Planning for my New Tank

Well in a month or so I'm going to upgrade my tank. you folks are right, this IS addictive. I'm going to go for I think 30 gallons which is about the biggest my apartment can manage spacewise. I only have one definitely big enough and strong enough place where they are high enough above the floor, everything else is too small or too fragile or too near electrical things I can't turn off.

I'm just wondering: since I am hoping my platys and corydoras catfish will be going in along with them, what other fish would go good with those in a community tank? I'd like interesting and colourful fish but not ones that will stress out, eat or be a nuisance to those I already have.

 

I'm no expert, but I believe Guppies would fit right in.

 

I believe you could also have a gourami or two in there. I'm not expert either though, and I also have no experience with platys :-\

 

Here is a great site for you to check out. They also have a nice compatibility chart as well......

liveaquaria

 

I found this site too,which is quite good:

 

Yes that last link, is pretty good - that's what I used when I was buying fish

 

it depends on what you want in there you might be able to get away with some angels just done hope for any fry to live same with if you get a gourami just most gouramis except the dwarf are not good community fish once they get older

 

See,that's information you need. I really want a dwarf gourami but I'm constantly hearing mixed messages about them.

What I've been thinking for my community tank is this: my three platys, my corydoras pair, some exotic mollies and then something else, but I can't think what. I'm going to look up leoprinus fasciatus, which seem to be peaceful fish.

 

This is what I was thinking of for my future 30 gal tank, bearing in mind that I already have the platys and corys. Incidentally...here's the thing: the corys supposedly according to some sources need six roughly to be happy, but I've talked to people who have big, healthy fully grown corys in their tanks that seem to think that two to three is enough. So I thought this number for these fish might work...
Ideal Tank No. 1
Platys: 3
Corydoras: 2
Bloodfin Tetras: 6
Dwarf Gourami: 3

Tank No. 2

Platys: 3
Corydoras: 2
Bloodfin Tetras: 6
Mollies: 3

(latter if the Gouramis are really not a good idea.)

 

I would recommend at least 3 corys.....They do better in groups of 3 or more, 5 is better. As shy as they are the fewer there are the more introverted they tend to become....I started with two and they were miserable....Added one more and they're much more social and at ease. They tend to stay together, but sometimes they will go off two at a time while the other stays in one of the caves.

As for the Dwarf Gourami's it's better to stay with pairs (one male, one female) or a single. They are a peaceful fish, but are highly territorial and need separate areas to escape to should they have a spat. So make sure you have high cover or floating plants. Be sure to get them at the same time so they bond quicker.

 

So if I got say two more corys and a single Dwarf Gourami that would be a better arrangement?

 

yup and you could probably add other fish too want some ideas

 

I would do one or two more Corys, and either a single or a pair of Dwarf Neon Blue or Red Flame Dwarf Gouramis or even the Honey Dwarf Gourami if you can find them. If you go with a single Gourami, you'll probably want to get a male as their colors are more vibrant. And you're probably going to want some sort of algae eater(s). Maybe a couple of Otocinclus cats?

The Otos will eat the algae off the plants, tank, decor, etc..., but won't compete with the corys for the leftover food.

 

Hm...so basically I'm being recommended Otos, 1-2 Gouramis and 2 more corydoras. The Otos and Gouramis I take it will get along with my platys. Are the Otos at all hard to look after?

 

otos aren't very hard to look after just very hard to establish I would suggest more of a pleco unless you don't mind some of them dieing on you and I would just suggest 1 gouramis and I would suggest getting sand

so what is your list of tank mates as of now and maybe since you are on we can work something out

 

As long as the water is clean and there is enough for them to eat, Otos aren't difficult at all from all that I have read and heard. Plecos tend to get large (even the dwarf varieties get to the 4"-5" range) and I believe they are only planning a 30 gal. They've got a pretty decent wish list and would probably have to cut back on that list just to accommodate the pleco......Just my 2 cents.....

 

no vin that is not true the way otos are shipped makes them very weak they are caught by putting chemicals into the water that slows them down so they can be caught then shipped without food and otos need to be constantly eating so when they arrive to the pet store they are almost starved and if you do decide to buy them make sure the store is supplementing there diet with algae wafers sinnce they clean the glass of algae everyday and wait at least a week if not two to get them as the weak ones will die and make sure there little white bellies are round

as for the pleco there are plecos out there that stay around 2" if you didnt know and 3-4"

heres a rough estimate on inches of fish
3 platys 6-7"
2 corys 6"
6 bloodfin tetras 12"
1 dwarf gouramis 2-3" I wouldnt suggest 3 as they will probably fight
total with 1 gourami 28"
with 3 gouramis 34"

so essentially your first wish list is fine minus 2 gouramis and the second is not ok since mollies thrive in brackish water not fw if you want an algae eater I would suggest getting rid of the cories but you already have them so I don't think you would want to do that and get a bristlenose pleco since that's kind of like a 2in1 deal but I would forget an algae eater with the cories and if you have good filtiration add one more cory and stick with what I gave you

 

just out of curiosity what do you have your fish in now size wise adn what type of filteration are you planning for your 30 gallon

 

Right now I have an 8 gallon. Since they are all still at the smaller stage they don't take up too much space yet but I was never planning to just have this one, I have basically been planning thusly: to use the 8 gallon as a quarantine/conditioning tank for new or for sick fish, or just in case one fish doesn't get along with others, and to have the 30 gallon as my community tank. A 30 gallon perfectly suits my space and yet will allow me to have a variety.

I'd be quite happy to basically have:

3 corys (I have 2 right now)
3 platys (I have 3 right now)
6 bloodfins
1 dwarf gourami


I had been thinking of getting the Tetra Whisper power filter.

 

NOOOO please don't get whiper filter PLEASE I have an internal filter on the 2.5 and I hate it and they are almost the worst filters out there my recomendation would be a canister but the are some serious cash and I am not sure if you want to spend that but what I would suggest is two penguin bio-wheel 150s as that will be 10x your gph and keep your filteration even and if one breaks for some reason you still have a filter and if you don't want to get them I would suggest some sponge filters or aquaclear but not whisper around me for two 150s you are probably talking aorund 60$ not on sale on sale more around40$

yes your tank mates are good you have a trio of platys right 2 females 1 male?

 

Hmmmm....I have a Whisper 30 Power Filter on my 15 gallon and it works fine.........

 

yes I know it probably does but you woudnt know the differnce until you have a bio-wheel they definitely are superior and when you change the filter media you aren't killing much beneficial bacteria as its all on the wheel

 

All on the wheel...you're not a buddhist are you, atmmachine816? Seriously, I'm still not entirely clear on why not getting the whisper, it comes rather well commended, is compact and seems efficient from what I've heard. Please let me know what you don't like about it.

My platys are 2 female and one male, they are generally getting along well.

 

yes I know it probably does but you woudnt know the differnce until you have a bio-wheel they  definitely are superior and when you change the filter media you aren't killing much beneficial bacteria as its all on the wheel

Only if you take out the sponge instead of the filter bag..............That's the key....Changing ONLY the charcoal bag and NOT the black bio-sponge.......

 

The pet store I work at uses them but they don't seem very reliable. They often stop working and are built pretty cheaply. If you can offord go for a canister for piece of mine as they are more reliable and have a longer lifespan and have much more filter media in caparison to the turnover rate.

 

no I am not buddhist and well if you do get a whiper filter just don't get an internal one as the HOB I would think are a little better but it takes up so much room the flow rate is pretty small and the only filteration you get is a insert and it clogs a fair amount and I don't think its too reliable since I know few people who actually have one and I rarely ever see them being sold as I always see bio-wheels and aquaclear being sold and the other filters just seem more reliable to me just my opinion though

p.s. o and my grandpa never used whisper filters and he kept fish for over 60 years before he passed away last summer he always used bio-wheels as he found UGF's and powerfilters not to his liking as I found them in his basement used but not being used and spare parts to bio-wheel and I respect my grandpas choosing things since his fish live past there life expectancy

 

The pet store I work at uses them but they don't seem very reliable. They often stop working and are built pretty cheaply. If you can offord go for a canister for piece of mine as they are more reliable and have a longer lifespan and have much more filter media in caparison to the turnover rate.

Actually, if you clean them properly, they'll last a long time. There's nothing to them. Only a reservoir, motor and intake tube and a paddle wheel to draw water up the intake tube. Clean the wheel and tube once a month and you're in business. The oroblem is, most people don't clean them properly and the wheel gets hung up and stops drawing water.

There is a flow adjustment on the tube so you can increase or decrease your water flow.

Reliability is based on your own maintenance in my opinion. If you expect to just plug it in and forget it, then you're mistaken.

 

Hm....you guys have all given me a lot of food for thought. I still have about three weeks before I even get the new aquarium anyway. I'll do a bit more research but you've been very helpful about both the filter and the fish ratios, and I really appreciate it.

 

As for the Otos, by the time they get to the LFS, they're going to need care, like any other fish. If you can get an oto through it's first couple of weeks, chances are far greater it will live much, much longer. Which is the same for just about any fish species......some moreso than others. But the picture you're painting is a scary one IMO.....One that may discourage people away from that fish. Which can be worse.

As for home care, I would supplement not only algae wafers (they probably won't go for them right away since they are an unfamiliar food source) but cooked vegetables such as zucchinI and/or romaine lettuce.

I've done a LOT of research on fish since starting this hobby and have spoken to a lot of people.....All much of this hobby takes is some common sense......

 

yes that is true vin but you want to make sure you give them at least 2 weeks at the lfs and good luck

 

I would agree, but the problem with that is, you can't guarantee that the fish you saw last week is the same fish you see this week.....The LFS can get stock every week and some don't use a quarantine tank.....In fact, I would venture to geuss that none of them do - at least the ones in my area........I know of two that just take the bags from the shipping carton and stuff them into the tanks to acclimate. Then they add them to the gen pop with no quarantine......Now, that's not to say that their distribution center doesn't quarantine them, but I'd think that's highly doubtful as it might be cost probhibitive.

 

How about aqua clear then?

BTW, I'm probably not getting any Otos. They look interesting but I already have corydoras catfish, which I quite like. I definitely want when I get new fish to have ones that are compatible with my platies and catfish. I'm a little leery about getting a Dwarf Gourami now though, I've heard a few horror stories about them bullying and even killing smaller fish.

 

Gouramis will defend their territory, that's true. But they're generally peaceful. The key is to have some floating plant cover for the gourami to retreat to and never destroy their bubble nests.