Stocking a community tank

[suep]

OK, if I don't go with Discus (I'm still debating) I'll do a community tank. My favorite fish are:

cardinals (already have 11)
maybe another school of tetra
guppies (probably males)
cherry barb
angel fish
guaramis (blues and golds)
swordtails (the lfs had some really nice, fancy ones last week)
hatchet fish
cories and algae eaters

My water is soft, I've ordered the dry ferts, I'm dosing Excel and investigating pressurized CO2. The tank is planted with several large swords, anubias, wendts, java fern, banana plants, wisteria, several unknown plants that do well in my water (clippings from the lfs).

Will these fish get along together and do well in my water? Should I risk adding my betta to this tank or should I just leave him in his 10 gallon jungle?

Thanks!

 

[fjf888]

SueP

In my opinion the betta is better in the 10g jungle. In the 46G it would be a lot more competitive at feeding time and bettas are slow movers. While some current is good, it probably appreciates the "jungle" of plants

The swordtails, guppies and virtually all other livebearers would do better with harder water. All the other fish on your list are good. If you go with angels it is best to buy them small and young. Larger angels can eat cardinals, but are less likely to eat them if they have been in the tank all along. The blue and gold Gouramis can get large as well, but a full grown cardinal tetra should be safe.

 

[suep]

Thanks!

I've kept guppies off & on for years and they seem to do OK. I've got 3 half-grown ones in the big tank right now because once the plants got thick in the jungle, the betta started missing some of the babies. I am adding a bit of Seachem Equilibrium when I do a water change.

The girl at the lfs is really discouraging me from angels but I love them and I do want to try a couple. Young ones, like you suggest... I bought 2 pearl guoramis today and a turquoise. I think that'll be all for a while, I'm worried about pushing the bio-load on a new tank. I've added filter gunk from the jungle, and I used the bio-balls from the jungle's filter, but still...

One of the pearls dive-bombed the carpet while I was acclimating. I don't know how long he was out of water, but when I found him he was still alive and I dumped him immediately into the tank. He looks a bit beat up but he seems to be acting pretty normal. I'll keep a real good eye on him for a few days... I'm glad I have a tight cover for the tank!

 

[fjf888]

SueP

Guppies IMHO are more adaptable then swordtails to softer water conditions. For angelfish you probably would be better off waiting and be sure your tank is fully cycled first. A lot of the LFS angelfish are sickly and stressed, and are best added when cycling is complete. Angels should always be drip acclimated for at least an hour. Also, after having problems in the past I typically wait to see if the Angels at my LFS survive for a week or two before I buy. Once they are acclimated they are rock solid fish as hardy as any other.

 

[Tom Barr]

O
cardinals (already have 11)
maybe another school of tetra
angel fish
hatchet fish
cories and algae eaters
Thanks!

The above would ideal.
Consider a different color of fish and ones that have very different behaviors etc as the above all do and different levels of the tank they occupy.

A school of 5 different fish species does not really look good.
Emperor tetras would fit the bill.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[suep]

OK, guys, thanks! I'll wait on the angels and I'll acclimate them slowly. (And this time, I'll make sure the top of the bag is clipped shut. No more carpet bombs, sheesh!)

And yup Tom, I'm looking for different colors and behaviors and shapes. I like activity but not constant, serious aggression. Once I get this tank stocked, I'm hoping to leave it alone except for maintenance. I haven't added anything to the jungle for months.

I appreciate the help!

 

[Daniel]

The thought of actually leaving my tank alone is disheartening. I don't think I could do that for any extended period of time. Perhaps I should try.
As for another school of Tetra... Maybe a school of Zebra Danios would work instead.

 

[dutchy]

Discus OR a community tank? I have both: Discus, cardinals, emperor tetras, angels, hatchets and oto's. Works well.

regards,
dutchy