90 gallon stocking

[HeatherW]

Hi everyone. I have been around for a while now and things were going pretty well in my tank until just recently. I have had a big loss in my tank and now I am ready to start thinking of restocking. thought I would put a shout out here and see what everyone thinks. Several questions.

I have a 90 gallon tank that has been up and running for over a year now. I lost many fish and want to restock. Currently in my tank:
1 bosemani rainbow (male)
2 otto
1 small common pleco
1 small platy
11 harlequin rasbora
1 male Bolivian Ram
1 silver molly
1 dalmation molly

i have purchased 2 turquoise rainbows and 2 bosemani rainbows (1 male, 1 female). these guys are currently in my QT tank. they are much smaller than my current bosemani. will he be happy with them. not much I can really do about it since you can't buy the big ones!

I want to replace my polka-dot loaches that I lost. they were great, so I will get them into my QT tank as soon as I move the current guys out.

questions: are my 2 ottos ok with just 2 of them or should I add a few more to their group?

any other suggestions? I was thinking of adding some cory catfish in there. they are so cute! would they mix in there well? I have never had them before.

what do you guys think of this stocking?

 

[Jev12]

I would suggest maybe getting rid of the pleco since they get so big and are poop machines and also they don't eat very much algae either...if you really want a pleco I would suggest getting a bristlenose pleco since they stay pretty small compared to the common plecos...but I would definitely suggest adding some more ottos as they prefer to be in a school and do an excellent job cleaning up algae...also sorry to hear about your loss what happened?...and good luck

 

[NYgiantsRP]

The pleco will grow slow, but as soon as it reach 6" i would find it a new home. Also, your rasboras are happier in big groups, you could get about 20 with no problem. The ottos would also be happier in groups, maybe 5-8 more. Also, the loaches should be in groups, 10 of those guys would be nice. Then 10 Corys of your choice. All those additions, plus the rainbows, you would be stocked.

 

[bettaowner]

A bristlenose pleco would be a hardier algae eater. Keep in mind they are territorial so I would add lots of hiding areas

 

[HeatherW]

thanks guys! I will add a few more ottos to my list. I had 6 loaches before and they are great. I will probably go with around that same number. I got the pleco because the ottos just were not doing anything with the algae. can't get snails because of the loaches. LOVE the loaches so they are a must to have again.

I am disappointed to hear that the pleco won't do much for the algae. will he not eat what I have?

cory cats and loaches - pretty much the same type of fish as far as bottom scavengers right? they will get along ok right?

so my tank story is this: I let my tank get to not so clean and then did a big cleaning job along with a thorough cleaning of my filters. then I went and got a pleco and dropped him straight in there without QT. I think all of that stressed out my fish and possibly introduced ick. by the time I figured it out things were pretty bad. I lost at least 18 fish will really try and not do that again. why oh why do I not learn? I have a QT tank after all - I just didn't use it. treating with heat now and looks like the guys I have left are keepers. just wish I didn't lose all my big fish! my rainbows and loaches were huge!