New Aquarium and new to aquariums ( now posted in the right forum lol)

Jester10

Hello All!!

I'm new to the site if not obvious and i thought I get some help and share how my new tank is coming with you.

At the moment I just have a tank and stand waiting to be filled and while I'm waiting i figured I'd get some advice.

I have a 75 gallon tank with glass top, a Emperor 400 pro series filter and a 300watt heater on the way via amazon. My fist question is will this filter be enough? It is rated up to 90 Gallons but I'm always skeptical and I plan on keeping small/medium size community fish as i hear they are not as dirty as gold fish or ciclids. I also plan on having an air stone in the tank to help with movement if i decide to but the filter on one side or the other but the glass top permits me to place the filter in the center of the tank if I desire would this be better than one side or the other with the air stone that i plan on having regardless of where I put the filter.

Now the most important part, the fish. Below is a list of fish I have found and like. Keep in mind that I know that i can't have all them i list i just would like to know which go together well and in what order i should add them because i know some of these tend to be territorial and aggressive.

4 Angles < These are a must as my mom requested them
4-6 corys or maybe pitcus (<spelling) cats
4-6 danio
4-6 gourami kissing or 3 spot
some kind of colorfull solitary fish
Clown Loach< do these to well in schools or alone?
maybe a pleco with limited growth
4-6 swordtails
rainbow fish (I am doing research as I post this but as of this positng i know little about these fish.

But overall I would like a tank of well behaved fish that require little to moderate maintenance and filtration with as little maintenance as possible.


Any and all Comments are welcome.I'm so excited to get started I can hardly wait!!!

Chris7

One thing I will suggest is add live plants, they will help you tank cycle fast. But that will also depend on what kind of lighting and substrate you plan on having? When I first set my tank up I sure wish I added plants from the start, I think I would have had less trouble with ammonia and nitrites. Plus they look alot nicer. That filter should be fine.

Jester10

I was thinking about adding plants but they always intimidate me. Also i have gravel and i thought sand or something finer was the only thing suitable for plants

Chris7

All I have is gravel and my plants are thriving, but I went with plants that don't need to be in the gravel. I have a bunch of java ferns and Anubias, you just anchor them to rocks or wood with thread and they do great. And by the time the thread breaks down the roots have attached them selfs to the rock or wood. One of the biggest things I learned with plants is having proper lighting and that can very.

Jester10

Ok well I will have to keep that in mind when i deiced i need another tank =p but for the moment Im sticking with artificial but natural looking plants.

Another question of mine along with the order i should stock ( I'm thinking a schooling fish first) that being said could i get a whole school of Danio's from the same tank as to reduce stress for the fish but do you think the tank could handle it? Any opinions?

Boredomb

Jester first off Welcome to Tropical Fish Keeping! Second there are some issues with the list of fish you have there. If Angelfish are a must then most of the other fish you have mentioned won't be compatible. Danio swordtails and clown loaches are too active for Angel fish not to mention Clown loaches need a tank that's 125 or bigger. Gouramis and Angels should not be housed together due to aggression reasons. Cory cats are okay though.

Plants can be grown in gravel as long as it is smaller then pea gravel. Most ppl grow plants in gravel.

Jester10

Very Disappointing...Whats the reason the swords and danio's can't be tank mates? activity or just not the best of friends?

Anyway what kind of schooling fish would do well with angles? Would rainbow sharks be ok? What kinds of fish that are active and colorful would be ok? I"ve found numerous sites that say one thing and and others contradicting. Which is why i joined...not just to show off my fishy friends but to get some knowledge from those who have been their done that?

Boredomb

Swords and Danio probably could be but not with angels way too active.
Have a look at the Profile for Angelfish. Here is a link Scalare Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) Profile

Jester10

Ok what other fish have been known to go well together with angles and are a more active schooling fish? Tetra's or some kind of mollies? What about a rainbow fish school or a redtailed shark or Rainbow Shark
Posted via Mobile Device

Boredomb

Would not put mollies with Angels Mollies need hard water where the Angels will need softer water. Tetras umm Diamond Tetras or Congo Tetra. Could also try Harlequin Rasbora which shoal together. Those are just a few options. I don't know much about rainbow fish but the Red Tailed Shark I would advoid in a tank with Angels. I not sure about the Rainbow Shark though it might be alright.