Will this be a compatible community aquarium?

[Zodiac007]

I have a 50 Gallon. I'm planning to make a freshwater community tank.
I'm planning to heavily plant it and place many rocks, ships, caves etc.. in it

These are the fishes I've chosen to put in it:

- 8 harlequin rasboras
- 5 glowlight tetras
- 6 neon tetras
- 3 rummynose tetras
- 2 britlenose catfish ( the type that grows to 6 inch max.)
- 1 redtailed shark

That will also be the order I will buy the species in.

Does everything seem fine? Other than that rummynose tetras should be in at least a group of 6.

Thank you.

[Amanda]

That looks like a fun & active tank!

[Nick G]

Sounds fine to me! RTS can be territorial although in a 55gal might be fine. I'd definatly add him last!

[angelfish220]

I wouldn't suggest having some rummy-noses but not a full school.

[MeGustaUnaPez926]

It looks good. Just a bit of information, I think the catfish that you are referring to are actually the bristtlenose plecos. People will be more likely to know what you are talking about when you use that term. Good luck with your tank!!

[Zodiac007]

Originally Posted by angelfish220

I wouldn't suggest having some rummy-noses but not a full school.

Why not?

[Fish Addict]

Originally Posted by angelfish220

I wouldn't suggest having some rummy-noses but not a full school.

Really? I'd actually think they'd be fine, because they'd probably school with one of the other types of tetras or maybe the rasboras...

[angelfish220]

They are most comfortable in groups of 6 or more. Thus I wouldn't in any smaller groups.

[Fish Addict]

I think that is because that would be a good sized school, and if they school with another species, shouldn't that be fine?

[cerianthus]

Should add few corys to the list. Bristle Nose Pleco might dine on your plants.Could add more of one kind when tank is well established (dozen or even more of each of schooling fish if you are comfortable with the required maintenace). Personally prefers Cardianls over neons if you can find good batch. Instead of RTS, pair of Dwarf Cichlid would be a nicer addition (GBR, Apistos) IMO. There is also Asian Rummy Nose which I find very pretty..
Just make sure to monitor the water condition closely while cycling.

[Fish Addict]

As far as I've heard bn plecos are one of the types that don't...

and I think that many more fish would extremely overstock the tank!

[Amanda]

Are you planning in cycling your tank without fish?

[Drew 43920]

Originally Posted by Zodiac007

I have a 50 Gallon. I'm planning to make a freshwater community tank.
I'm planning to heavily plant it and place many rocks, ships, caves etc.. in it

These are the fishes I've chosen to put in it:

- 8 harlequin rasboras
- 5 glowlight tetras
- 6 neon tetras
- 3 rummynose tetras
- 2 britlenose catfish ( the type that grows to 6 inch max.)
- 1 redtailed shark

That will also be the order I will buy the species in.

Does everything seem fine? Other than that rummynose tetras should be in at least a group of 6.

Thank you.

I say too many fish

[Alasse]

Bristlenose cats/plecs will only graze plants when not enough algae or suppliment feeding of algae disks is not availiable, otherwise they are plant friendly

[Nick G]

Originally Posted by Zodiac007

I have a 50 Gallon. I'm planning to make a freshwater community tank.
I'm planning to heavily plant it and place many rocks, ships, caves etc.. in it

These are the fishes I've chosen to put in it:

- 8 harlequin rasboras
- 5 glowlight tetras
- 6 neon tetras
- 3 rummynose tetras
- 2 britlenose catfish ( the type that grows to 6 inch max.)
- 1 redtailed shark

That will also be the order I will buy the species in.

Does everything seem fine? Other than that rummynose tetras should be in at least a group of 6.

Thank you.

Those fish will be fine in a 50gal. They're all small/medium and will have heaps of space. Just do regular water changes and don't add them all at once!

[Drew 43920]

You said:

"These are the fishes I've chosen to put in it:
- 8 harlequin rasboras x 1 3/4 = 11 "
- 5 glowlight tetras x 1.3 = 6.5
- 6 neon tetras x 1.5 = 9.0
- 3 rummynose tetras x 2.2 = 6.6
- 2 britlenose catfish ( the type that grows to 6 inch max.) = 12
- 1 redtailed shark = 6.0"

Total 51 inches.
I think that is pushing it. You will have to do almost everything right every day.

[agabr123]

i'd say choose between the RTS and the bristlenose plecos, RTS can be territorial, as someone else mentioned, and I don't think i'd add another bottom feeder. also, the 1 inch per gallon rule i view as more of a guideline, all of the tetras have a pretty small bio-load and in a 50 gallon tank I really don't think you'd have a problem. however, if you are concerned, i'd say get 6 instead of 8 rasboras. i'm about to cancel that out by saying to add two or three rummynose tetras, but if you choose either the bristlenose plecos or the RTS, you shouldn't have a problem.

[Zodiac007]

Ok. Thank you for all your reply.

So now, i've decided to take out the 3 rummynose tetras. And also take out the redtail shark.

BUT, add 1 rainbow shark.

Are rainbow sharks less aggressive than redtails? I watched videos on youtube, and they seem to be less aggressive than retails.

What do you think about that?

So now, the tank will have:

- 8 harlequin rasboras
- 1 or 2 brisltnose pleco ( 6" max)
- 5 glowlight tetras
- 6 neon or cardinal tetras
- 1 rainbow shark ( red finned shark )

is this better now?

[Amanda]

They are basically the same fish...just different colorations.
They both have the same personality.

[Nick G]

I think rainbow sharks might be bigger, but yeah they've got the same personalities. Honestly, I don't think you'd have a problem with a red tail shark in a 50gal. Thats a pretty big tank and the other fish will have plenty of space to avoid the RTS. It's only my opinion so don't take it as definate, but if it were me, I'd get one. Just add it last.

[Amanda]

I'm having a RTS in my 55 gal. I'll be adding it with angelfish, gouramis, and parrot fish. I don't consider it a problem.

[Amanda]

Rainbow Shark:

http://www.fishlore.com/profiles_rainbow_shark.htm

RTBS:
http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-RedTailShark.htm

[Zodiac007]

Fine. I guess I'll take out the sharks.

Then is it ok to add only 1 male pearl gourami? Are they ok in singles? And will it harm my rasboras, tetras, and bristlenoses?

And will the male pearl gourami be fine with 1 male betta? will they fight each other?

[Drew 43920]

Originally Posted by agabr123

i'd say choose between the RTS and the bristlenose plecos, RTS can be territorial, as someone else mentioned, and I don't think i'd add another bottom feeder. also, the 1 inch per gallon rule i view as more of a guideline, all of the tetras have a pretty small bio-load and in a 50 gallon tank I really don't think you'd have a problem. however, if you are concerned, i'd say get 6 instead of 8 rasboras. i'm about to cancel that out by saying to add two or three rummynose tetras, but if you choose either the bristlenose plecos or the RTS, you shouldn't have a problem.

You say Tetras have a pretty small bio-load. Please explain.

[agabr123]

For example, neon tetras, who are around an inch in length, maybe a little less, are the same length as my balloon mollie right now, but obviously the balloon mollie has a much larger bio-load. Say you have a gourami that is 2 inches long, that is much more of a bio-load than two tetras, and so on and so forth.

All together (i.e. when all of the fish are put in the same tank), obviously, the bio-load won't be "small" per se, but certainly less than other fish of the same technical length.

[Drew 43920]

Originally Posted by agabr123

For example, neon tetras, who are around an inch in length, maybe a little less, are the same length as my balloon mollie right now, but obviously the balloon mollie has a much larger bio-load.

If a Molly and a Neon ae the same length why does the Tetra have a smaller bio-load

[Nick G]

The Molly is a bigger fish. It eats more and poops more, so therefore it has a bigger bio-load.

[Drew 43920]

Originally Posted by Nick Goody

The Molly is a bigger fish. It eats more and poops more, so therefore it has a bigger bio-load.

The inch per gallon rule says " 1 inch of full grown fish per gallon of water."
Of course a full grown Molly is bigger then a full grown Neon. But an inch is an inch.

[angelfish220]

Originally Posted by Drew 43920

The inch per gallon rule says " 1 inch of full grown fish per gallon of water."
Of course a full grown Molly is bigger then a full grown Neon. But an inch is an inch.

The inch per gallon RULE is not a rule at all, more of a guideline. It just puts a visual unto a thing hard to explain. Fish are 3D and when people do that inch per gallon thing, they forget it. Look at a molly from the top of your tank, its maybe ___ that big across. Now try to look at a neon tetra from the top. Its like not even _ that across. If you were *theoretically* going to find the the volume a those fish, the molly would be at least double the area of a neon tetra.

[Drew 43920]

Originally Posted by angelfish220

The inch per gallon RULE is not a rule at all, more of a guideline. It just puts a visual unto a thing hard to explain. Fish are 3D and when people do that inch per gallon thing, they forget it. Look at a molly from the top of your tank, its maybe ___ that big across. Now try to look at a neon tetra from the top. Its like not even _ that across. If you were *theoretically* going to find the the volume a those fish, the molly would be at least double the area of a neon tetra.

So we are talking square inches and a Molly counts double. So he is more overstocked then I thought ....