Upgrading to a 75g (woohoooo!)

[Ripples]

Upgrading to a 75g with a couple of questions

So - it was the most expensive snail cure in the world...

I currently have a 33g community tank in which I had a really bad ongoing snail problem. So, against my better judgement I bought 2 clown loaches. (yeah subconsciously I was trying to create a situation where I HAD to upgrade tanks!)

So - now I'm getting the 75g and will keep both tanks running.
My thought/question is what goes in each tank. I'd like a Betta but most people seem to keep them in small individual tanks rather than their communities? Certainly the only one I've had didn't do well..

My current stock is:
2x clown loach, 2 x emporer plecs, 1 x smaller plec, Lots of guppies (from baby to adult), 2 x rummy nosed tetra, 1 x danio (his friends died of old age - but he seems healthy!), 1x male swordtail, 5 x amano shrimp

My other question is re moonlight. I'm getting another Juwel tank (vision 260) which has a light unit in it. How do you go about getting a moonlight effect? Would I need two units and to swap between the two? Does this mean I can't have a planted tank? Am I being insane and should stick to standard lighting and getting my head around Co2 as a new idea instead?

Mostly this post seems to be a cry for help - sorry about all the questions - but my old tank has given me so many problems until I visited this site and got the hang of what I'm doing..

R

 

[Ripples]

OK I've been looking into my own questions.. and my possibilities are below. If anyone could comment that would be great!

29g
Guppies and their babies (I swap them for food at my LFS)
1x emporer plec
5x amano shrimp
6-10 neons
4 danios
+ I might get an aquatic frog - or does someone else have better ideas? It seems a shame to turn a big(gish) tank into a straight guppy tank..

75g
4 Clown loaches
2x plecs (one emporer 1 small other)
1 Red tailed shark
1 fig 8 puffer/dwarf puffer?
2 angels
Ottos?
And I'd like a Betta or some kind of cichlid or seomthing bigger - any advice? I'm thinking I could keep some semi agressives in this one as the other tank is going to be placid and friendly.
I thought on this one I'd go heavily planted (the other is planted but with no CO2)

R

 

[WinterWind]

The figure 8 puffer is a brackish water fish that would not do well in freshwater. The dwarf puffers grow only about 1.5 inches, so it would be too small for a tank that size. I think 4 clown loaches in a 75 gallon might be too much. I would lower it down to 3. With a planted tank try to aim for at least 2 wpg (watts per gallon) but 3 wpg would allow for a greater range. Good luck!

 

[TONO]

OK I've been looking into my own questions.. and my possibilities are below. If anyone could comment that would be great!

75g
4 Clown loaches
2x plecs (one emporer 1 small other)
1 Red tailed shark
1 fig 8 puffer/dwarf puffer?
2 angels
Ottos?
And I'd like a Betta or some kind of cichlid or seomthing bigger - any advice? I'm thinking I could keep some semi agressives in this one as the other tank is going to be placid and friendly.
I thought on this one I'd go heavily planted (the other is planted but with no CO2)

R

I would say that 4 clowns is too many, maybe three but that would really limit you on other tankmates. emporer pleco what is the L # on that guy. Again most big plecs need really good filtration, and constant water changes get to be a pain when the tank is heavily stocked. I would have to say no for the dwarf puffer they will nip at fins all the time if they aren't fed five times a day.Ottos yes, angels yes, red tail shark double yes.

 

[Ripples]

Thanks for your response.

I think the plecs are L204's but not sure - LFS just said 'emporer' when I picked the pair up. I was also assured their max size is 3 1/2" but will take that with a pinch of salt.

So 75g:
3 Clown loaches
2 Angels
1 Red tailed shark
2 Plecs
Ottos (not sure how many - do they like to be in groups?)
And I'll put in some Amano shrimp because I love them and so far my loaches haven't looked at them like they're lunch.

So now I just have to fit the tank in the car and then wait patiently through cycling (sigh I'm SO not patient). I guess I can use material from the older tank to speed it up though..

Thanks
R

 

[Ripples]

Just seen and fallen in love with Kribensis and would love to add a pair. Does this completely mess up my decisions so far? They look like they could sometimes be aggressive..
R