stocking plan for 75 gal-too much?

[euglossa]

I currently have 8 zebra danios cycling in my 75 gal tank.

I'd like to have a school of 8 -10 congo tetras, a pair of pearl gouramis, 6 or more yo-yo loaches, and 6 hatchets and/or 6 red minor tetras.

Am I getting too carried away with the numbers?
I've heard red-minors can be nippy, will they bother the gouramis or congos too much?

thanks,
Ellen

 

[jm1212]

dont get the minors, as you said they can be nippy, and the gouramis wont like that.

the zebra dainos will be fine around the top of the tank, so you dont need the hatchets IMO, so why not up the amount of gouramis to 5 or 6, and then up the amount of congos to 12?

 

[euglossa]

I certainly can't say no to more congos. Years ago I had a 29 gal tank with five congos and I loved them.

I like the hatchets for their different shape. I am hoping to find some Marthae hatchets-for the described peachy-brown color. I guess I can live without the red minors, but I really like having some red in the tank. Long fin rosy barbs also appeal, but I guess they have the same (or worse?) nippy problem. Heteromorpha raspboras would add some red, or a pair of dwarf gouramis.

I've read that longfin rosy barbs tend to be less nippy-any chance longfin red minors would be also? I saw one in a friend's tank and was very taken with it. I guess I'll just get my fix when I visit his house.

I guess I'd opt for a few extra loaches and four gouramis, rather than 5 or 6.

so maybe, 10 congos, 6 hatchets, 4 gouramis (2 pearl, 2 dwarf), 8 yo-yos, 8 danios.

A fun thing with my danios. They are so small and fast it is hard to find them all for a roll call. But if I hold my white cat up in front of the tank, the danios all immediately swim over and hover right in front of him and I can make a quick head count. And if I move the cat from one end of the tank to the other, or up and down they follow him. I need to get it on video.

Ellen

 

[jm1212]

i wouldnt put the dwarves in there, and if you want red in your tank, pearl gourami males get a nice red color when they reach maturity, and females get a red sheen.
so i say switch the dwarves to pearls and then you're set.

that would be an interestin video!

 

[H3D]

I would go with a pair of gouramis, 8 yoyo loaches, and about 20 danios.

 

[euglossa]

20 danios would be interesting, but I have to stick with the congos as the centerpiece, they are the reason I'm back into fishkeeping after nearly 20 years away.

I watched the tank for a long time last night, trying to imagine it stocked and I think the large school of congos, the loaches and 4-5 gouramis along with the danios I have is the way to go. The red minors and hatchets would add too much busyness.

I didn't know you could keep more than a pair of Pearl Gouramis together in one tank. Is five really feasable? Do I try to find true pairs?

Once the cycle with the danios concludes, some weeks off, which is the best fish to stock next? And should I stock the loaches and congos in two rounds? 8 and 12 seems a lot to add at one time. Or do I get everything at once and try again with bio-spira?

I'm going to have to do some shopping around. The only local place for fish, PetSmart, carries none of the fish I want. Other stores are 80 miles away. Are mail order sources a good alternative?

Ellen