Convert Tiny Malawi Tank To Something Else, Pls Advise?

[sdrifaat]

Hi,
I have a 60cm (2ft), 60 litre(15g) tank that I originally setup for malawi only to discover that malawi needs a bigger tank. So I moved my malawi to a bigger tank, 4ft.
The 60 litre tank is at 28degree Celsius, has crushed coral, has a powerhead filter that blows a current in the tank, has artificial plants and some small rocks. In it I have a pakastani loach (4cm) and a common pleco(7cm), had them for a year now, hardly grew. What fish can I add to this setup without changing the setup. Tetras maybe? Tiger barbs? I'm looking for something that shoals in a group of say 6 or so, if possible for this size tank. Something colourful.
Can anybody advise me please.
Thanx.

 

[dwarfgourami]

First of all, would you be able to make alternative arrangements for the pleco and the loach? The pleco at least will need more room to grow in a healthy way. If he has not grown in a year, that might not be such a good sign- he would probably benefit from a larger tank.
I am not familiar with pakistani loach, but I think they need a fair bit of swimming room- let someone else comment on that.
If the tank is set up with coral sand, presumably it has hard water? If so, and if the current inhabitants were rehoused, it would make a nice tank for shelldwellers, small Tanganyikan cichlids. Multies have lots of personality.
Tiger barbs have a very high activity level, so I would not personally house them in such a small tank.

 

[sdrifaat]

First of all, would you be able to make alternative arrangements for the pleco and the loach? The pleco at least will need more room to grow in a healthy way. If he has not grown in a year, that might not be such a good sign- he would probably benefit from a larger tank.
I am not familiar with pakistani loach, but I think they need a fair bit of swimming room- let someone else comment on that.
If the tank is set up with coral sand, presumably it has hard water? If so, and if the current inhabitants were rehoused, it would make a nice tank for shelldwellers, small Tanganyikan cichlids. Multies have lots of personality.
Tiger barbs have a very high activity level, so I would not personally house them in such a small tank.

Yes, I can make alternate arrangements for the pleco and loach. But won't I need som other bottoem feeder.
Its not coral sand, its crushed coral, gravel. Mixed with normal gravel.
How many of the shelldwellers, multies would I add.

 

[dwarfgourami]

No tank needs a bottom feeder; at the end of the day it's the hobbyist that ends up doing the cleaning. Aafter all, even bottom feeders make messes of their own. Check out the African cichlids forum for multies. You would need to provide shells (like the ones you buy in delicatessens for French snail eating).