125g stocking

[gplachy]

I can't believe I am going to ask this question - don't hit me...

After reading this, I am totally thinking that a 125 gallon tank can only handle one or two medium to large fish and that is totally depressing me.

I have in my 125 g:

2 small and thin (5 to 6") reed fish
2 butterfly fish 2 " each
1 fire eel 24 to 30" - never had the chance to measure
1 violet goby 5 - 6"
5 plecos at 2 - 3" each
1 baby whale 2"
1 elephant nose 4"
6 glass cat fish 2-3" each
2 glass knives 5" each
3 cories at 1 - 2" each

I have live plants, a lot of hiding places to where I only ever really see the fire eel and he is sectioned off to one side of the tank because he messes with my plants looking for live black worms in the substrate. I also have 6 filters and change water about 15% once a week.

I test weekly only nitrite, ammonia, ph and almost never nitrates because I do weekly changes and don't want to know....

I guess I thought that MFK advocated keeping a lot of fish in smaller areas with good care...I now know I am completely incorrect in that assumption after reading this forum and now am concerned for my fish.

Excuse my language please, but really, how screwed am I?

 

[Lupin]

I can't believe I am going to ask this question - don't hit me...

After reading this, I am totally thinking that a 125 gallon tank can only handle one or two medium to large fish and that is totally depressing me.

I have in my 125 g:

2 small and thin (5 to 6") reed fish
2 butterfly fish 2 " each
1 fire eel 24 to 30" - never had the chance to measure
1 violet goby 5 - 6"
5 plecos at 2 - 3" each
1 baby whale 2"
1 elephant nose 4"
6 glass cat fish 2-3" each
2 glass knives 5" each
3 cories at 1 - 2" each

I have live plants, a lot of hiding places to where I only ever really see the fire eel and he is sectioned off to one side of the tank because he messes with my plants looking for live black worms in the substrate. I also have 6 filters and change water about 15% once a week.

I test weekly only nitrite, ammonia, ph and almost never nitrates because I do weekly changes and don't want to know....

I guess I thought that MFK advocated keeping a lot of fish in smaller areas with good care...I now know I am completely incorrect in that assumption after reading this forum and now am concerned for my fish.

Excuse my language please, but really, how screwed am I?

to MFK!

Hi, first of all, I'd like to commend you for being honest and trying to grasp the concept of what good fishkeeping hobby is.

Secondly, I'd like to comment regarding your test kit regimen. What test kit do you use? Please make sure you are using API liquid test kit which is by far one of the most accurate kits. Be sure to test your nitrate. Zero nitrate is impossible without a daily water change by over 90% or a heavily planted setup.

pH is less of an issue here. What are your KH (carbonate hardness) and GH (general hardness)?

Your stocks unfortunately are horribly mismatched. My thoughts regarding your list are in red font.

2 small and thin (5 to 6") reed fish-Will work well with butterfly fish, plecos and glass knives
2 butterfly fish 2 " each-Will work well with reedfish, plecos, baby whale,
1 fire eel 24 to 30" - never had the chance to measure-Will work in a 125g but tank will soon become overcrowded if kept with several other bottom dwellers. Peacock eels are much better option in this case.
1 violet goby 5 - 6"-Brackish water species.
5 plecos at 2 - 3" each-What species exactly are they?
1 baby whale 2"-Watch aggression towards elephant nose.
1 elephant nose 4"-Same as baby whale.
6 glass cat fish 2-3" each-Best kept with placid tankmates. Butterfly fish, plecos, cories, elephant nose and baby whales will work with these.
2 glass knives 5" each-Will soon outgrow the tank. Keep only one.
3 cories at 1 - 2" each-Best kept with peacock eels, butterfly fish, plecos (small species) and glass catfish.

 

[Lupin]

Post has been split from main sticky thread as it should be a separate topic.

 

[dark_knights_99]

I can't believe I am going to ask this question - don't hit me...

After reading this, I am totally thinking that a 125 gallon tank can only handle one or two medium to large fish and that is totally depressing me.

I have in my 125 g:

2 small and thin (5 to 6") reed fish
2 butterfly fish 2 " each
1 fire eel 24 to 30" - never had the chance to measure
1 violet goby 5 - 6"
5 plecos at 2 - 3" each
1 baby whale 2"
1 elephant nose 4"
6 glass cat fish 2-3" each
2 glass knives 5" each
3 cories at 1 - 2" each

I have live plants, a lot of hiding places to where I only ever really see the fire eel and he is sectioned off to one side of the tank because he messes with my plants looking for live black worms in the substrate. I also have 6 filters and change water about 15% once a week.

I test weekly only nitrite, ammonia, ph and almost never nitrates because I do weekly changes and don't want to know....

I guess I thought that MFK advocated keeping a lot of fish in smaller areas with good care...I now know I am completely incorrect in that assumption after reading this forum and now am concerned for my fish.

Excuse my language please, but really, how screwed am I?

the fire eel might eat up some of your fishes especially the small ones or might kill them, plecos will suck on the slime of your fire eel. I'd suggest peacock eel.

 

[gplachy]

Thanks for your replies - I couldn't find my thread for a long time

Well, believe it or not - they are all getting along great - I really can't believe it. At first I kept my large eel in 1/2 of my tank but let him free and let things be it may and it's working out. It's been about 3 weeks that he's been rummaging around - so far so good - for now - I know.

I change my water about 30% once a week now.

I have plants, but read in my aquarium plant book that aquarium plants actually do not help with nitrates which makes me laugh, but not in a good way. Spent a lot of $ on the plant thing. They look great - at least.

The plecos are bristle nose, and king and tiger, and spotted. I forget, like the L134, L066 and one other - they are striped black white amazing gorgeous love them. Very tiny though.

My reeds are doing great and have not been sucked up like spaghetti by the fire eel, so I'm actually lovin' my tank, but hating my mistakes which are:

How screwed am I anyway, aside from in-house fighting which is under control for the time being,(1) in regards to too many fish.(2) And spending money on plants that do nothing for nitrates, which I got them for in the first place, and may actually be contributing to problems, not helping. Remember, though I do water changes religiously, but the nitrates are stupid!

I do not test water hardness and the other one, forget. Just test nitrites, ammonia and ph - all are good. It's the damned nitrates! I use API.

Thanks guys and am so happy with my tank, just want to keep it like that. Anyone use a denitrator? I'm on a reef only forum also (I don't have a reef) and they talk about them a lot.

 

[Thedaniokeeper]

125g:
2 small and thin (5 to 6") reed fish
2 butterfly fish 2 " each

55g:
1 violet goby 5 - 6"

150g
3 cories at 1 - 2" each
1 fire eel 24 to 30" - never had the chance to measure
5 plecos at 2 - 3" each
1 baby whale 2"
1 elephant nose 4"
6 glass cat fish 2-3" each

Watch the plecos with the cories.