Stocking Advice

[Good Wolf]

I know these posts can be a bid redundant for you oldschoolers, but I thought I would get some advice from the 'pros'.

We have a 30 gallon hex, and curious to see what you think I should had or take out. For a 30 gallon take it has a lot of space, if that makes any sense.

We did research our choices before buying them and aside from being a bit off on the varying desirable pH levels on some them I think we did a pretty good job. I'm sure you'll be able to tell me if I'm right.

I want to fill out the schools some more but do not want to overstock. I'm willing to get rid of a species or two to ensure the best compatability. I want our fish to be happy and healthy.

I'm putting them in order from most favorite to least favorite to assist you in case you recommend taking out a species. I hate to part with any of them but I'll do it for the great good.

30 Gallon Hex

2 Dwarf Gourami
3 Glass Catfish
8 Neon/Cardinal Tetri that school togather
1 Peppered Cory
3 Glass Fish
3 Zebra Dania

They all get along just fine, and share the entire tank.

What do you think?

[nathanbarry]

I would get a few more glass catfish because with more they are happier and its nice to see them swimming together, I would return your zebra danios and in their place have some more peppered corydoras. Sometimes they may not swim together but they are happier when they have friends, sometimes they may refuse to eat.

[JustOneMore20]

I would get rid of the Glass fish. You have alot of schools there with improper numbers. I suggest getting rid of the Danios as well. Then you can get 3 more Glass Catfish and 5 Cories. After that, don't add anymore fish. You are a tad overstocked (now and when you fill in schools) since its a hex tank and there isn't much horizontal length, but keep up with water changes and make sure you have a more than adequate filter. None of the fish should grow huge, so you should be ok. Just don't add anything else to the mix after you do the swapping around.

[oliesminis]

agreed you definatley need more corydoras, return the danios to the fish store and get 2-3 more of the same type of corydoras

[COM]

I agree that you could use a few more corydoras.

Depending on your filter situation, I think that you are probably fine with the fish that you have and that with adequate filtration you can even beef up some of your shoals. What are you using for filtration?

[Good Wolf]

Originally Posted by COM

I agree that you could use a few more corydoras.

Depending on your filter situation, I think that you are probably fine with the fish that you have and that with adequate filtration you can even beef up some of your shoals. What are you using for filtration?

We are using a 45 gallon filter and it seems to be doing a great job.

We actually decided today to get rid of the glass fish and the danios so we are all on the same page.

I figure we will start with another two Cories, and a few more catfish. If we feel everything is going well we will probably add a chinese algae eater.

[trashion]

Don't put a chinese algae eater in there. They don't live up to their names and they terrorize tanks. They get big and aggressive.

[Good Wolf]

Originally Posted by trashion

Don't put a chinese algae eater in there. They don't live up to their names and they terrorize tanks. They get big and aggressive.

That is good to know. My brother picked up some for his tank and hasn't had any problems but I'll take your word for it.

Would you recommend an Otto instead?

Right now we don't have any visable alge but I want a game plan for when we do.

After doing some more research every recommends five Cories but I'm a bit concered about the lack of space at the bottom of our hex. Should I be?

Also what plants would you recommend for my tank? I've never done live plants before and don't want to go through the trial and error I have with the fish.

[JustOneMore20]

Otos need groups, so that's another fish that you need atleast 4 of.

You don't need an algae eater, so I recommend skipping those. Adding fish to control algae isn't a cure, but could add to the problem (especially if you are already overstocked or close to it).

5 Cories should be fine since those are the only bottom fish you have. I'd be more worried about the schooling fish that need more horizontal room. I don't like hex tanks, personally because of the lack of space, but I understand its what you've got.

If you have stock lighting, then Java fern, Anubias, and Anacharis are about all you could grow. Anything else and you'll need more light (another fixture).

[Good Wolf]

Originally Posted by JustOneMore20

Otos need groups, so that's another fish that you need atleast 4 of.

You don't need an algae eater, so I recommend skipping those. Adding fish to control algae isn't a cure, but could add to the problem (especially if you are already overstocked or close to it).

5 Cories should be fine since those are the only bottom fish you have. I'd be more worried about the schooling fish that need more horizontal room. I don't like hex tanks, personally because of the lack of space, but I understand its what you've got.

If you have stock lighting, then Java fern, Anubias, and Anacharis are about all you could grow. Anything else and you'll need more light (another fixture).

Thanks for all you help. You really know your stuff.

I have a couple more questions for you. When you have live plants is having regular gravel going to be a problem? If not, is vacuuming the gravel an issue when it comes to roots? Do you need to buy plant food?

My Cory is spending a lot of time swimming up and down the tank. He isn't going all the way to the top to get air though. I am doing a water change today so hopefully that will resolve it. If not I'm hoping the addition of more Cories will. Do you agree?

Our Tetra are not schooling togather. The will cluster up here and there but they don't really shoal. Do you think this has to do with the fact that they don't have vertical swimming room?

I have a b-day coming up and I'm seriously conisdering getting a new tank, especially after reading about your distaste for the hex. I wouldn't mind keeping the hex and possibly getting a couple puffers for it, but for the schools I would really like to see them darting back and forth. That is part of the fun.

I know I could research all this stuff butt I can ask the same question and find ten different answers online. I trust the advice of people that have been there and done that over the standard directions you'll find online.

[COM]

What is wrong with the hex tank? I think they look cool.

[Good Wolf]

Originally Posted by COM

What is wrong with the hex tank? I think they look cool.

I'd like for the Tetra to have space to school. Right now they are just spaced out around the tank.

I spoke to the Mrs. about it and we decided to get this one all set up and stable before messing with a new tank. I'm thinking a 50 gallon...or maybe a 100 moohahahaha.

Another question...

Do you think I can get away with adding 4 Cory and 4 glass today? I know it is recommended to add no more than sex at a time but with getting rid of six fish I think it might be ok.

[COM]

Are your neons just sort of floating around together not doing much? I have experienced that in the past. It is normal. Other Tetras like Black Widows or Serpae or Red Eyes tend to be a bit more active.

100 gallons - go you! I'm considering something big myself... excellent!

You can definitely add more than 6 fish at once. Why must we propagate these old "rules?" I'm sure the old schoolers will hate this comment, but, I've put 21 fish in a tank at once and had not a single problem. Add some Stress Coat every time you add fish (even if it is just one). If you are concerned about adding too much bio-load, throw in a one ounce package of BioSpira. You won't even see an ammonia spike and your water will stay nice and clear.

[trashion]

Hex tanks are bad because they don't have a good surface area. Fish don't swim up and down, they need room to swim back and forth. Also, not enough surface area means less oxygen in the water.

[Good Wolf]

Yep, I plan on doing a water change before I get them, and I'll of course ad SC when doing so.

You are correct. The tetra are just hanging out. They swim around a bit but don't school when they do it.

My brother has a huge tank with a large school of cardinals. It is hypnotizing watching them dart back and forth togather.

Right now I'm just waiting for some of the LFS to open so I can try and find a new home for the danios and glass fish.

I know the other fish won't miss the danios. They bully the neons and the catfish. There hasn't been any nipping or I would have removed them already.

[Good Wolf]

Originally Posted by trashion

Hex tanks are bad because they don't have a good surface area. Fish don't swim up and down, they need room to swim back and forth. Also, not enough surface area means less oxygen in the water.

My wife is loves the hex. Do you recommend not using one? I doubt I could convince her not to, but I would like your opinion.

Also do you have any thoughts on my other questions regarding the Cory and plant maintenance from my previous post?

[COM]

I don't want to start a fight here but IMO the surface area thing is bunk. Modern filters aerate the water. So does the pouring effect of the water returning from the filter to the tank. A 30G hex tank has plenty of room for small fish like Neons.

I don't know anything about plants, sorry. I only have once tried live plants when I was a kid and from what I remember it became a problem. At some point I will try it again.

[trashion]

It's not just the fact that there isn't enough oxygen, fish need room to swim. That's my biggest beef with a hex tank. Think about it. A fish swims back and forth, not up and down. Length is ALWAYS better than height, at least if you have the animal's best well-being in mind. Long tanks are much better than tall tanks.

[JustOneMore20]

Originally Posted by I <3 Fish

Thanks for all you help. You really know your stuff.

I have a couple more questions for you. When you have live plants is having regular gravel going to be a problem? If not, is vacuuming the gravel an issue when it comes to roots? Do you need to buy plant food?

Nope, gravel is fine. 2 of the plants I listed (Java fern and Anubias) should be tied to wood or a rock anyways and not buried in the gravel. Anacharis can be planted or floating and it will be fine in regular gravel. Vac'ing the gravel isn't an issue. Once you have plants that are actually rooted in the gravel, you just vacuum around them. Fish poo and old food ends up as plant food. With the plants I listed for stock lighting, you don't need to buy anything for them. They'll get nutrients from the water. If you decide to upgrade the lighting and get more demanding plants, then we'll talk about fertilization.

Originally Posted by I <3 Fish

My Cory is spending a lot of time swimming up and down the tank. He isn't going all the way to the top to get air though. I am doing a water change today so hopefully that will resolve it. If not I'm hoping the addition of more Cories will. Do you agree?

I think getting more Cories will calm him down. This can be a sign of stress and with him being alone, that is stressing him out. The one thing I worry about is that if the tank is new, it will be cycling and getting more fish is not a good idea right now.

How long has the tank been setup with fish?

Originally Posted by I <3 Fish

Our Tetra are not schooling togather. The will cluster up here and there but they don't really shoal. Do you think this has to do with the fact that they don't have vertical swimming room?

It could be the lack of horizontal room (left to right) or it could just be that they are lazy. I found that Neons didn't school well. Having a larger group of either Neons or Cardinals would probably have been best. I wouldn't expect them to do any tight schooling though.

Originally Posted by I <3 Fish

I have a b-day coming up and I'm seriously conisdering getting a new tank, especially after reading about your distaste for the hex. I wouldn't mind keeping the hex and possibly getting a couple puffers for it, but for the schools I would really like to see them darting back and forth. That is part of the fun.

I know I could research all this stuff but I can ask the same question and find ten different answers online. I trust the advice of people that have been there and done that over the standard directions you'll find online.

The hex tank should definitely be fine for puffers. They swim around too, but having just a couple of them or a small group (depending on which you choose) would be fine for a hex.

Originally Posted by I <3 Fish

I spoke to the Mrs. about it and we decided to get this one all set up and stable before messing with a new tank. I'm thinking a 50 gallon...or maybe a 100 moohahahaha.

Another question...

Do you think I can get away with adding 4 Cory and 4 glass today? I know it is recommended to add no more than sex at a time but with getting rid of six fish I think it might be ok.

Excellent! A 50g would be great.....and a 100g even better. Even a 40g would be fine with what you have now...just make sure its not a 40g tall or extra tall.

Originally Posted by trashion

It's not just the fact that there isn't enough oxygen, fish need room to swim. That's my biggest beef with a hex tank. Think about it. A fish swims back and forth, not up and down. Length is ALWAYS better than height, at least if you have the animal's best well-being in mind. Long tanks are much better than tall tanks.

That's my beef with them as well....no swimming room. You may think they're fine, COM, but put the same tetras in a 4ft tank and you'll see them use up all the space.

Hex tanks are great for tall fish like Angels, but not too much more IMO.

[Good Wolf]

Great reply Kristin. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out.

We did a fishless cycle for a month, and have had fish in there for five weeks with no death. *knock on wood*

We just got back from trading in the glass fish and dianos.

New Stock:

7 Glass Cats
2 Gourami
4 Cory
4 Neon/ 4 Cardinal Tetra

Look better?

I asked them for four glass cats, and three Cories. She handed me the bag and I thought I saw four glass and three Cory so I pointed out her mistake and asked her to add another Cory. I checked the bag to make sure all the fish looked good but didn't bother doing another count...

Low and behold when I got home I have five glass and three Cory, lol. We got a free fish out the deal and one more pal for the glass to hang out with.

The next time I'm up there I'll point out the mistake and see if they want me to lay down another $4 for the extra glass.

The Cory immediately schooled togather and seem happy as can be. The new glass are hanging out behind our fake plants and reef but seem to be doing fine.

I'm going to give it a week or two and add the fifth Cory.

I looked into getting some lighting but we are going to wait and see if we can find something wholesale. Setting up the new tank has been an expensive venture and I don't want to go over board...well more over board than I already have. It's addictive.

*starts researching puffer fish*

On another note how long should I wait to test the water after a water change, and is bi-weekly going to be sufficent?