ferret
Aquarium Advice Addict
Ok, I'm crazy. But here we go.
As many of you may know, I have recently finished setting up a new 90 gallon planted tank, and transfered my tropical community from my 29 gallon to the new tank. All seems well for the moment, even with the additions of some new fish. The only loss was a new glow-lite tetra from the lfs, which died in 2 days for unknown reasons. Water parameters are currently holding steady with about 0.1ppm ammonia and no other readings. The tank has a pre-established Penguin 330 from the old 29 gallon, as well as a new Rena Filstar XP-3. The XP-3 has the normal foam pads, carbon and floss, as well as bio-media in the center box (Ceramic rings and lava rock). The lighting is 220watts, but only one fixture is running at the moment and a 36 watt is helping to supplement until I get the final bulb. There is a Penguin 1200gph powerhead on the opposite side of the tank from the XP-3's spray bar and the Penguin. Large driftwood in the center, 7 bags of Eco-complete as substrate, and quite a few plants... There's three 'adult' swords, 5-7 'baby' swords, banana plants, java ferns, mondo grass, etc.. I don't know all the names.
Anyways. That was a long paragraph! Now the fish questions! As you can see by my signature, the tank is rather well-stocked. If the inch-rule actually applied to a tank this size, I estimate the adult bio-load to be just under 95 inches. The new tankmates are the clown loaches, the serpae/red minor tetras and 4 of the danios. All other fish are well over 8 months old.
I'm concerned about the pink kisser though. He was doing okay in the 29 gallon, but he can technically reach a foot in length, and I think he'll begin eating smaller fish at that point. I'd like to swap him out for another of the 4in variety of gouramis, or even two (Another gold and another opaline). Ok, no problem there really, 12 inches traded for 8 inches. I know a gold/opaline quad-group can get along from past experiences.
Here's my problem though. I'd really really really really like to get some green tiger barbs (Green cause normal ones look like Clown loaches) and a dojo loach... And maybe even 1-2 more clown loaches. This would push me close to 120 inches though. I don't believe the dojo could possibly bother anyone. All the schooling fish will get along fine to my knowledge (The clowns swim with the serpae's, actually)..
So my concerns: The gourami's will be the big fish of the tank, but I think they should have enough room. The barbs may nip though. The danios are the only long-finned fish, but they're fast and stay near the top. I honestly don't think the dojo will bother anyone and will probably dig in the substrate all day... All of this SEEMS like it should work out but be pushing it just a tad (Well maybe a lot). Adding more clown loaches seems like it'd MAJORLY push it but I'd love for them to have more buddies, one of them hides all the time while the other two play.
Summary (In order greatest importance to least): Remove pink kisser. Add 5 green tiger barbs. Add one gold and one opaline gourami. Add dojo loach. Add 2 clown loaches.
If you actually read all this, thanks Its a mess, but this tank is simply awesome, and I feel these additions, if workable, would make it totally completely .. er.. complete. Any advice from others who have kept such a large community tank (But with mostly smaller fish, minus the loaches) are appreciated.
Final note: The tank has a large apple/mystery snail and 4 african dwarf frogs. I will be also adding 4-6 small otos for algae once the tank has been around a bit longer and there's actually algae for them to eat.
As many of you may know, I have recently finished setting up a new 90 gallon planted tank, and transfered my tropical community from my 29 gallon to the new tank. All seems well for the moment, even with the additions of some new fish. The only loss was a new glow-lite tetra from the lfs, which died in 2 days for unknown reasons. Water parameters are currently holding steady with about 0.1ppm ammonia and no other readings. The tank has a pre-established Penguin 330 from the old 29 gallon, as well as a new Rena Filstar XP-3. The XP-3 has the normal foam pads, carbon and floss, as well as bio-media in the center box (Ceramic rings and lava rock). The lighting is 220watts, but only one fixture is running at the moment and a 36 watt is helping to supplement until I get the final bulb. There is a Penguin 1200gph powerhead on the opposite side of the tank from the XP-3's spray bar and the Penguin. Large driftwood in the center, 7 bags of Eco-complete as substrate, and quite a few plants... There's three 'adult' swords, 5-7 'baby' swords, banana plants, java ferns, mondo grass, etc.. I don't know all the names.
Anyways. That was a long paragraph! Now the fish questions! As you can see by my signature, the tank is rather well-stocked. If the inch-rule actually applied to a tank this size, I estimate the adult bio-load to be just under 95 inches. The new tankmates are the clown loaches, the serpae/red minor tetras and 4 of the danios. All other fish are well over 8 months old.
I'm concerned about the pink kisser though. He was doing okay in the 29 gallon, but he can technically reach a foot in length, and I think he'll begin eating smaller fish at that point. I'd like to swap him out for another of the 4in variety of gouramis, or even two (Another gold and another opaline). Ok, no problem there really, 12 inches traded for 8 inches. I know a gold/opaline quad-group can get along from past experiences.
Here's my problem though. I'd really really really really like to get some green tiger barbs (Green cause normal ones look like Clown loaches) and a dojo loach... And maybe even 1-2 more clown loaches. This would push me close to 120 inches though. I don't believe the dojo could possibly bother anyone. All the schooling fish will get along fine to my knowledge (The clowns swim with the serpae's, actually)..
So my concerns: The gourami's will be the big fish of the tank, but I think they should have enough room. The barbs may nip though. The danios are the only long-finned fish, but they're fast and stay near the top. I honestly don't think the dojo will bother anyone and will probably dig in the substrate all day... All of this SEEMS like it should work out but be pushing it just a tad (Well maybe a lot). Adding more clown loaches seems like it'd MAJORLY push it but I'd love for them to have more buddies, one of them hides all the time while the other two play.
Summary (In order greatest importance to least): Remove pink kisser. Add 5 green tiger barbs. Add one gold and one opaline gourami. Add dojo loach. Add 2 clown loaches.
If you actually read all this, thanks Its a mess, but this tank is simply awesome, and I feel these additions, if workable, would make it totally completely .. er.. complete. Any advice from others who have kept such a large community tank (But with mostly smaller fish, minus the loaches) are appreciated.
Final note: The tank has a large apple/mystery snail and 4 african dwarf frogs. I will be also adding 4-6 small otos for algae once the tank has been around a bit longer and there's actually algae for them to eat.