Questions about stocking a new 200 liter (44 US gal.) aquarium
I set up a 200 liter (44 US gal.) aquarium 4 days ago and planted it with different plants. Now I am not certain about the chosen fish selection. I would probably like to add 8 Platies (3/5), 8 Guppies (3/5), 4 Swordtails (2/2), 6 Bronze Corys (3/3) and 2 Ancistrus catfish, one after the other. Is that a good selection concerning species, number and size of the fish? When can I start adding the fish at the earliest? How can I prevent introducing diseases, apart from visual control at the retailer's?
Hello,
there are no objections against the species, however 8 Platies and Guppies each are rather a lot, and the livebearers will also multiply quickly within a short time. 2/3 are enough in this case, furthermore I recommend to add only one male Swordtail. It is better to increase the Corydoras group instead, 10 - 12 specimens are desirable.
When using sera bio nitrivec, you can add the first fish (preferably the two Ancistrus) already on the next day, the other fish in 2 oder 3 groups with about a week inbetween them.
The introduction of diseases can only be prevented by quarantine (please see "How do you carry out quarantine properly?" in the FAQ/General). However, a still unstocked aquarium actually is a quarantine tank for the first fish you add!
Best regards
sera GmbH
Dr. Bodo Schnell