Stocking a new 42 gallon hex

[FinkAlmighty]

Hey everyone, I was hoping you guys could help me out a bit.

I have a new 42 gallon hex that just kind of fell into my lap. I was hoping that you guys could help me decide what to put in it so I have a general idea of what I want to do when I start cycling.Thats where you come in. I want you to give me some suggestions for fish that you guy have had enjoyed.

I've been Caring for aquariums for years now and I really feel as though I could take on just about anything you guys through out to me. I would like something that will stand out, and have personality.

Itsa a relatively small tank but It still gives a lot of room for variety in selection.


Thanks!

P.S. I hope to enjoy my future here at aquarium advice!

I like lots of schools of small colorful fish like I have in my 55g right now (see sig.), but thats kind of a personal preference. Its really going to come down to what is available to you and what catches your eye.

[FinkAlmighty]

believe me, I've been around the barn a quite few times when it comes to preference! 8). The whole idea is that I would like to try something different . If you can, be very precise as to what you would put in the aquarium,as it helps me make a choice in the end(I love having actual experiences under my belt before starting an aquarium up, despite my experience I still like suggestions).

Ok, how about:

8 Neon Tetras
8 Pristella Tetras
4 ADFs
4 Peppered Cory Cats
1 Clown Pleco
1 Albino Bristlenose Pleco

Just make sure you have some driftwood (I recommend BigAl's premounted tanin-free driftwood) for the clown pleco. All the fish are pretty common, so finding them shouldn't be a problem.

[FinkAlmighty]

See? now thats what I'm talking about!

Does ADF stand for african dwarf frog? I love those little guys, but I find them hard to raise in a large aquarium (they are too stupid to find their food unless dangled in front of them) but thats just my experience. All in all that sounds pretty good.

Keep up the ideas! Im not dead set yet.

[megladonsharky]

how about drawf cichlids , a med pleco , some barbs( not tinfoil)

My suggestions would probably only mirror my own tank, but ive always thought dwarf cichlids would be fun. A tank full of those and some bottom feeders would make an interesting tank i think. My next tank will definitely be cichlids (i can get the babies really cheap from my LFS)

[greenmaji]

What is your tap water like? PH, KH.. and the like..

[Steven A]

You thought about like breeding something in there like bristlenose plecs, as they breed when with comunity fish and most fry survive with out them having to be took out of the tank. They will keep your algea down to. . They would go with just about anything such as:

"8 Neon Tetras
8 Pristella Tetras
4 ADFs
4 Peppered Cory Cats "

Not sure bout the ADF though

My bristlenosed bred when they were with things such as cardinals and guppys and corys (peppers)

[mr funktastic]

i just got a hex tank aswell and i was asking the same question but i found that if u already have a community tank it takes away from the effect of more neons or tetras. i was going to set mine up as a angel tank because angels prefer the up and down swimming that the hex tank provides. you could also very easily turn it into a breeding tank by setting up some slate leaning on the glass or just give them lots of places to hide. i think a good setup would be 4-6 baby angels and a pleco or some catfish of your interest. if you buy a lot of baby angels you will most likely get a breeding pair and even if u dont i have always found angelsfish very enjoyable to watch espically when they are in groups hope i helped.

[FinkAlmighty]

I do love angel fish, but I already have a 120 gallon at my lfs that that I take care of that is filled with the buggers! (They are really easy to net, when you open the cover they think its feeding time and they all just move in one motion right under the flap )

I do like the idea of the bristlenose though, never had one.

Anyhoo, I like the ideas!



BTW: My tap water is just about perfect at 7.5 ph, but if it needs to be in the extremes I can easily get some buffers from my lfs.

[greenmaji]

buffers are bad.. bad I say.. LOL.. your PH is fine..
I dont think too many angels could be kept in that tank.. maybe two but they do need horizontal swimming space as well..

[Blazeherd2306]

45 hex is really not that big and I would not add any angels if I were you. Could you give the dimensions?

[FinkAlmighty]

Well considering that I'm not at my house right now and wont be untill the sunday after next, I cant.

I will happily do so when I get home though!