Am I Overstocking My 20 Gal?

[azmodan]

Hello! I'm in the process of trying to figure out what to stock my 20 gallon with, but admittedly I am very unexperienced with stocking/overstocking. My tank is a 20 gallon high and I have an Aqua Clear 50 gal filter as well as a spare 20 gal filter with it too. Currently all I have are 2 honey gouramis with a decent amount of plants (although once I get a new light I plan on planting much more heavily). So I want some peaceful tank makes for the little gouramis and I was thinking...

2 honey gouramis
6 black ruby or gold barbs
5-6 kuhli loaches

or

2 honey gouramis
6 barbs or 6 tetras (not sure the type)
5-6 cories (probably pygmy, although I'd really like panda or sterlai)

Naturally I'm concerned this would be overstocking my tank, especially with kuhli loaches getting 4-5 inches long. Should I go with the cories instead? Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[TekFish]

Do not check out unreliable stocking calculators on the internet. It's not amazingly accurate but it will give you an idea. Then, come and check back here, to see if anyone agrees with you.

TekFish

 

[azmodan]

Do not check out unreliable stocking calculators on the internet. It's not amazingly accurate but it will give you an idea. Then, come and check back here, to see if anyone agrees with you.

TekFish

I did some calculations like that and it checked out fine, but I know I cannot rely on those. Human input is needed!

 

[fluttermoth]

What are the dimensions of the tank, and is your water hard or soft?

It's not really possible to suggest stocking without us knowing those things

 

[azmodan]

Whoops, it's a 20 gal high so 24 x 12 x16 and the water is on the hard side.

 

[Blitz]

I would go with this idea.
2 honey gouramis
6 barbs or 6 tetras (not sure the type)
5-6 cories (probably pygmy, although I'd really like panda or sterlai)
Get Juli cories, they're small. You can try neon tetras. But I would try Cherry Barbs. Small, those things are. So I would go with


2 dwarf honey gouramis
6 cherry barbs
6 Juli Cories

 

[crazyforcordoras]

But all those fish need soft water. You need fish like livebearers.

 

[Crossfire]

Get Juli cories, they're small. You can try neon tetras. But I would try Cherry Barbs. Small, those things are. So I would go with

*hiss*

Get the kuhlis. Much better. They are big, but they produce very little waste
You can soften the water by adding aquarium safe peat to the filter or catappa leaves

 

[azmodan]

Nice! Yeah, I'm very willing to do whatever it takes to make the water soft enough for these fish. One thing I should note though: I have gravel and I've read that kuhlis are burrowers and prefer sand. Will they still be ok with gravel provided they have plenty of places to hide?

 

[crazyforcordoras]

No. Gravel can hurt their whiskars. They need sand.

 

[azmodan]

Ok, I guess I'm getting cories then!

 

[Moby-Krib]

Ok, I guess I'm getting cories then!

Cories prefer sand as well. Most if not all bottom dwellers are going to do better with sand. If you do use gravel make sure it is rounded not sharp.
The barbels become damaged quickly otherwise.
Not a steadfast rule but quite thoughtful of you to provide a pleasant substrate to them.

 

[azmodan]

Ok, I guess I'm getting cories then!

Cories prefer sand as well. Most if not all bottom dwellers are going to do better with sand. If you do use gravel make sure it is rounded not sharp.
The barbels become damaged quickly otherwise.
Not a steadfast rule but quite thoughtful of you to provide a pleasant substrate to them.

Yup, the gravel I have is thankfully the rounded pea-type.

 

[onidrase]

black ruby barbs are too large and boisterous for a 20 gallon high imo. I've never seen or kept the gold barbs, however.

 

[Moby-Krib]

Ok, I guess I'm getting cories then!

Cories prefer sand as well. Most if not all bottom dwellers are going to do better with sand. If you do use gravel make sure it is rounded not sharp.
The barbels become damaged quickly otherwise.
Not a steadfast rule but quite thoughtful of you to provide a pleasant substrate to them.

Yup, the gravel I have is thankfully the rounded pea-type.

Good enough, please remember all the members are trying to help. sometimes it sounds / reads as an attack, it isn't.
Not saying you arnt already seeing it this way.
certain fish have best case care, others absolutely need certain quarters.
This site is here to make your experience enjoyable and your fishes life full.
Congrats for caring enough to research it.
The more you know the better the experience will be.