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What is the recomended amount of fish for cycling a 70g tank and what would the optimum stocking levels be once the tank has matured?

for cycling 1/3 of tank occupants.

what do you plan to stock with??

we currently have 6 zebra danios and 6 gold danios in there, looking to add possibly angels and redline barbs, and a few plecs and/or inverts. also considering clown loach

I'd keep the danios in there for now, and let them cycle the tank. Keep an eye on your test kits, don't change water or clean the gravel/filters for 4-6 weeks and once you're cycled, then you can start making choices. I would't mix angelfish with the danios, as the danios can be kinda nippy and may make lunch of your angel's fins.

Clown loaches also like to school, and eventually get too big for a 70 gallon, but 3 or 4 would do alright for a while, until you needed a bigger tank to house them. Add these last if you're going to get them, as they'll most likely be the most sensative.

It really depends on what kind of fish you want to keep as to what the stocking levels would be... any other ideas?

we always have the option of moving the danios to the 15g tankto allow us to keep our options open, i do like some of the larger barbs

but not untill the tank is cycled and matured

what about this in the 70g

6 zebra danio
6 gold danio
4 redline torpedo barb
6 tiger barb
3 clown loach?
and possibly some peppered corys and/or pictus or bn cats

and for the 15g

1 male siamese fighter
10 rummynose tetra
2 large shrimp?

I think your plan for the 70 gallon tank sounds good, but I'd up the torpedo barbs to at least six (and I envy you -- I think they're gorgeous fish!). I'd probably do either the tiger barbs or the torpedo barbs, because I think a larger school of one kind of fish is more interesting than two small schools. But that's just my opinion; you should do what you want. Eventually, your clown loaches will get too big for the tank, but they grow slowly, so you'll have some time.

The 15 plan definitely sounds overstocked to me. I wouldn't keep that many rummynose tetras in there, for certain. In fact, if it were me, I'd probably go with another kind of fish altogether, because rummynoses are very active and would probably prefer a larger tank. But that's a personal preference. What about harlequin rasboras instead? They school well, are colourful, and are smaller than rummynoses. And they even come from the same part of the world as bettas, so it's a bit more biotope correct, if you're into that sort of thing.

As for your original question about optimal stocking levels, a lot depends on your filtration and aquarium maintenance habits (water changes, etc.).

Sounds like you have some nice tanks coming!

revised idea for the 70, if i can get the fish locally.

6 zebra danio
6 gold danio
6 redline torpedo barb
4 yoyo loach
2 bn cats


and possibly something else either a pair or single specemin as a centerpiece.

long way togo befor the 15 is ready for any final desision but deffo havind a male betta.

still open to suggestions, all ideas appreciated.

The 70 sounds great, and you definitely have room for a centrepiece fish or two! Maybe a pair of pearl gouramies?

optimal stocking? Less than you would think.... Rats! Curse of the hobby. :%)

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