Stocking a Small Tank

[rhiannonk]

I have a setup 6gal. (it's a second hand eclipse but the filter was broken - which is a shame because it was very space saving and built in) It is planted (some anarchis, hornwart, and driftwood) .... I have three guppies in there (babies ... from my sister's tank) while it cycles ... but I am wondering what I should eventually chose to stock it.

I was thinking maybe 2 or 3 cherry barbs, but if I did that, would I be able to put 2 small cories for the bottom (I want at least 2 because they like being together, but I wouldnt want more because I'm scared of overstocking.)?

Any other suggestions for what I could put in here would be great. Thanks.
(P.S I was also thinking of 2 khuli loaches for the bottom, but the one LFS doesnt stock them and i havent checked any others ... are they uncommon?)

EDIT: The guppies are going to be leaving my tank before I restock. ... and I'm not really interested in a Betta or livebearers.

 

[bradwarden]

I have had a five gallon tank running for several months and in it I have 3 mountain cloud minnows, 3 tetras of some kind, and 2 cories... If you ask me I'd say they are all fairly happy. It's probably overstocked but I don't care.

 

[Fish Kate]

I was thinking maybe 2 or 3 cherry barbs, but if I did that, would I be able to put 2 small cories for the bottom (I want at least 2 because they like being together, but I wouldnt want more because I'm scared of overstocking.)?

Any other suggestions for what I could put in here would be great. Thanks.
(P.S I was also thinking of 2 khuli loaches for the bottom, but the one LFS doesnt stock them and i havent checked any others ... are they uncommon?)


The khuli loaches would not be hard to find, but they would get too big for your tank (around 3" long). If you have your heart set on cories, maybe a dwarf pair -- only one inch when fully grown -- would fit the bill.

 

[Fish Kate]

P.S. you are getting another filter in there besides the broken one, righ? It's really important if you're going to stock more than a couple baby fish in there.

 

[rhiannonk]

I already have a different filter
It's an in-tank one ... basically pumps water from the bottom through some media (I put extra floss in there) and out the top ... it is placed near the top of the tank to maximize surface disturbance (so I don't need an aerator)

... about the khuliis ... even though they get 3 inches ... they arent full bodied fish though right ... and so their "footprint" wouldn't really be the same as like a 3" fish of a different type. And they are limited mostly to the ground areas. Just wondering ... I'm not going to push it though, but I just really thought they looked like an awesome fish.

Soon I might go check out another (speacialty) LFS (instead of Superpet :/) to see if they have any more interesting selections - and maybe I could ask the staff (hoping they are knowledgable) about suggestions.

 

[SaraB]

Just make sure you double and triple check anything the LFS employees tell you with other sources. Just because they work there, doesn't mean they know everything. Even in a more specialised place.

 

[momar]

Originally posted by rhiannonk
... about the khuliis ... even though they get 3 inches ... they arent full bodied fish though right ... and so their "footprint" wouldn't really be the same as like a 3" fish of a different type. And they are limited mostly to the ground areas. Just wondering ... I'm not going to push it though, but I just really thought they looked like an awesome fish.

You're right that they wont have the same bioload as a more 'normal' shaped fish. You could add them depending on tank dimensions. Generally tthe length of the tank should be 5 to 6 times that of the biggest fish for swimming space. I have a 7gal (18x10x10 inches) which is probably overstocked in most people's opinion in terms of bioload (3 guppies, 6 white clouds and 2 firebelly newts, especially as it's only 2/3 full), but as long as you keep up with water changes to keep ammonia and nitrate at zero you can keep a fair number of fish.

Go for the kuhlis or cories depending on your tank dimensions (2 or 3 of each, but if you go for pygmy cories you could get 5 or so), and 3-4 midwater fish like barbs (or 6 smaller ones like neons or white clouds).

 

[rhiannonk]

yup I'm thinking a pair of cherry barbs ...
I am going to add fish very slowly, so I might do corys first then the barbs? or if i find Khulis ill do the barbs first ...doent really matter

ill update once i look into more