm in no rush to plunk a bunch of fish in a tank, it'll probably be months before the tank is full. It took me a year to find the right breeder when I got my german shepherd,LOL, I'll be researching fish for a while too!
 
Your on the right track then! Google away on the breeds or note what you like that you see in an LFS. Post questions here and folks will be glad to help.
 
I've been googling, printing and putting what goes with what together! I can't wait to get the tank, have to wait till summer ends too much dog training and trialing right now. Believe me I will be posting plenty of questions!
 
Don't worry about the bigger tank being "too much". Caring for a tank is exactly the same be it 10gal or 100gal. Just in the 100gal you change a bit more water each week.

So if the choice was a crowded 30 gal, or the same fish in an understocked 75gal, the 75gal will be much easier to care for. Miss a water change for a couple of weeks? Meh, no problem. In a heavily stocked tank you need to keep on top of things, no room for mistakes.

The fish you want are basically compatible, but go with the smaller loaches and plecos. Yoyo loaches and Bristlenose plecos for example. They dont get huge, monster they little cories and outgrow the tank like the bigger species.

Also consider some surface dwelling fish, if thats all you put in, the top 2/3 of the tank will effectively be empty. A gourami and a school of barbs or tetras will give you some action in the rest of the tank.

I have recently got back into fish keeping after about 30 years as well, and there is a lot better understanding of the scientific aspect than there used to be, especially in the pre-internet days. I have inherited a few plecos from family, my favourite is a 10 year old Sailfin. He's a grumpy old bugger, chases my Oscar around the tank, but I love him.

Good luck

Ian
 
Thank you everyone for all the input, much appreciated:))
I happened to be ummm doing nothing at work today and checked out
aquarium classifieds. Saw a 55 gallon with stand, power whisper 70 filter, heater, bulb and fixture, decor,natural rocks, air pump and python water changing system all for $250. So sounds good? Even though I did want a bigger tank this might be a good jumping off point.
 
Hi Ianab, I'm definately thinking of some kind of tetra, I like the black or penquins, also dwarf rainbows maybe. This is the fun of it all. I wish Brooklyn had all the aquarium stores they used to have. There aren't many now. But I don't mind traveling for a good selection.
 
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