Aquarium stocking
Discussion
OK, I'm opening this up to the masses because I need some support here! A bit of background:
We're expecting a baby, and my wife wants a tank in the nursery (
another tank!) with some fancy goldfish in. Coldwaters aren't really my thing, but I do know that they need lots of room. I reckon I can fit a 100 litre tank in the space available, which is only really enough room for two fish, and even then not ideal. She wants three (I know, I'm 
too!). My suggestions of tropicals are not going down well, because all my other tanks are full of small fish, which would be hard for a baby to see (apparently). I need some help persuading her that tropical is the way to go.
Suggestions for three or so tank mates for a tropical tank that are colourful, grow to a decent enough size (6"+) so that a baby could see them, and would be happy in a 100l tank (so slow swimmers). Most important is that they are suitable alternatives to goldfish!
Angels are out, because she finds them creepy. I'm thinking cichlids of some sort? Habitat and water quality not too much of a problem as I can meet most requirements easily enough.
Please don't tell me to keep her happy by getting a bigger tank - trust me, if I could, then I would, but space is tight.
We're expecting a baby, and my wife wants a tank in the nursery (
another tank!) with some fancy goldfish in. Coldwaters aren't really my thing, but I do know that they need lots of room. I reckon I can fit a 100 litre tank in the space available, which is only really enough room for two fish, and even then not ideal. She wants three (I know, I'm too!). My suggestions of tropicals are not going down well, because all my other tanks are full of small fish, which would be hard for a baby to see (apparently). I need some help persuading her that tropical is the way to go.Suggestions for three or so tank mates for a tropical tank that are colourful, grow to a decent enough size (6"+) so that a baby could see them, and would be happy in a 100l tank (so slow swimmers). Most important is that they are suitable alternatives to goldfish!
Angels are out, because she finds them creepy. I'm thinking cichlids of some sort? Habitat and water quality not too much of a problem as I can meet most requirements easily enough.
Please don't tell me to keep her happy by getting a bigger tank - trust me, if I could, then I would, but space is tight.
Some interesting reading here:
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/browse.php?t...
Look under the Coldwater Fish section on the left.
Looks like the choices might be a bit limited due to the requirement that non-native coldwater fish involves licencing intended to reduce the spread of non-native varieties and diseases if someone decides to dispose of unwanted fish into the local waterway.
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/browse.php?t...
Look under the Coldwater Fish section on the left.
Looks like the choices might be a bit limited due to the requirement that non-native coldwater fish involves licencing intended to reduce the spread of non-native varieties and diseases if someone decides to dispose of unwanted fish into the local waterway.
Was talking to a guy last year whilewaiting to pick up our respective off spring.
He has a fishtank in the kids bedroom as they like a light on and the light in thetank was sufficient for them.
Out tank is in the lounge and the bairn has just shouted that he needs the light on inthe hall as well as the one in his bedroom. Most kids seem to be afraid of the dark.
He has a fishtank in the kids bedroom as they like a light on and the light in thetank was sufficient for them.
Out tank is in the lounge and the bairn has just shouted that he needs the light on inthe hall as well as the one in his bedroom. Most kids seem to be afraid of the dark.
I have been keeping fancy goldfish for some years. It is refreshing to see someone who has an idea of stocking levels. 10 gallons minimum per fish is the general guideline. So two at a push in a 100 litre tank. Goldfish produce high volumes of waste compared to tropical fish and this is the reason for stocking levels overstocking with the high waste will rapidly cause water problems. Depending on who you speak to an 80% water change weekly is required as a minimum which makes them very time consuming. Most of the top keepers will do large water changes every 4 days some even doing 100% changes each time. It is quite popular to have tanks with bare bottoms (no substrate) this makes it easier for water changes and allows you to clear as much waste as possible.
Having kept both tropical and coldwater I can safely say the later is far harder to keep. My advice would be to stay understocked and have more filtration than is recommended for the tank size.
Hope this is of some use to you.
Having kept both tropical and coldwater I can safely say the later is far harder to keep. My advice would be to stay understocked and have more filtration than is recommended for the tank size.
Hope this is of some use to you.
I agree that tropical is the way to go. I can understand your missus point though, and it's a good one. Interesting really - I've just shut all bar one of my tanks down because my missus is due to drop in a few months, and hadn't thought of saving one tank for for the little 'un... 
For 100 litres I'd still go tropical. A couple of centrepieces, some dithers and a few Oto's. Hows about a Rainbow cichlid and a Keyhole cichlid, 6-8 praecox rainbows/pentazona or cherry barbs/leopard danio's and 3 Oto's? Rainbows are fantastic fish and colour up nicely, and once mature should be big enough to be seen by baby (and will be bigger and less messy than fancy goldfish.)
For 100 litres I'd still go tropical. A couple of centrepieces, some dithers and a few Oto's. Hows about a Rainbow cichlid and a Keyhole cichlid, 6-8 praecox rainbows/pentazona or cherry barbs/leopard danio's and 3 Oto's? Rainbows are fantastic fish and colour up nicely, and once mature should be big enough to be seen by baby (and will be bigger and less messy than fancy goldfish.)
Hi tenohfive - was hoping you'd have some suggestions.
I've got rainbows in my big tank, so I'll probably go for something difference as I'd rather keep the rainbows together in a large tank with plenty of room for them. Fantastic fish though and probably best fit the bill so far.
Beginning to think that a couple of 6"+ fish are going to be a non-starter as pretty much everything needs a 200l plus tank.
May have to be two fantails and some heavy filtration!
I've got rainbows in my big tank, so I'll probably go for something difference as I'd rather keep the rainbows together in a large tank with plenty of room for them. Fantastic fish though and probably best fit the bill so far.
Beginning to think that a couple of 6"+ fish are going to be a non-starter as pretty much everything needs a 200l plus tank.
May have to be two fantails and some heavy filtration!
Another option is Ram's - they aren't too small. I've not been paying too much attention to my fishkeeping recently but I'm sure there are a good number of dwarf new world cichlids that would fit the bill. A rainbow cichlid was the first one to jump to mind just because they're one of my favourite fish.
Congo Tetras or Silver Dollars?
The only issue with a Tank in the Bedroom is the noise?
I used to have a 70 litre tank in the Playroom for the Kiddies, was useful as a growing-on tank for my main one and kept a mixture of Tetras, Barbs,corydoras, dwarf Gouramis and small Cichlids in there
I also used to keep 4 Tanganayikan Shell-dwellers and a catfish in a 20 litre tank in my office
The only issue with a Tank in the Bedroom is the noise?
I used to have a 70 litre tank in the Playroom for the Kiddies, was useful as a growing-on tank for my main one and kept a mixture of Tetras, Barbs,corydoras, dwarf Gouramis and small Cichlids in there
I also used to keep 4 Tanganayikan Shell-dwellers and a catfish in a 20 litre tank in my office
Go tropical. The noise will be fine, as new babies love 'white noise' as such, so the pump etc will be fine.
My new baby loves to focus on the bubbles breaking the surface and like the light the best. a shoal of small fish will be fascinating IMO
for the older child i'd go for fish that can easily be replaced without being missed. if you go for one or two special fish you may have a distraught child if they die and you can't find a matching replacement.
My new baby loves to focus on the bubbles breaking the surface and like the light the best. a shoal of small fish will be fascinating IMO
for the older child i'd go for fish that can easily be replaced without being missed. if you go for one or two special fish you may have a distraught child if they die and you can't find a matching replacement.
Hijack!
I'll keep the details thin but we've got two 500 litre tanks we're setting up, currently filters and pumps are running for a few weeks before we add some stock but there are no acquatic experts on the team. We are in contact with a local supplier as budgets are tight. What we'd like to do is to go for one cold tank, one warm tank to show different types of fish.
What are our options?
I'll keep the details thin but we've got two 500 litre tanks we're setting up, currently filters and pumps are running for a few weeks before we add some stock but there are no acquatic experts on the team. We are in contact with a local supplier as budgets are tight. What we'd like to do is to go for one cold tank, one warm tank to show different types of fish.
What are our options?
I can't think of anything interesting enough for coldwater as the only interesting coldwater fish I've kept were very small. A fast flowing temperate setup might work - still heated but lower temps, and with plenty of flow (you could even do a river/manifold setup if you can be bothered.) Then you could go with some danio's, hillstream loaches, WCCM and for that fast moving hill stream biotope.
On the tropical front however, a decent 500L setup gives you a lot of options. You can go for either a robust community setup - tiger barbs, red tail black sharks and other suitably robust community fish. Or you can go smaller/peaceful community setup - danio's/tetras/rainbow fish, a few dwarf cichlids, gourami etc.
Then you've got the option of a decent new world cichlid setup (personal favourite, but a bit of work required) - severums, nicaraguan cichlids, blue acaras, jack dempseys etc would all be on the cards. This isn't the easiest option as they're aggressive and territorial and it could mean a bit of work getting the right mix of fish - this could involve removing one or more if they don't get along. Stunning when done right though.
Finally you've got malawi's. I don't know enough about the specific species as they've never interested me, but as an idea they're bright, colourful and the basic idea is to cram a lot of fish into a small space. They're cichlids but their aggression is managed differently to new world cichlids - instead of letting them establish territories, the basic idea is that there are so many fish in the tank that none can establish a territory and no one fish will get picked on too much due to sheer numbers of fish.
It sounds like this is for a business, is that right? If it is then I'd avoid new worlds - it's probably more work than can be justified. Malawi's are impressive enough so I'd go that route. If it's for home then it's down to personal choice, and I'd take new world's every time. More work but so worth it.
I've just woken up, so I'll pad this out a bit later. Quick reminder - if you haven't already google 'fishless cycling.'
On the tropical front however, a decent 500L setup gives you a lot of options. You can go for either a robust community setup - tiger barbs, red tail black sharks and other suitably robust community fish. Or you can go smaller/peaceful community setup - danio's/tetras/rainbow fish, a few dwarf cichlids, gourami etc.
Then you've got the option of a decent new world cichlid setup (personal favourite, but a bit of work required) - severums, nicaraguan cichlids, blue acaras, jack dempseys etc would all be on the cards. This isn't the easiest option as they're aggressive and territorial and it could mean a bit of work getting the right mix of fish - this could involve removing one or more if they don't get along. Stunning when done right though.
Finally you've got malawi's. I don't know enough about the specific species as they've never interested me, but as an idea they're bright, colourful and the basic idea is to cram a lot of fish into a small space. They're cichlids but their aggression is managed differently to new world cichlids - instead of letting them establish territories, the basic idea is that there are so many fish in the tank that none can establish a territory and no one fish will get picked on too much due to sheer numbers of fish.
It sounds like this is for a business, is that right? If it is then I'd avoid new worlds - it's probably more work than can be justified. Malawi's are impressive enough so I'd go that route. If it's for home then it's down to personal choice, and I'd take new world's every time. More work but so worth it.
I've just woken up, so I'll pad this out a bit later. Quick reminder - if you haven't already google 'fishless cycling.'
MiniMan64 said:
Wow, cheers that's a lot to take in!
Its actually for a school which is why we were interested in the dual habitat thing.
Here's another thing, fish are one thing, is there anything else you can keep in a tank like that for variation? Crabs and the like on the bottom?
I think if it was for a school keeping some natives such as perch rudd or tench with a few minnows etc would be good and would teach the kids that we have some very interesting stuff in our waterways.Its actually for a school which is why we were interested in the dual habitat thing.
Here's another thing, fish are one thing, is there anything else you can keep in a tank like that for variation? Crabs and the like on the bottom?
MonkeyMatt said:
I think if it was for a school keeping some natives such as perch rudd or tench with a few minnows etc would be good and would teach the kids that we have some very interesting stuff in our waterways.
Nice as that idea is an aquarium wouldn't be big enough.As for crabs etc, I believe there are some types (certain crayfish) that can be kept in aquaria but they're territorial and aggressive and rule out most fish. I don't know much about them however, someone else may be able to advise.
Depending on how much work you're willing to put in I'd be tempted towards a good new world cichlid setup as they're some of the most colourful and impressive fish out there (IMHO) and they're big and assertive enough to have real personalities - but you'll need an interest in fishkeeping to make it worthwhile. If you're already interested then brilliant - it's worth doing. If you're looking into it as a project rather than a hobby then the amount of effort and research required would probably rule them out. If that's the case then I'd say a robust community tank would be the way ahead.
I do think the river tank manifold idea is a good one though - particularly if kids are involved. The basic idea is that you put powerheads at one end of the tank that put out a strong current. At the opposite end you put inlets for the powerhead and then connect them with piping that runs under the gravel. This means that the water is all moving very quickly in one direction - unlike normal tanks where it swirls around. The end result is basically a miniature mountain stream stocked with active fish and some really unusual ones (google Hillstream Loaches) that I think the kids would be fascinated by. This article explains it better.
Not wishing to harp on but read about fishless cycling before you do anything though - you've got the time to do it and it means you're much more likely to get off to a good start. Links below.
What's cycling?
Fishless cycling.
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