i got a new tank!

[sticky102]

i recently lost my dalmation mollie from nitrite/amonia poisining and i said no more! it was only in a small ten gallon tank so i got a bigger one. i now have a 38 gallon tank and i am so exited to get fish in it but first thing is i was wondering what would be a good stocking for it i need to get some cycle fish first so i was thinking maybe guppies or something like that that is really hardybut what would be good to get after that i don't want something that will be really hard cause i am still considerd a somwhat begginer but i really want to get into the hobie!!!so yeah that is what i'm so happy about but i'm still sad about my molly...i also decided to maybe do a fishless cycle on the small tank as a hospital tank i will read up on the fish that i get so i can be 100% prepared cause most peaple just get a small little one gallon tank and put like 3 goldfish in it that makes me mad that is what wallmart does it advertises small tanks as to hold a bunch of fish and they don't even take care of them i see so many sick fish in there!!!!!!well i'm getting of subject but that needed to be said. but my tank is really great!!

[Bettachris]

----after cycle-----

for 38:

1 angelfish(two would be too much)
10 all male guppies,
10 panda cory catfish
12 cardinal tetras.

good for an active community tank, now some of these fishes are hard to find, and may be hard to keep, for new tanks, but after all of your levels max out, than this tank along with amazon sword plants, mirco swords, a few others will make a wonderful looking tank.

[BirdLuver288]

awesome :)

Chris's stocking sounds pretty good, but I would nix the male guppies..My reason is first off, they dont look like they would belong in the same bio as Angels and Cardinals and I fear would make the tank look messy and unorganized...

Panda corys are a good choice, but expencive and not too hardy, but, if givin the right conditions they will breed readily for you..All they really need is a FULLY cycled tank, clean bottom, and regular large waterchanges for a rapid change in tank chemistry, which will push them into a breding frenzy, but regular normal waterchanges will be fine to keep them happy..

A good replacement for the guppies would be threadfin rainbows, the males can be very colorfull, they will school, but they are not close schoolers so you should have fish in all places, because they are middle swimmers. The males will show off constantly by flashing their fins quickly, and doing a dance similar to the male guppy..I used to have 3 but as time went on, I was left with one adult male, who has paired up with a female betta, they are in teenage love lol...

I think with time, this tank will be beautifull, but also it depends on the choice of plants, do a little reaserch and find some taller plants, amazon is a good start, but, I can sell you some really cool rear position plants for real cheap, but they do need trimming every once in a while, they can get as tall as the tank, and then flow over the surface, I have a few kinds..like 5-6 I think. And if kept trimmed, they can be mid water too...

Just tell me if you want the planst, and I can get as many as your heart desirs. They are native north american plants fresh from the ecosystem, but i would have to quarintine them to make sure no zebra mussles got through, i'm not sure if its illigal, but they are a nasty creature when they multiply and can destroy ecosystems if released into the wild, and i cant take those chances.

[Bettachris]

those are just fishes off the top of my head, if you were wanting to get with a S.A tank,

than i would nix the guppies as well.

otto catfish would make great algae eatters, the only problem is they are alittle sensitive to water conditions so make sure your tank levels are fine b4 adding some, also they are schoolers so 6-7 of them is great. They will keep your tank algae free and are great fishes. one of the smaller alage eatters only getting to 1.3 inches. spinach is a good suppliment to add to the tank if no more algae is present.

in the place for the guppies, i would try hatchet fish, very common, around 2 usd ea. They are top water fish, and native to S.A . again schooling so 6-7 would be the right number.


again i can't stress enough that this tank will look awesome, i will have to find you a pic, but this tank will look like a million bucks. but again all of these fishes may need more care than regular fishes. and these fishes should not be used for cycling, and only should be added for when the tank is done.

again this is only a suggestion, and take it for what its worth, sometimes we go crazy in our planning, even more so if it isn't our tank.:p

[sticky102]

sounds awesome!!!! i can't wait i have to get alot of information on all the fish and all the plants so i can make it the best it can be. but still my quistion is what would be good fish to cycle it with and usualy how long does it take? i am going to the LFS tonight to get gravel and just the basics for now cause i'm not planning on getting cycle fish for a little while.

[sticky102]

and by the way when you say that all of these fishes may need more care than regular fishes what do you mean i dont' want my tank to crash and have something bad happen i just want some begginerish fish cause this will be the biggist tank i ever had so this is kinda new to me but yeah the sugestions that you made sounded good i just want to know if i'll be over my head.

[BirdLuver288]

another suggestion *I would post a long drawn out post, but i'm suppost to be in bed lol* but a butterfly fish, I just picked one up today, and it is the cutest ugly ever lol, but once you look past the huge mougth and and *only a mother could love* face, its really is pretty, with from above and below, it looks like a flying fish, or, a "butterfly" its more of an oddball than an advanced aquarist fish, but it does reach around 5 inches, and does require live food, but i'm going to work with mine ant get it on flake, I taught my bass to be on flake, so he shouldent be too difficult :)

[Bettachris]

wow, my large mouth was big enough that he would only take in meaty foods. either goldfish/killis/bloodworms/shrimp. basically anything now, but not dry food.

anyway, i do believe that an african butterfly fish may eat smaller fish, so stock with larger peaceful fish, like angels.

[BirdLuver288]

my bass top out at 3inches right now but when i go to get minnows, I will just dump them all in, there is plenty of cover for the mto hide, and the bass couldent eat them all, but even with live food, my favorite one will always jump at the chance to have flake, he loves it :)