FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hi everyone! I had an account here a few years back when I had my 20g tank and loved the info provided to me from everyone here... So I am back again to get everyone's opinion about a 46g bowfront tank...

My husband and I are considering getting a 46g bowfront but would like to see all of our fish options before investing the money into one.

Some side notes... I don't want a planted tank and I plan on running more than one filter (or a filter that can support well beyond a 46g tank) to allow for more fish if possible.

Personally, I am up for just about any kind of fish, but my husband is a little more picky... Here are some of the fish he likes to give you an idea of what we're looking to have. (Maybe some of these would even work in the 46g...
- Leporinus fasciatus
- Dalmation molly
- Long finned red tetra
- Black phantom tetra

My husband likes really colorful or interesting fish... And I would like to have as many fish as possible. (So I wouldn't like a tank with just two big fish in it.) I am also extremely interested in Cories for the bottom, so any suggestions on which ones would work for a 46g would be great. (I had Pandas before, but I have not seen any around where we live currently, unfortunately, so I think those are out.)

Also, will we need any kind of algae eater?

All suggestions and opinions are much appreciated and very welcomed! I did well maintaining my 20g and knew my limits as far as it was concerned... But getting a tank that is double the size, I am just so curious to find out what all of my new options are.

Thanks so much to whoever offers some suggestions!!

Cories are great.

Pehaps a school of 8 small ones
[pandas,juliis,peppered,ect.]

As for algae control...consider a small pleco like bristlenose or clowns.

Mid-level stocking...Hmmm a school of 8 black skirts or 15 neons[cardinals or black neons would work too.]And perhaps a school of 6 rasboras.

top level stocking...a few danios[other than giant] and a gourami[dwarf,honey,gold,3 spotted,pearl,chocolate,moonlight,ect.] or a trio of sparkling gouramis.

Sounds like Your going to have fun with it.You might want to plant it well and maybe put some driftwood in there too.

Good Luck!
Shadowtheblacklab

Yup. I'm that crazy Twilight/animal/music girl

Leporinus fasciatus- way too big and active. What do you like about it? There are probably more suitable smaller fish either with the same pattern/colors or swimming habits.

You don't ever need an algae eater if you manage the tank right. They add to the algae growth nearly as much as they eat so they are only useful in a tank that already has proper maintenance and stocking to avoid algae growth. Otherwise they just add to the nitrates and nutrients in the water that the algae uses to grow. Keep them because you like them and only a distant 2nd because they eat algae. However if you do like them there are several plecos along with otos that would work for your tank.

I'd add 8-10 small cories, a school of 8-10 of either of the tetras, a few male livebearers(probably not mollies since they get large and you can't keep as many fish), and then a pair or trio of honey or pearl gouramis. Those gouramis are still visible and colorful but small and peaceful enough you can have several of them like you seem to want. If you do want 1 larger fish in the tank you could go with a 3 spot gourami and no other gouramis. You'd still probably have space for a pleco, more cories or tetras, or I can never resist adding a few loaches. Get at least 4 of the small to medium sized loaches(not dojos or clowns) and they'll be zipping around all over the place. My yoyos were always endless entertainment.

Leporinus fasciatus - My husband pointed those out while we were looking at fish; I think he just generally likes the way they look, so sure, any suggestions about similar fish that would work for a 46g tank would be great.

Thanks for the info about algae eaters; nice to know I don't *have* to have one. I'd much rather just keep the tank in good working order myself; not a big fan of most algae eaters.

I like the idea of the small/medium loaches; I am definitely going to look into them and see what my husband thinks as well.

Glad to hear that either of the tetras my husband likes (the long finned red/black phantom) would work... Any suggestions as to which might work out better? Which is the hardier of the two? Which is more active?

Thanks for all the info and suggestions thusfar!

Both tetras are hardy. The phantoms might be a little more active and longer finned varieties of tetra tend to be slower swimmers. Phantoms can also occasionally be a little nippy so I'd probably only mix them with other short finned schoolers and not put both those tetra species in the same tank. You could also put something shorter finned and faster moving in the tank with them but if you stick to 1 tetra school you have more room for a larger cory school and loaches.

If you just like the striped pattern get 4-6 yoyos or burmese loaches. They are white or very light cream color with black stripes. Zebras are also a common striped loach but might be a little big.

I would go for african cichlids. They are colourful and their natural habitat is rocky and not planted. Sounds just the ticket. Can have some bottom dwellers in there too if they takes yer fancy.



electric yellow, electric blue, red empress, venustus, hongi island all bright colours and wa-ay cool to watch. Have a look at their profile pages on this site..... pix 'n all. You may find those suit your wish list.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~