New Tank - Stocking Suggestions?? - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

alimcgehee · 11-01-2009, 08:45 AM

Hi all, I'm new to the forum, and new to aquariums. I have a 45 gal. tank (12"x36"x24")(not planted) right now with only 3 mollies that are doing fantastic. I would like a bala shark and/or a dragon goby eventually, maybe a pleco? Will I have problems with these in the same tank? Is the goby a total pain? What other fish would you recommend with those combos? I don't want to rely on the sixteen year old at the pet store

Any suggestions/advice is appreciated!

Newman · 11-01-2009, 04:40 PM

What is the pH, KH, and GH of your tap water?

Also heres a good stocking program to use for your tank, once you figure out with what species of fish youre going with:
AqAdvisor - Online Aquarium Tool

alimcgehee · 11-01-2009, 05:49 PM

pH 7.0
GH 60ppm (occasionally reads lower, around 45)
KH 40ppm

rarely varies - also we keep our home constant @ 76 F, so the tank remains at a steady 75 F without a heater (although I have a nice submersible) the few mollies I have (one dalmation, 2 lyretail) seem to be thriving - super eaters, quite active.

thanks for responding, much appreciated

alimcgehee · 11-01-2009, 05:50 PM

ps. i saw that link from another thread, super helpful - thanks Newman!

Newman · 11-01-2009, 09:13 PM

well with a pH like that you can really keep a lot of fish in there. you can add driftwood, some live plants and CO2 injection to lower your pH and go with acidic water-loving fishes like angels, tetras, and many species of catfish.

Or you can do nothing with your water and keep pretty much any livebearer there is.

But according to your GH and KH...those are very low btw. a bit low for mollies from what ive read about them. hell thats low enough for discus, if you can get your pH down. i dont advise you just throw some discus in there because your tank size isnt big enough for em. looks like you can keep a lot of fish that come from asia or the amazon (gourami/angels/catfish)

Basically go with the fish you like, that can live around your tap water's pH and GH/KH. that way you wont have to spend mad money on maintaining those parameters for specific species of fish. Researching the ones you like is key.

alimcgehee · 11-01-2009, 10:17 PM

i lucked out with the pH and natural temp - i add water conditioner and a pinch of aquarium salt and everything seems perfect. zero problems with ammonia or nitrite spikes, beginner's luck?! here's what i've come up with, tell me if this sounds alright...

3 Yoyo Loach
2 Dwarf Gourami
2 German Blue Ram
maybe an african dwarf frog or a couple of bumblebee gobies?

of course not adding all at once, just a species at a time.

OrangeCones · 11-01-2009, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alimcgehee

Hi all, I'm new to the forum, and new to aquariums. I have a 45 gal. tank (12"x36"x24")(not planted) right now with only 3 mollies that are doing fantastic. I would like a bala shark and/or a dragon goby eventually, maybe a pleco? Will I have problems with these in the same tank? Is the goby a total pain? What other fish would you recommend with those combos? I don't want to rely on the sixteen year old at the pet store

Any suggestions/advice is appreciated!

I believe your tank is too small to support a bala shark or dragon goby. A smaller pleco like a bristle nose or pitbull pleco would fit. Also, the bala shark should be in groups of at least 5, so no room for that many.

OrangeCones · 11-01-2009, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alimcgehee

everything seems perfect. zero problems with ammonia or nitrite spikes, beginner's luck?!

How long has the aquarium been set up? Has it been cycled properly? It would not be 'beginner's luck' but proper fishkeeping if the water is 'perfect.'

JRB__ · 11-02-2009, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alimcgehee

Hi all, I'm new to the forum, and new to aquariums. I have a 45 gal. tank (12"x36"x24")(not planted) right now with only 3 mollies that are doing fantastic. I would like a bala shark and/or a dragon goby eventually, maybe a pleco? Will I have problems with these in the same tank? Is the goby a total pain? What other fish would you recommend with those combos? I don't want to rely on the sixteen year old at the pet store

Any suggestions/advice is appreciated!

Don't get a bala shark, as orangecones said they need to be in groups of 5+ and also they grow WAY to big for a 45g. They can grow as large as 5 feet in length. I know this sounds unbelievable but they can. They are commonly sold to people (just like the oscar) without informing people of how large a tank they will need eventually. They really aren't suited to be kept in most home aquariums. I would not put 5 balas in anything less than 300G and thats 300G just for them. There are so many other cool fish out there, my advice is to pick another.
Also for the pleco, same problem, not as big as the bala of course but way to big for a 45G. BTW most pleco's are notorious large waste producers aswell.
IMO, stick to the dwarfe cichlids like the Kribensis & or Rams
Good luck and welcome to the hobby

JRB__ · 11-02-2009, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alimcgehee

.....everything seems perfect. zero problems with ammonia or nitrite spikes, beginner's luck?!.....

LOL!
You really are new. Give it a few more days and re-check your levels. If your tank has yet to cycle, I'm sorry to say, prepare for fish deaths. Mollies won't live through the nitrogen cycle.
My advice before you even think about what fish to get next, read, read & read some more. Research on the net about the nitrogen cycle and any other info you find regarding tropical fish keeping. Its not a difficult hobby but it involves alot more than most people think, especially at first.

Start here - Cycling a Tank

Don't give up! you'll get there.

11-01-2009, 08:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
alimcgehee Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	New Tank - Stocking Suggestions?? Hi all, I'm new to the forum, and new to aquariums. I have a 45 gal. tank (12"x36"x24")(not planted) right now with only 3 mollies that are doing fantastic. I would like a bala shark and/or a dragon goby eventually, maybe a pleco? Will I have problems with these in the same tank? Is the goby a total pain? What other fish would you recommend with those combos? I don't want to rely on the sixteen year old at the pet store Any suggestions/advice is appreciated!

11-01-2009, 04:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Newman Large Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 815	What is the pH, KH, and GH of your tap water? Also heres a good stocking program to use for your tank, once you figure out with what species of fish youre going with: AqAdvisor - Online Aquarium Tool __________________ AQUARIUMS: 40 Gal 1 Female Orange & Black Oranda GF 1 Female Blood Red Swordtail 5 Otocinclus 3 Swordtail Fry 3 Cherry shrimp 1 Gold Apple Snail Java fern, Anubias, Anacharis, Cabomba, Marimo Moss, Flame Moss, Dwarf Hairgrass 10 Gal 2 Otocinlus 20+ Swordtail Fry 4 Cherry Shrimp Dwarf Sag HC 2.5 Gal Christmas moss 1 Female Deltatail Betta Credit goes to Lludu

11-01-2009, 09:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Newman Large Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 815	well with a pH like that you can really keep a lot of fish in there. you can add driftwood, some live plants and CO2 injection to lower your pH and go with acidic water-loving fishes like angels, tetras, and many species of catfish. Or you can do nothing with your water and keep pretty much any livebearer there is. But according to your GH and KH...those are very low btw. a bit low for mollies from what ive read about them. hell thats low enough for discus, if you can get your pH down. i dont advise you just throw some discus in there because your tank size isnt big enough for em. looks like you can keep a lot of fish that come from asia or the amazon (gourami/angels/catfish) Basically go with the fish you like, that can live around your tap water's pH and GH/KH. that way you wont have to spend mad money on maintaining those parameters for specific species of fish. Researching the ones you like is key. __________________ AQUARIUMS: 40 Gal 1 Female Orange & Black Oranda GF 1 Female Blood Red Swordtail 5 Otocinclus 3 Swordtail Fry 3 Cherry shrimp 1 Gold Apple Snail Java fern, Anubias, Anacharis, Cabomba, Marimo Moss, Flame Moss, Dwarf Hairgrass 10 Gal 2 Otocinlus 20+ Swordtail Fry 4 Cherry Shrimp Dwarf Sag HC 2.5 Gal Christmas moss 1 Female Deltatail Betta Credit goes to Lludu

11-01-2009, 10:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
alimcgehee Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	i lucked out with the pH and natural temp - i add water conditioner and a pinch of aquarium salt and everything seems perfect. zero problems with ammonia or nitrite spikes, beginner's luck?! here's what i've come up with, tell me if this sounds alright... 3 Yoyo Loach 2 Dwarf Gourami 2 German Blue Ram maybe an african dwarf frog or a couple of bumblebee gobies? of course not adding all at once, just a species at a time. Last edited by alimcgehee; 11-01-2009 at 10:18 PM.. Reason: addition

11-01-2009, 05:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
alimcgehee Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	pH 7.0 GH 60ppm (occasionally reads lower, around 45) KH 40ppm rarely varies - also we keep our home constant @ 76 F, so the tank remains at a steady 75 F without a heater (although I have a nice submersible) the few mollies I have (one dalmation, 2 lyretail) seem to be thriving - super eaters, quite active. thanks for responding, much appreciated

11-01-2009, 05:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
alimcgehee Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	ps. i saw that link from another thread, super helpful - thanks Newman!