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Post by goth on Mar 3, 2008 11:02:36 GMT 1
We just bought ourselves a coldwater fish tank. It one of those half hexagonal shaped ones with a flat back. It came with a light and water filter and we've set it up and treated the water to remove all chlorine. I've put some plastic foliage in it and a treasure chest and we've decided we want Moors, Bubbleheads, Oranda and a small shoal of Danios [about6-8]. The size of the tank is 18 x 16 x 8. Here's a pic:  According to my calculations, there would be enough room for 24 fish [length x width of tank divided by 60]. This seems an awful lot to me and I was thinking more along the lines of 5 larger fish [moors etc] plus the shoal of Danios. Any suggestions? *Edited the size I got it wrong!* |
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Post by madonplants on Mar 3, 2008 11:30:42 GMT 1
The normal calculation is 1 inch of fish to one gallon of water and less in your case as they are coldwater and a weird size of tank, i.e. less surface area. What filter are you using?
Keith
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Post by debbiem on Mar 3, 2008 12:30:10 GMT 1
24 seems a lot to me too - what kind of Danios are you thinking of having? If I remember right when I kept tropical fish Zebra and Leopard Danios aren't too bothered about what depth of water they're in but ideally need a longish area to swim in. They mate for life, Zebra Danios, you know.  It's a lovely tank Goth - with regard to the numbers I would say the fewer and smaller the fish are, the better. But I've never kept cold water fish in a tank so I don't know how territorial any of the kinds you are thinking of having are and how much space they need. |
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Post by debidoos on Mar 3, 2008 12:37:09 GMT 1
is that cm or inches?
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Post by madonplants on Mar 3, 2008 13:24:09 GMT 1
Hope that's inches, it would be tiny in cms!!  TBH, I would put a small heater in it and have a small shoal of neons. Keith P.s. Just found this site, hope it helps. Keith |
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Post by debbiem on Mar 3, 2008 14:20:15 GMT 1
Hope that's inches, it would be tiny in cms!! TBH, I would put a small heater in it and have a small shoal of neons. Keith P.s. Just found this site, hope it helps. Keith Neons would look lovely in there in a shoal, with all the weed and colour, and from what I remember the water temp's got to be about 68F, quite low for tropicals? They'd be ideal for your tank Goth. |
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Post by goth on Mar 3, 2008 14:47:45 GMT 1
Thanks for all your advice! So the danios will breed will they? I'll have to keep that in mind The size of the tank is 18 x 16 x 8 inches. Do you think 5 fish and a small shoal of danios will be alright? |
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Post by goth on Mar 3, 2008 14:50:34 GMT 1
The normal calculation is 1 inch of fish to one gallon of water and less in your case as they are coldwater and a weird size of tank, i.e. less surface area. What filter are you using? Keith Ok, got that...thanks Keith I'm not sure what type of filter it is, I think it's a Rena Aqua ~ ring any bells? |
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Post by madonplants on Mar 3, 2008 17:15:56 GMT 1
The normal calculation is 1 inch of fish to one gallon of water and less in your case as they are coldwater and a weird size of tank, i.e. less surface area. What filter are you using? Keith Ok, got that...thanks Keith I'm not sure what type of filter it is, I think it's a Rena Aqua ~ ring any bells? It doesn't I'm afraid, but I expect it's a little sponge type internal filter. Sorry to say, but this might not cope with goldfish as they can be messy feeders. You might be cleaning it every 2/3 days, when the fish are full size. I have never kept goldfish, so only guessing, but think you may struggle with your selection. What danios do you mean, sorry should have asked before?  Keith |
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Post by madonplants on Mar 3, 2008 23:44:11 GMT 1
Thanks for all your advice! So the danios will breed will they? I'll have to keep that in mind The size of the tank is 18 x 16 x 8 inches. Do you think 5 fish and a small shoal of danios will be alright? Danios will need a heater Goth - they are tropical fish. www.fishforever.co.uk/zebradanios.htmlZebra danios are quite hardy though and would cope with the lower temperatures, but would really appreciate a bigger/longer tank. Zebra danios are quite often used to mature a fish tank, without using artificial bacteria. Keith |
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Post by debbiem on Mar 4, 2008 12:22:04 GMT 1
And they are VERY fast! If you ever need to remove them from the tank for whatever reason you've got your work cut out. ;D |
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Post by madonplants on Mar 4, 2008 12:35:17 GMT 1
And they are VERY fast! If you ever need to remove them from the tank for whatever reason you've got your work cut out. ;D Tell me about it. Still think a shoal of neons and then after a few weeks, get say 3/4 otocinclus, to keep the tank clean of algae. Maybe even a corydoras catfish or two as well. Obviously you would need a small heater though and a smalll piece of bogwood for the algae eaters, but think goldfish wise, you might get away with 2/3 and nothing else, as that would be your stocking levels up to maximum. Your choice I know, just that would look lovely in a tank like that. Keith |
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Post by debbiem on Mar 4, 2008 12:52:45 GMT 1
And corydoras have those wonderful eyes don't they? Which move around and they look as if they're looking at you. |
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Post by madonplants on Mar 5, 2008 10:59:53 GMT 1
Goldfish need between 8 - 10 gallons of water each btw. OOps, I was still working on the old dimensions, when it would have been about 20 gallons, so with it being filtered, maybe 2/3 goldfish would have been OK. On the new figures (you're a pratt, Keith) it's not even 10 gallons, so maybe one full grown goldfish or two at the most. See, told you neons and a small number of otocinclus would be better!! In case you don't know what they are, I will find you a link, there are bound to be some better ones, but that is the first I came up with. If you do go this way, make sure there is algae in the tank before introducing these fish or at least some live plant to munch on. Keith |
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