(yet another) stocking question

[glassfish]

Hi all -

Just found this site last night and have been reading through the posts - great forums!

I have a 46-gal bow front that was started on 22 Feb 04. It finished cycling this week (ammonia = 0, nitrite = 0, nitrates = ~10). It is planted and has some plastic plants. I found one snail yesterday, and I have some algae in there. I have 5 black skirt tetras and 8 platys (added 4 platys this week for the total of 8) in the 46-gal tank.

I also have a 10-gal tank that is in the nitrite phase with 3 zebra danios. I added gravel, filter squeeze, etc to the 10 gal, so there was only a very tiny ammonia peak at 0.25ppm. It has live and plastic plants too.

Once the plants are established in both tanks, I plant to take out the plastic ones.

OK...so now I am thinking of what community fish to get. :dance In my fish excitement, though, I am really worried about overstocking. I want to plan carefully.

I really love the personality of the platys and tetras. I was thinking of this scenario for the 46-gal:

8 platys
5 black skirts
5-6 zebra danios

Plus a bottom fish/algae eater, but what? Thinking of yoyo loach and/or corys?

Would this be overstocked? Right now, just have the 13 tetras/platys. Any good recommendations for bottom fish?

For the 10-gal, I am considering many things LOL
a) leave danios in there (instead of moving to 46-gal) and get a couple more for a school
OR
b) get a couple dwarf gouramis and 1 bottom fish
OR
c) wondering about a betta and ....? other fish that could co-exist.

Thanks for any input!

glassfish

 

[MSmith]

My personal opinion is that the danios would do better in the 46 gallon tank. I have some in a 20 gallon & I think they could actually use more swimming space. They are small, but very active. Mine almost never stop moving.

A betta in the 10 gallon would work well. You could add a small school of cories to go along with it. I'm not sure about 2 dwarf gouramies in that small of a tank. I've never had them, and I don't know if they'd get aggressive with each other.

For bottom feeders in a 10 gallon, I think you'd be best of sticking with either cories or kuhli loaches. Cories would also work great for your 46 gallon. Yoyo loaches should be fine too.

 

[TKOS]

A single dwarf gourami in a 10 gallon would be it probably. They can get a little aggressive with each other sometimes if enough space is not available.

And yes, maybe 3-4 cories or 3-4 khulie loaches would be about the only good fish bottom feeders for a 10 gallon tank.

 

[glassfish]

Thanks for the replies!

Danios in the 46-gal -- that was my thought... that they need more room to zing around. They are so fun to watch! So if I end up with:


8 platys
5 black skirts
5-6 zebra danios

in a 46-gal tank (plus 2-3 corys) -- that will not be too crowded?

The 10-gal.... hmmmm Decisions! Decisions!

Khuli loaches - dh had one in college, and has his heart sent on getting a couple, but they are very hard to find, plus I don't like the idea that they are wild caught(?). Plus, don't they need a sandy bottom? And... if they grow to 4", could 2 of them fit in a 10 gal?

Thanks again for the thoughts/suggestions! I really appreciate it.


glassfish

 

[TKOS]

Since the khulies are so skinny bodied they can easily fit 3 in a 10 gallon. Sand would be best but smooth gravel will be sufficient as long as you give them hiding spots.

 

[glassfish]

Thanks for the info on khuli loaches!

 

[Leopardess]

For the 46g, you've got room to add more tetras as well as danios, you could jsut about double those numbers and still be fine. They'll appreciate the extra pals I'd also get at least 6 cories since they like to be in groups. With all of those fish - the more the merrier

As for the 10g, I also suggest one dwarf gourami (I like the neon blue dwarfs)- and then perhaps a nice school of glowlights?

 

[glassfish]

Originally posted by Leopardess
For the 46g, you've got room to add more tetras as well as danios, you could jsut about double those numbers and still be fine. They'll appreciate the extra pals I'd also get at least 6 cories since they like to be in groups. With all of those fish - the more the merrier]

Oh... you are tempting me! (like I need the temptation to get more fish!) Really? You think that would be fine, eh? I read an article in a fish mag about schooling fish being able to be more "crowded", since that is how they naturally live, but tanks aren't exactly 'natural', so I wasn't sure.

As for the 10g, I also suggest one dwarf gourami (I like the neon blue dwarfs)- and then perhaps a nice school of glowlights?

My favorite too on the neon blue dwarfs! But...won't one be lonely? And what numbers for a school - 5-6 of small tetras? Still considering Khuli -- that would be overload, eh?

Thanks for your input - I appreciate it.

PS - love your tank photos, Leopardess!

 

[Leopardess]

No, the gourami wouldn't get lonely. They are quite territorial by nature and prefer to have their own manly space

I've never kept kuhlis so I can't say how I'd stock with them in a 10g, but if you had just the gourami and a school of glowlights, I'd have about 7-8 of them.

So, the 46 could have:

8 platies
8-10 black skirts
10 to 12 danios
6 cories

Sounds pretty reasonable, IMO. As long as you've got the required filtration for a 46g and do your weekly maintenance

Some say you can keep more schooling fish in smaller tanks because they are, for the most part, quite small fish that do not eat a lot or make a mess. It ties in with the whole "A 12" oscar is NOT equivalent to 12 neon tetras" idea. Smaller fish are generally less messy and like to travel together and create much less waste than larger counterparts.

Thanks for the compliments, btw

 

[glassfish]

Originally posted by Leopardess


So, the 46 could have:

8 platies
8-10 black skirts
10 to 12 danios
6 cories

Sounds pretty reasonable, IMO. As long as you've got the required filtration for a 46g and do your weekly maintenance

This is great news! Any differing opinions out there? :scratch:

I think our filtration is OK...
undergravel with (2) powerheads
(1) over the back Emperor filter (double bio-wheel)

Thanks SO much for your comments about the gourami, too. They are so beautiful and were my first fish choice, but after reading up, I was thinking that it wouldn't fit with my current setup.