stocking new tank????

[CherryMonster]

ok, so i currently have a 110 litre peaceful community tank. i am getting a 4ft, 300 litre bowfront in a couple of days, and cant decide what other fish i want. i have 2 black marble sailfin mollies, 2 dalmation mollies, 8 juvenile mollies (black and orange) 5 silvertip tetra's, 3 sunset platies (and about a dozen babies), 3 corydora's and a red sailfin pleco (currently 5 inches). what else do i want to add to this peaceful family? i am thinking of putting another 5 silvertip tetra's in, and maybe a few more platies.

also, i am transferring the residents of my 65 litre into the 110 litre, they are 5 cherry barbs, 4 tiger barbs, 3 danio's, 1 albino corydora and a bristlenose pleco. i want to get a few more of each type, but what else?

all filtration is very good, external filter and fluval U2 on 300 litre, and fluval U3 on 110 litre.

[MrsShrekTheThird]

sorry, a bit of a hijack - just noticed this topic title and pmsl

As you were.

[CherryMonster]

thanks, i dont really see what is funny though.

[EauRouge]

Well it all depends on your water readings really, the pH and hardness will dictate what you can keep healthy in there. A lot of the fish you have at the moment aren't really compatible with each other. The mollies and platies need hard, alkaline water and the tetras, barbs and corys need soft, acidic water. The danios and plec should be OK at around neutral. The vast majority of fish are not adaptable to wildly different water parameters despite what some shops will tell you, it messes with their osmoregulation and shortens their life span.

You say you've got a red sailfin plec, I've not heard that common name before do you know the scientific name? If it's some kind of gibbiceps that are usually sold under the name common or sailfin plec then they get massive. They are generally peaceful to other fish but will eat anything small enough that happens to swim by.

[CherryMonster]

ok, not tested the hardness, but the PH os around 7.5. i have a lovely piece of bogwood soaking to go in the new tank, and there is a big piece of mopani wood with it. i will also get a nice piece of bogwood for 110 litre. the fish i have are all perfectly happy, thriving and have grown loads since i have had them.

i have no idea what the plec is, he is 5 inches long, quite chunky and orange. he doesnt have red eyes, but he has a really big top fin, and the side fins are wide. he was 3 inches when i was given him 6 months ago. i described him to the aquatic centre i went to the other day and thats what they said he was.

[EauRouge]

Is this him?

[CherryMonster]

no, he is much, much darker orange/brown, and doesnt have red eyes. the shape is similar though.

[CherryMonster]

bit more like this one only darker here

[EauRouge]

I would suspect he's some kind of colour morph of the gibbiceps then. Do you know how big they get? You're going to need a bigger boat

[CherryMonster]

how big do they get? surely a 4 foot tank will be big enough?

[CherryMonster]

he looks much like this here

[EauRouge]

Depending on the exact species (there are several similar ones sold under the name sailfin plec) between 18 and 24". They need a 6 ft tank really.

[CherryMonster]

and like this one here

[EauRouge]

It's a tough one, there are hundreds of different species that all look more or less the same- only the experts can tell. That one isn't one that's commonly sold as a sailfin plec, in fact I don't think it's seen in the trade much at all.

[CherryMonster]

i didnt buy him (not sure if it is male or not) my friend gave him to me as she was getting rid of her tank. she has no idea what he is either. well, he is peaceful as anything, and is going into a 4 foot tank. if he is going to get too big i will cross that bridge when i come to it, i know of a few decent aquariums and aquatic centres if he needs a new home. any other ideas on stocking please?