New 38g Bow Front Community Tank

Hello fellow fish lovers,

My girlfriend and I recently purchased a 38g bow front start up kit from PetSmart back in mid August.

I have had fish tanks in the past, but now that I am an adult and more aware of care, etc. I have been doing a lot of research. I have read all of your beginner guide posts, and similar articles on other websites. I have since optimized the Penguin biowheel 200 filter that came with our aquarium. I am using biomax rings and sponge thanks to one of your members for bringing me up to speed on that in another previous post of mine. Also have some carbon as well. Purchased better thermometer as well as an Eheim air pump and 2 diffusers to create more surface agitation and because we like the bubbles. So do the fish it seems.

As far as stock goes we did get 5 cherry barbs to start the tank (I know I know, I am sorry). 2 males and 3 females. Clown pleco (added almost 2 weeks ago).

We have other decor like a cave, some hollow rocks, fake tree root with cave in it, and a piece of manzanita driftwood.

Plant wise we have an amazon sword, micro sword (added 2 weeks ago), Java fern x2, Java moss, hornwort, and 2 marimo balls. All seem to be doing well and are growing except the micro sword which while seems to be growing and sprouting some runners there are some yellow/decaying leaves but I heard it goes through a shock and can come back.

Parameters: temp = 78f, pH = 7.2 (has been fluctuating up to 7.8 before water changes - tap water is 6.0), ammonia = 0, nitrites = 0, nitrates = 5 (10 out of my tap). Getting a hardness test kit soon.

Stocking plan we are thinking of the following:

2 German blue rams (centerpiece)
1 clown pleco (already in the aquarium and doing well)
2 remaining female Cherries (also found 3 roughly 4-5 week old looking fry today amongst the moss and hornwort) - we will not be replacing any cherry barbs as we were sold them under the impression they are communal fish.
6-8 congo tetras
6-8 emporer tetras
6-8 otos
2 nerite snails
Maybe some small shrimp

Does that sound okay or over stocked? Also compatibility wise? Trying to research each fish and such. Open to suggestions please. Ultimately looking for a nice colour pleasing aquarium.

Thank you.

 

I’d choose between the Congos and Emperors, they both get quite large and need a big school to be happy.

 

Okay. What if I then just go with Congos and no Emporers, then a smaller school of a smaller tetra/rasbora/danio?

 

I’d go with some zebra danios, they’re pretty active and fun to watch.

 

Not too active that they'd bother the GBRs? I read they like a rather chill environment.

 

They both occupy different areas of the tank and as long as the danios have a large enough school (5-8) then they won’t bother anybody else in my experience.

 

What about ember tetras?

Also delving into more research regarding rams... I am not sure my tank suits the German blue now? They like warmer water where as my plants and other fish plan prefer slightly cooler? Thinking of Bolivian instead?

 

What about ember tetras?

Also delving into more research regarding rams... I am not sure my tank suits the German blue now? They like warmer water where as my plants and other fish plan prefer slightly cooler? Thinking of Bolivian instead?

I think that would be fine.

And ember tetras would be a good addition.

 

How many Bolivian rams would be good with my desired setup? I read they like to be in groups of 6, but no way my 38 could satisfy the needs of 6 rams.

 

From what I’ve read they do fine in pairs.

 

Okay right on. So the cherry fry are still alive. There's 4 of them now confirmed. Various stages. Biggest is just over 1cm approximately. If they survive is it okay to keep them and the other 2 adult females we have with setup in question here? Or will the barbs be too aggressive for the congos and rams?

 

Cherry barbs are mostly very peaceful fish, they should be fine.

 

Okay. Thank you for your input.

Anyone else comments? I was hoping for multiple opinions.

I for sure am going to not get both Emperor tetras and congos anymore. We like Congos the most, so we will go with them.

I have brown and green algae forming on the glass both sides, but read it is normal for algae bloom at the end of the cycle? Have now had 0 nitrite for 3 days now (0 ammonia for over 7 days), nitrate is at 5-10.

Still going to wait a little while longer before introducing any other fish, but any specific order we should be keeping in mind? I Know the rams will be last, but what about Otos next to combat the algae? Clown pleco is doing a good job and eating well from what I can see. We feed veggie rounds, as well as blanched vegetables but he is constantly going around cleaning surfaces, decor, and plants. My amazon sword was actually starting to have brown algae on it and then I noticed pleco on it, next morning it was perfectly green again

Also my pH has been fluctuating a lot, but again read this is normal for new tank? I am doing a proper tap water test tomorrow with set out water as I was unaware of that, but fresh out of the tap it is 6.0 and the aquarium starts at 7.2 after 25% water change and then climbs to 7.8 gradually over 3-4 days until I water change again. Will this stabilize? I have small size gravel not sand.

 

I have QT now running. I have a question regarding acclimation...

New fish go into the QT to acclimate and then wait 2-3 weeks. Do I then have to acclimate to main tank I would assume? I am using same water from my main tank to start QT and filter media has been in main tank for the last 2 weeks.

Also a second question regarding stocking... I want to have 6-10 Otos... I can purchase all of them at once and put into QT tank? Or is that too many fish to buy at once? I don't want them to be shy/stressed if I split into 2 batches of lower numbers to avoid water spike?

 

I will second the cherry barb comment.

I have had them with small fish, by themselves and with larger fish. No issues. Not as active as I like but peaceful.