Opinions wanted .... new 75 gallon tank

[K_Jennings]

I am purchasing a 75 gallon tank next month, and would like opinions on what
I have planned for it. I have a lot of experience, but would like to know
what others think of my ideas. I have been known to err on occasion.

The tank will be in a dark area with only 2 small fluorescent lights at
first. I plan to add much better lighting after 2-3 months. At first it will
have only a few java ferns and other low-light plants. When I improve the
lights, I will add some amazon sword plants, hair grass, and anubias.
Substrate will be small gravel mixed with laterite or flourite. Filtration
will start as 2 air-driven sponge filters at first, with a box filter
(whisper 5 or similar) added when the fish load goes up. Of course, I will
start with only a dozen zebra danios to get the nitrogen cycle going, and
add fish a few at a time.

The fish I was planning to keep include :
12 zebra danios
30 neon tetras
20 black neon tetras
20 other small tetras
10 ottocinclus algae eaters
10 micro cory cats
6 farowella algae eaters
4 discus

This may sound like a lot of fish, but remember that most of them will be
small. You can safely keep over 200 neon tetras in a tank this size. The
discus will be the only fish much over 2 inches.

Any things I should change, or any potential problems?

[Jim Anderson]

In article >, K_Jennings
says...

> I am purchasing a 75 gallon tank next month, and would like opinions on what
> I have planned for it. I have a lot of experience, but would like to know
> what others think of my ideas. I have been known to err on occasion.
>
> The tank will be in a dark area with only 2 small fluorescent lights at
> first. I plan to add much better lighting after 2-3 months. At first it will
> have only a few java ferns and other low-light plants. When I improve the
> lights, I will add some amazon sword plants, hair grass, and anubias.
> Substrate will be small gravel mixed with laterite or flourite. Filtration
> will start as 2 air-driven sponge filters at first, with a box filter
> (whisper 5 or similar) added when the fish load goes up. Of course, I will
> start with only a dozen zebra danios to get the nitrogen cycle going, and
> add fish a few at a time.
>
> The fish I was planning to keep include :
> 12 zebra danios
> 30 neon tetras
> 20 black neon tetras
> 20 other small tetras
> 10 ottocinclus algae eaters
> 10 micro cory cats
> 6 farowella algae eaters
> 4 discus
>
> This may sound like a lot of fish, but remember that most of them will be
> small. You can safely keep over 200 neon tetras in a tank this size. The
> discus will be the only fish much over 2 inches.
>
> Any things I should change, or any potential problems?

IMHO The general rule of one inch of fish per gallon of water assumes
20% water change and filter cleaning every two weeks. You can stretch it
with cleaning/water changes more frequently and more filtration.

Discus are as tall as they are long and require pristine water, IMHO one
inch of Discus per 3-5 gallons of perfect water.

Neons, in the last few decades of in-breading, have become decease
factories, go with Cardinals.

Asian Danios will look odd with a tankful of Africans.

Acidic water holds less oxygen and DOC are much more toxic in lower
concentrations.

IMHO Discus do not do well in a newer tank and should not be added till
the tank has aged at least one year.

I'm not an expert, but have kept all the fish you list and many many
more.

--
Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To eMail me, just pull "my_finger"

[Tynk]

Jim Anderson wrote:

>
> IMHO The general rule of one inch of fish per gallon of water assumes
> 20% water change and filter cleaning every two weeks. You can stretch it
> with cleaning/water changes more frequently and more filtration.
>

Forget that old myth about one inch of fish per gallon.
When stocking a tank, there is so much more to it than how many inches
a fish will grow to.
With your recommendations, you're saying that you could keep a 10 inch
Oscar in a 10 gallon tank.
Not going to happen. I wouldn't put a 10" Oscar in a 20 gallon!
You shouldn't keep an 8 inch fancy Goldfish in a 10 gallon.
You must consider the entire picture, not just inches.
How much territory does each fish require. Not all fish need a lot of
room, and some need a whole bunch.
Some fish put out a great deal more waste than other types of it's size
and require more space because of it (Goldies).
Some fish require a species only tank, such as Discus (however, you can
keep Cardinals with Discus, but they usually better on their own in a
species tank).
Different water chemistry, different temps, etc.
Please stop spreading that old myth around, as anyone not established
in this hobby may take it as truth and end up with quite a disaster on
their hands, or dead fish.

[dc]

"K_Jennings" > wrote in
:

> The fish I was planning to keep include :
> 12 zebra danios
> 30 neon tetras
> 20 black neon tetras
> 20 other small tetras
> 10 ottocinclus algae eaters
> 10 micro cory cats
> 6 farowella algae eaters
> 4 discus

That is a lot of fish, not that you can't do it, but that is a LOT of fish.
Feeding everyone while keeping your discus happy might be rather tricky.

One cautionary point that immediately comes to mind is the Farlowella
catfish. These animals are pure herbivores and do not do well if there is
a lot of competition in the tank for food--your planned army of Otocinclus
catfish is going to be a lot of competition.

Also, Farlowella catfish can be territorial amongst themselves--they're
peaceful animals so territorial behaviour can be hard to observe but it is
definately there--and the most dominate fish will often actively prevent
the other Farlowellas from eating. Six Farlowellas may be a little much
for that tank even if you skipped all the other bottom feeders.

[dc]

Jim Anderson > wrote in
et:

> Asian Danios will look odd with a tankful of Africans.

He doesn't have any Africans on his list, outside of the danios they are
all South American fish.

[dc]

"K_Jennings" > wrote in
:

> The fish I was planning to keep include :
> 12 zebra danios
> 30 neon tetras
> 20 black neon tetras
> 20 other small tetras
> 10 ottocinclus algae eaters
> 10 micro cory cats
> 6 farowella algae eaters
> 4 discus

Another point, the constant and incessant movement of all those schooling
fish (ESPECIALLY the danois) may stress your discus.

[Jim Anderson]

In article m>, Tynk
says...

>
> Jim Anderson wrote:
>
> >
> > IMHO The general rule of one inch of fish per gallon of water assumes
> > 20% water change and filter cleaning every two weeks. You can stretch it
> > with cleaning/water changes more frequently and more filtration.
> >
>
> Forget that old myth about one inch of fish per gallon.
> When stocking a tank, there is so much more to it than how many inches
> a fish will grow to.

My comments were in context to the OP and his skinny Tetras.

I agree 99% with the rest of your reply.

--
Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To eMail me, just pull "my_finger"

[Larry Blanchard]

dc wrote:

> "K_Jennings" > wrote in
> :
>
>> The fish I was planning to keep include :
>> 12 zebra danios
>> 30 neon tetras
>> 20 black neon tetras
>> 20 other small tetras
>> 10 ottocinclus algae eaters
>> 10 micro cory cats
>> 6 farowella algae eaters
>> 4 discus
>
> That is a lot of fish, not that you can't do it, but that is a LOT of fish.
> Feeding everyone while keeping your discus happy might be rather tricky.
>

I also think that's a bit much. In fact, I'd cut all those numbers in half.
I've got 18 small fish in a 40 gallon breeder and it looks crowded at times.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[swarvegorilla]

"K_Jennings" > wrote in message
...
>I am purchasing a 75 gallon tank next month, and would like opinions on
>what I have planned for it. I have a lot of experience, but would like to
>know what others think of my ideas. I have been known to err on occasion.
>
> The tank will be in a dark area with only 2 small fluorescent lights at
> first. I plan to add much better lighting after 2-3 months. At first it
> will have only a few java ferns and other low-light plants. When I improve
> the lights, I will add some amazon sword plants, hair grass, and anubias.
> Substrate will be small gravel mixed with laterite or flourite. Filtration
> will start as 2 air-driven sponge filters at first, with a box filter
> (whisper 5 or similar) added when the fish load goes up. Of course, I will
> start with only a dozen zebra danios to get the nitrogen cycle going, and
> add fish a few at a time.
>
> The fish I was planning to keep include :
> 12 zebra danios
> 30 neon tetras
> 20 black neon tetras
> 20 other small tetras

I would maybe consider only getting 1 species of tetra and getting 1 big
school.
In my opinion it makes a good impact.
Also black neons can carry some funky diseases, good batches and bad, so
maybe ask the lfs person if they have taken many cassualtys.

> 10 ottocinclus algae eaters
> 10 micro cory cats
> 6 farowella algae eaters
> 4 discus
>
> This may sound like a lot of fish, but remember that most of them will be
> small. You can safely keep over 200 neon tetras in a tank this size. The
> discus will be the only fish much over 2 inches.
>
> Any things I should change, or any potential problems?
>
>

I recon you have it sussed mate.

[swarvegorilla]

"dc" > wrote in message
...
> "K_Jennings" > wrote in
> :
>
>> The fish I was planning to keep include :
>> 12 zebra danios
>> 30 neon tetras
>> 20 black neon tetras
>> 20 other small tetras
>> 10 ottocinclus algae eaters
>> 10 micro cory cats
>> 6 farowella algae eaters
>> 4 discus
>
> Another point, the constant and incessant movement of all those schooling
> fish (ESPECIALLY the danois) may stress your discus.
>

Once there in there they are *******s to catch out too.
ottocinclus and panda corys look nice together I think
Cardinals are up to the role of supporting discus in the colour stakes
Maybe a farowella, a borneo sucker, 3 khuli loaches, an L168 and a coupla
golden halfbeaks cruising up the top..... as an oddball farowella
substitute.
If you do go with lots of algae eaters, feed in a few places at once to make
sure everyone gets some food.
It may be wise to experiment with gelatine foods high in veges that will
'bust up' under discus attack and scatter bits for the cattys.
Make small batches at first and feed for a few days and then commit to a
larger batch that you can store frozen.
could work hey


(As a footnote I think discus bloodlines today are much easier, but also
with our grasp of the nitrate cycle, fishkeeping has evolved to a point
where keeping discus (quality breeding prob still is tho) is not the
challenge it onces was.
I think the breakthru was the mere cycled sponge filter with weighted base
and reliable heaters.
Wash that filter only in a bucket aquarium water , leave it a bit dirty and
waterchange with heated dechlorinated aged water frequently. Compared with
the extremes that planted/reef/nano tanks have pushed the hobby it's more
maintence work than high tech wizardry. )