75 Gallon Stocking help

SoCalFish

I was hoping to get some input from everyone regarding stocking a standard 75 gallon. I have an Eheim 2215 canister filter and a Marineland Emperor 400 bio wheel on the tank. Will have lots of fake plants and driftwood for aquascape. I used aqadvisor to develop an initial stocking list and was surprised at how much it say I could add. Would appreciate your comments and advice.

Here is the AqAdvisor stocking list:

Equipments:

Tank (LxDxH): 48 x 18 x 20 inch (74.8gUS)
Filters: Eheim 2215, Marineland Emperor 400

Selected species: [Edit Species]

4 x Blue Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi)
16 x Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi)
8 x Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi)
8 x Rummynose Tetra (Hemigrammus bleheri)
6 x Black Skirt Tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi)
6 x Buenos Aires Tetra (Hyphessobrycon anisitsi)
6 x Serpae Tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques)
6 x Emerald Green Cory (Brochis splendens)
2 x Bristlenose Pleco (Ancistrus sp.)



Recommendations/Warnings/Suggestions/Notes:

Note: Bristlenose Pleco needs driftwood.

Recommended temperature range: 78.8 - 78.8 F. [Display in Celsius]
Recommended pH range: 5.8 - 7.
Recommended hardness range: 5 - 12 dH.


You have plenty of aquarium filtration capacity.

Your aquarium filtration capacity for above selected species is 126%.
Recommended water change schedule: 35% per week.
Your aquarium stocking level is 104%.

small fry

Looks like a good setup. The only thing I would recommend is to have at least 11 or more Red Serpae, as they are kind of a mean tetra is a small group. Good luck with the all-South American tank!

sik80

I would say that stocking is on the high side. I generally take aqadvisor as a very rough guide and try to stock below 100%. My current stock comes to about 80% on aqadvisor but I think its overstocked. Personally, I'd cut out the Serpaes as lots of people on here have had problems with thier aggression. Its a a nice stock list otherwise. Hope your pH is low too, as the cardinals certainly need it low. Also, you have a lot of mid level fish, how about replacing some tetras with hatchetfish (that stay glued to the top level), or another cory species?

small fry

Oh yeah, I forgot to punch in the numbers on AqAdvisor. I guess I was just commenting on the fish.

I agree with sik80, I'd cut out the serpae.

1077

Would submit that the Rams will fair much better with temp of 82 to 84 degrees F which is too warm for the corydoras with exception of Sterbai Corydoras.
I too would eliminate the Serpae as well as the Buenos Aires who are both equally prone to harrassing /nipping, and may or may not confine this activity to themselves.
Cardinals and rummynose would be good fit and though Bristlernose's suggested upper temp range is around 80 degree's F it too could work.
Do be aware that cory's and bristlenose will raid the nest's of rams and other fishes that lay eggs on substrate or rock's.
If successful spawns were wanted,I might consider moving spawning fishes to smaller tank on their own.

1077

Columbian tetra's would maybe be a good choice for South American theme and don't get as large,or as potentially aggressive as the Buenos Aires.