60 ltr tank - more fish or fully stocked?

[Lina_uk]

Hi all

I have a 60 ltr tank and am new to keeping fish. Following research I initially stocked my tank with neon tetras and some panda corys and added as time passed. At the moment I have:

5 x neon tetras
5 x harlequin rasbora
2 x panda corys
2 x dwarf gourami

I find that the tank is very bare at the top third.

Is the tank now at capacity?

What would you recommend adding if it's not?

 

[Byron]

Welcome to TFF. There are problems with this stocking which I will explain.

First, cories are a shoaling species and must have a group of at least five or six. More would be much better, and the panda cory is one of the most "together" social cory, but in a 60 liter (15 gallon) which I will assume is 24 inches (60 cm) in length, a group of six or seven would be fine. But you really do need this many.

Neon tetra and harlequin rasbora are also shoaling species, and here six is usually recommended as the minimum, but again a few more will always be better for the fish...and for you as they will be less stressed and more natural in their behaviours. The Harlequin is too large a fish for this small a tank though. The neons will work, and particularly with the panda cory as both species prefer cooler temperatures, around 75-76F (23-24 C) but no warmer.

As you mention, these species are lower half inhabitants. The dwarf gourami is upper level, but this is a species that poses a risk health-wise. Honey Gourami would be a better option, and a trio of one male and two females. A better gourami though would be the pygmy sparkling gourami, in a group of five or six. Or forgetting gourami, there are a few other surface fish suitable, like the rocket pencilfish that swims at an oblique angle at the surface, or perhaps the Marble Hatchetfish; either in a group of 8-9.

I didn't mention water parameters yet, and that might alter these options. What is the GH (general or total hardness) and pH of your source water, meaning the tap water on its own? You should be able to get this data from your municipal water authority if you are on city water, check their website.

 

[Lina_uk]

Thanks Byron. Unfortunately we have only two tropical fish suppliers and choices are somewhat limited.

I had been using this website which suggests 60 ltr is ok for the Rasboras and that the combination I have is ok:

https://www.thesprucepets.com/harlequin-rasbora-1378462

I had read the panda corys should be kept at least in 3s and had intended to get one or two more.

I was unable to locate PH levels or hardness levels for water. Reports are issued but don't refer to these categories.

Welcome to TFF. There are problems with this stocking which I will explain.

First, cories are a shoaling species and must have a group of at least five or six. More would be much better, and the panda cory is one of the most "together" social cory, but in a 60 liter (15 gallon) which I will assume is 24 inches (60 cm) in length, a group of six or seven would be fine. But you really do need this many.

Neon tetra and harlequin rasbora are also shoaling species, and here six is usually recommended as the minimum, but again a few more will always be better for the fish...and for you as they will be less stressed and more natural in their behaviours. The Harlequin is too large a fish for this small a tank though. The neons will work, and particularly with the panda cory as both species prefer cooler temperatures, around 75-76F (23-24 C) but no warmer.

As you mention, these species are lower half inhabitants. The dwarf gourami is upper level, but this is a species that poses a risk health-wise. Honey Gourami would be a better option, and a trio of one male and two females. A better gourami though would be the pygmy sparkling gourami, in a group of five or six. Or forgetting gourami, there are a few other surface fish suitable, like the rocket pencilfish that swims at an oblique angle at the surface, or perhaps the Marble Hatchetfish; either in a group of 8-9.

I didn't mention water parameters yet, and that might alter these options. What is the GH (general or total hardness) and pH of your source water, meaning the tap water on its own? You should be able to get this data from your municipal water authority if you are on city water, check their website.

 

[Byron]

Thanks Byron. Unfortunately we have only two tropical fish suppliers and choices are somewhat limited.

I had been using this website which suggests 60 ltr is ok for the Rasboras and that the combination I have is ok:

https://www.thesprucepets.com/harlequin-rasbora-1378462

I had read the panda corys should be kept at least in 3s and had intended to get one or two more.

I was unable to locate PH levels or hardness levels for water. Reports are issued but don't refer to these categories.

Seriously Fish is the most reliable site for data on fish. Here's the link to the harlequin rasbora species data:
http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/trigonostigma-heteromorpha/

As you will see, they recommend at minimum a tank with the base dimensions of 60 cm by 30 cm (24 inches by 12 inches) which would be a standard 20g. I would want a slightly larger tank for this species, but I would also expect other fish in with them, and that makes a difference; SF is giving minimums for just a group of the species.

Cories must have five or six of the species or they will not be at their best, and will be stressed. That is guaranteed. As with any shoaling species, a few more will always improve the fish's health. This is a critical issue for shoaling fish.

On the source water parameters, give the authority a call and ask them. You could have tests done at a fish store, but make sure you get the number and the unit of measurement they use for the GH; terms like "moderate" or "soft" are basically meaningless unless we know their criteria, and that means having the numbers.

Sometimes you need to wait for the fish you might want, as they can be available seasonally. Or find a good store nearby. I would not hesitate to spend an hour travelling if it took me to a good store, even if I had to call ahead to ensure they had fish I wanted.