I currently have a 30 gallon tank that is overstocked but will be getting a 75 gallon within the next month (if craigslist graces me with a nice deal). I thus, just wanted to share what I intend to have for the tank and see if there are some things I may need to consider with your advice.
Currently, I have the following fish:
5 glofish danios
3 roseline sharks
2 cherry barbs
2 rummy nose tetras
2 celestial pearl danios
2 blue rams
2 syno petricola catfish
1 reticulated hillstream loach
All of these are in their juvenile age and are thus very small. The roselines are the largest by far and aren't yet 3 inches long. I'm aware many of these are schooling fishes, but situations (pet stores giving me deformed/injured/unwanted personalities) required me to return what was once a small school of cherry's, rummy nose, celestial pearls. As for the blue rams, they were apparently raised by local breeders, and are thus used to the water parameters of these other fish. They were just purchased 2 days ago and appear to be doing fine. All in all, this particular arrangement of different fishes was an experiment to see if they can live together peacefully.
Current Plants:
1 java fern
1 anubias nanas
1 amazon sword
1 hedge plant
2 anacharis
Current Tech:
Stealth Heater (400 watt I think)
AquaClear 50 (sponge, polyfill, biomax)
AquaClear 20 (sponge, polyfill, biomax)
30% water changes weekly with gravel vacuuming. Sponge and polyfill of one filter is rinsed and replaced every two weeks, alternating between the two filters.
Ammonia ~ 0 ppm
Nitrite ~ 0 ppm
Nitrate ~ 5 ppm
Now I'm aware that most of these guys aren't living in the optimal conditions, either in terms of space, shoaling comfort, etc. Thus why I'm ready to get the 75 gallon now that I've been able to see that these are the fish that I like.
75 tank build:
Future Fish:
5 glofish danios
3-4 roseline sharks - don't school too much + pricey at $20+
4 cherry barbs - certainly have a hierarchy of dominance, but rarely school
6 rummy nose tetras
8 celestial pearl danios
2 blue rams
2 syno petricola catfish
1 reticulated hillstream loach
Also considering the following:
2 gold rams - depends on if they are as tolerant of water conditions as blues
2 double red/triple red/etc apistos cockatoos - unsure if wise, haven't tested
6 tiger barbs - depends on # necessary for them to not fin-nip others
1-2 - some other bottom feeder/cleaner but haven't found anything interesting
Future Plants:
2 anubias nanas
2 java ferns
2 amazon swords
1 hedge
2 anacharis (may return, they litter too much)
2 wisteria (untested)
1 java moss (untested)
Future Techs:
Heater (unsure what wattage to get)
2 AquaClear 110 (unsure, everybody seems to use marineland emperors or canisters for bigger tanks)
Substrate:
black gravel - from 30 gallon
red gravel scattered - from 30 gallon
black tahitian moon sand as majority (untested)
Any thoughts guys? I'm sure I'm doing a lot of things many wouldn't agree with, but that's why I'm asking. I'm unsure particularly concerning the AquaClear 110, I've never seen anybody use them over the emperors in 55+ tanks. I also get mixed reviews concerning canisters so am unsure if I should get them instead of the ACs.
Currently, I have the following fish:
5 glofish danios
3 roseline sharks
2 cherry barbs
2 rummy nose tetras
2 celestial pearl danios
2 blue rams
2 syno petricola catfish
1 reticulated hillstream loach
All of these are in their juvenile age and are thus very small. The roselines are the largest by far and aren't yet 3 inches long. I'm aware many of these are schooling fishes, but situations (pet stores giving me deformed/injured/unwanted personalities) required me to return what was once a small school of cherry's, rummy nose, celestial pearls. As for the blue rams, they were apparently raised by local breeders, and are thus used to the water parameters of these other fish. They were just purchased 2 days ago and appear to be doing fine. All in all, this particular arrangement of different fishes was an experiment to see if they can live together peacefully.
Current Plants:
1 java fern
1 anubias nanas
1 amazon sword
1 hedge plant
2 anacharis
Current Tech:
Stealth Heater (400 watt I think)
AquaClear 50 (sponge, polyfill, biomax)
AquaClear 20 (sponge, polyfill, biomax)
30% water changes weekly with gravel vacuuming. Sponge and polyfill of one filter is rinsed and replaced every two weeks, alternating between the two filters.
Ammonia ~ 0 ppm
Nitrite ~ 0 ppm
Nitrate ~ 5 ppm
Now I'm aware that most of these guys aren't living in the optimal conditions, either in terms of space, shoaling comfort, etc. Thus why I'm ready to get the 75 gallon now that I've been able to see that these are the fish that I like.
75 tank build:
Future Fish:
5 glofish danios
3-4 roseline sharks - don't school too much + pricey at $20+
4 cherry barbs - certainly have a hierarchy of dominance, but rarely school
6 rummy nose tetras
8 celestial pearl danios
2 blue rams
2 syno petricola catfish
1 reticulated hillstream loach
Also considering the following:
2 gold rams - depends on if they are as tolerant of water conditions as blues
2 double red/triple red/etc apistos cockatoos - unsure if wise, haven't tested
6 tiger barbs - depends on # necessary for them to not fin-nip others
1-2 - some other bottom feeder/cleaner but haven't found anything interesting
Future Plants:
2 anubias nanas
2 java ferns
2 amazon swords
1 hedge
2 anacharis (may return, they litter too much)
2 wisteria (untested)
1 java moss (untested)
Future Techs:
Heater (unsure what wattage to get)
2 AquaClear 110 (unsure, everybody seems to use marineland emperors or canisters for bigger tanks)
Substrate:
black gravel - from 30 gallon
red gravel scattered - from 30 gallon
black tahitian moon sand as majority (untested)
Any thoughts guys? I'm sure I'm doing a lot of things many wouldn't agree with, but that's why I'm asking. I'm unsure particularly concerning the AquaClear 110, I've never seen anybody use them over the emperors in 55+ tanks. I also get mixed reviews concerning canisters so am unsure if I should get them instead of the ACs.