Author Topic: Opinions on stocking my tanks  (Read 566 times)

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Offline sasq40

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Opinions on stocking my tanks
« on: October 12, 2011, 07:10:41 PM »
So wondering how i should go about organizing my tanks better.  Right now they are as follows

75 gallon-1 parrot,1 cory cat,1 green terror,2 green sevs, Siamese algea eater, and a common pleco.
36- 3 jewels, 1 zebra, clown pleco

I was thinking about moving the guys from the 36 into the 75 and making the 36 more of a communtiy tank with some a bunch of smaller fish like tetras. Id like some more clowns to stick in the 75 but i think that would be over stocking the tank and the others will pick on them.

Offline Katt

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2011, 07:37:37 PM »
Think that would be to much for the 75 gal.

Am not real sure what you mean with " Zebra "

You should add 2-3 more Cory`s as there a schooling fish.

And you could end up with some problem`s with territory.


Offline Katt

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2011, 07:54:19 PM »
Also as the Zebra is African, it should not be mixed with the other`s.  ( readed from another of your post )  :)

Offline sasq40

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2011, 08:16:13 PM »
yeah i know the zebra is but shes been living with the jewels for a month and there hasnt been any problems yet, plan is to get more corys gonna grab a few more from the guy who sold me the 75, wan thinking moving the cats to the 36 and having the jewels in the 75 in exchange

Offline Gerry

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2011, 04:58:45 AM »
your 75 is overstocked already so I wouldn't add the jewels.


Offline sasq40

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2011, 08:02:53 PM »
hmmm k, i dont know what to do in the 36 then, seems like i shoild have more then just the 4 in that tank

Offline Gerry

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2011, 09:23:02 PM »
take the zebra back and get larger community fish (platy size) to go with the jewels

Offline fnesr

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #7 on: October 13, 2011, 11:43:14 PM »
Both will be overstocked in a little while, doesn't seem like it while growing up but have a look at full size measurements for the fish you have, some will be pretty/very big (GT, parrot, Sev, Pleco). Life span on the American ones is long too, potentially still have some of your same fish in 10-15 years time if cared for well. I wouldn't get anything more and just juggle the ones you have, it'll pay off more for you down the track. You are probably wanting it to be more interesting right now but it will feel better when you can say I've had that one for X number of years and this one for X number of years, really get to know the individual fish and none are stunted or sick.

On current set-up I'd put all Americans, plus jewels and the pleco in the 75 and look at options on which ones will be moved as they grow. Would put zebra in small tank with SAE, CC and clown pleco and also look at what you're going to do. Both tanks will be overstocked but if they are the current fish and current tanks and you need to put them somewhere that would be my best bet if they were mine.

You need to look at what you want the tanks to be in 6-12 months time from now (and years to come) though and work promptly toward that, you wont have thriving fish and tanks if you leave all of them together unfortunately. May seem like heaps of room and that's crazy but it's best to go on adult size for all the fish when you stock the tank or else it ends up expensive loosing fish, you get more health problems that cost money/are a hassle and ugly to deal with and you never end up with a truly awesome example of any one fish (as a potentially excellent fish can end up stunted and sickly).



Offline sasq40

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2011, 04:10:48 AM »
Ok guess I'll rearrange it better. The parrot is already grown I got her from a friend getting out of fish she's about six years old. I would like to keep the sae in the 75 just because it's planted and he keeps the algae down ( even tho the stupid power head it just ripping the plants apart) my father in law has a 20g he said I could have so maybe I'll get it and move the zebra there.

So if I'm reading correct ur saying leave the 75 like it is but take the sae and cc out and switch in the jewels?

Offline fnesr

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #9 on: October 14, 2011, 10:09:00 PM »
I assumed most were still youngish but yeah the Jewels are way better suited to being with the Americans vs. being with the Zebra in general. Zebra is your main odd fish (although some other are not entirely ideal to keep together), he/she fits the least with any of the others. I normally wouldn't suggest that kind of stocking arrangement at all as any kind of long term arrangement but in terms of who will get along ok short term, and taking into account water requirement/diet Jewels are way better matched to the Americans then the Zebra. I only suggest moving the others to the smaller tank due to the overstocking in 75 if Jewels go in and to reduce the waste, but will say honestly my experience on those fish is limited to reading about them. Just suggest that due to being easiest to move out of 75.



Offline sasq40

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #10 on: October 15, 2011, 01:26:59 PM »
Hmm k I'm still a little confused on what's best :S I'd like what's best in long term. All the fish ate young but the parrot. U donno if I added wrong but would it be
2 sevs 20",1 terror 10", 1 parrot 10", sea 5", 3 jewel 15", pleco, 20"
So that's eventually 80" of fish in the tank. I donno if this is the best way to calculate space my buddy who has had fish for  the last 20 years stocks his way more then that and has never had problems

Offline Gerry

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #11 on: October 16, 2011, 05:33:08 AM »
That type of stocking doesn't work with cichlids due to their territorial behaviour and aggression, not to mention the mess they can make.

Your 75 would be correct size for just 3 of the bigger cichlids and the plec. so I would do the 2 Sevs and the GT along with the common in there.

The 36 would do the parrot and 2 jewels (not usually a good idea to have 3 of the same cichlid in there as 2 buddy/pair up and the third is bullied) the Cory and Clown Pleco would be ok in there too.

The SAE could maybe go in the 75 though I think there is a risk to it from the GT when he gets big.  Both these tanks would be slightly over stocked but doable with a bit of extra water changes.


Offline sasq40

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #12 on: October 16, 2011, 05:39:54 AM »
ok maybe ill try that, and yeah i kinda noticed the one jewel was getting bullied,i got him lots of hiding places so he doesnt get picked on to much,maybe he can trade places with the parrot. I do a 30-40% water change once a week, and sometime a 20% in between if i feel the need too

Offline Gerry

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #13 on: October 16, 2011, 05:45:03 AM »
Do you know your water reading just before water changes?

Don't be afraid to do bigger changes.  Have a read of this CLICK HERE

Offline sasq40

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Re: Opinions on stocking my tanks
« Reply #14 on: October 16, 2011, 01:56:02 PM »
yeah i check my levels twice a week, and change it accordingly