New 40 gallon

[Gracie6363]

Hi all,
well I got a hand-me-down 40 gallon tank yesterday. ****In the tank already are 1-6" pl*co, 2 leopard cories, 5 orange tetra things (look similar to black skirt but they are orange - couldnt find their name/photo on my pet store profile page).

I am SERIOUSLY considering taking and trading my pl*co in at the store, they will allow it and previous owner is ok with it. ****I have a small pl*co in my other tank that will eventually be moved over to this one when he starts growing (only about 1" now). ****

This is what I want to add. ****
2 small angels
2 small bala's (I know I will need a bigger tank as time progresses - but will get them at very small juvenile stage)
1 Blue or Neon Blue Discus (are they schooling fish - would I need more?)

only the maybe/alternate list
1 Red Tail Black Shark
Couple Tiger Barbs
Couple of ****Lyretail or Painted swords
or just a few more tetra for the exisiting group

The tank is ok... needs some work. ****Someone decided to pain the back of the tank an aqua color gone bad. ****Looks terrible, it's on the outside and can be removed. ****

I replaced the ugly/dirty gravel. ****Thouroughly cleaned the plants and added a really cool little castle thing. ****It has a small castle with rocks and plants around it. ****The center looks like a stream under glass. ****It hooks up to air pump and bubbles travel under this glass and come out the other end. ****Very Cool! ****

The filter is an Emporer biowheel. ****

I set up the tank yesterday and all the fish survived first night with new tank setup and are energetic this morning!

Any imput you may have or suggestions on how to stock would be great!

Thanks

[Ownager2004]

I would consider getting more cories. preferably more of the ones you have. Ive read they can really liven a tank up if you get a big enough group of them.

[laura]

discus are schooling fish and need a lot of attention to water conditions etc best to steer clear unlees you are very keen on them

[osteoporoosi]

Discus are very sensitive, and also schooling fish that need VERY warm water. 40 gallons is too small for them, and also for the angels. Both grow to a size of a dinner plate if they have tanks big enough.
I don't think that is ever a good idea to get any fish into a tank smaller than they need. Often the fishkeeper thinks that "they don't seem to grow, there for they don't need the bigger tank!"
But if you are really getting a tank big tank, 120g+ then the balas are ok. But they need a proper school also.
Livebearers need harder and more alkaline water than the other fish.Tiger barbs,all livebearers and tetras are schooling fish. The RTBS grows too big for a 40g. In some cases tiger barbs start chasing the corys.

Suggestion:
8-10 tiger barbs
1 bushynose plec

Or:
20 blue emperor tetras
1 betta
1 bushynose or 1 Peckoltia sp.

Or
6 swordtail females
6 male guppys
1 bushynose pleco

[ron v]

Laura, do you understand the nitrogen cycle? Do you think your tank is OK?

[Gracie6363]

Thanks for the info on the discus... they weren't a fish I had studied up on yet. I generally keep the tank fairly warm, but I am not a PH freak. lol.

Osteo, I am not interested in any more pl*co's, maybe you didn't see that I wanted to get rid of the one I have. They are messy fish, and I have a small one in my 10 gallon that will be transfered to the 40 in a year or so.
Also, not interested in Guppy's or Blue Emporer... need to stay in same aggression level as the other fish and those aren't it.

Any other suggestions others would like to make would be great.

[osteoporoosi]

You don't like plecos?I agree, they are messy but adorable.
ok, here I come again:

1+3 harem of honey gouramis
20 harlequin or 25 hengeli rasboras

OR:
1+2 harem of dwarf gourami
5-7 kuhli loaches(require fine sand)

OR(with the existing fish):
10 cherry barbs OR 10 albino white skirts(are they skirt tetras?)
10 leopard cories(require fine sand)

[Newf]

I think you should consider some Giant Danios if you like to see active fish.
By themselves they look kinda blah, but if you have 5 or more they really look attractive swimming together.

They aren't as aggressive as the barbs who are known as fin nippers, and will give your angels a nice "haircut". So danios will leave your options open for a few different fish.

If you decided to changed fish mates, i find that the giant danios can go in with most anything when the water conditions are right for both species of fish. They aren't aggresive enough to harm less aggresive fish (of similar size) and they are too fast to get eaten by some of the more aggresive fish (in my experiences with them, and they had a Jack Dempsey as a tank mate in the past)

Feeding time is also fun with them, they almost jump right out of the water as soon as the flakes hit the surface. (and no i don't starve them, they're fed once - twice a day)

Just wanted to give you another option with a fish that is forgoten about a lot

Newf

[osteoporoosi]

In my opinion giants grow rather large for a 40g, but how about zebra danios? Although danios need cooler water than most tropical fish.

Would this work, a coolwater tank:
8 zebra danios
15 neon tetras
6 paleatus corys(require fine sand)

[Gracie6363]

wow, osteo, you are probably the most conservative fish person i have ever met. ****very willing to put tons of small fish but not willing to put a few larger ones. ****
The danios that I have have thrived for years with temps between 78-80. My other tank is set aroun d 76-78 believe.
The two leopard cories that came with the tank are very active and have thrived for several years in gravel. IIike them, but I think I will keep it down to just the 2. ****
The tank is a hand me down and with in a year or two i will be looking into a much larger tank-hence my fish selection. **** Gouramis' were a fish I was considering as well. ****A couple of the dwarf ones, to go along with my other selections, probably instead of barbs or something. ****I think those barbs will be a bit on the aggressive side for the rest of the current fish. ****

Newf, thanks for the suggestion of giant danios. ****I do have 2 danios in my 10 gallon tank and I love them so much. ****So incredibly active, I think they drive the other fish nuts! ****

Have a great day. must go to work now!

[Gracie6363]

Yesterday I went ahead and added some fish to the 40 gallon.

I added 2 small (about 2.5-3") bala sharks as well as 2 dwarf powder blue guaramis.

Today they are all doing well. Very active and fun to watch. I am already in the planning stages of the next tank (much larger) to house the balas as they grow. But for now, we have some time to enjoy them small!

Thanks for the imput, I'll send pictures soon,
Sarah