Fish Stocking

[Diab2005]

Hi

I know this will be a common question but I wanted to check the following stock proposal. I found a website called aquaticstoyourdoor which seem to have a good selection:
3x Corydora
10x assorted tetra (neon,glowlight,black widow and silver tip - Black widow maybe too big imo and may eat the others?)
1x Otto but may buy this once tank is established
2x dwarf gourami as a centre piece
6x assorted platty

I've attached a screenshot of the proposed "basket"

The tank is around 78l in volume (100l tank) and i have soft water in the UK.

If anyone knows any alternative websites that would be good too

Thanks

 

[itiwhetu]

I don't like live bearers with tetras, Dwarf Gourami have problems, bigger school of corydoras. Just have a re think around that

 

[Diab2005]

Excuse my ignorance but what is a live bearer? I'm thinking the gourami may have to be scrapped as like you said ive just read they suffer from TB alot. Just wanted strong colourful center piece fish.

 

[LinearParadox]

Ottos should be in schools. Tetras generally only school with their own species.

 

[itiwhetu]

The platies

 

[Diab2005]

Thanks for the advice why don't you like live bearers with tetras?

 

[itiwhetu]

Different water perimeters, just have a look at the species you want to keep and have a look at their requirements. Don't believe one site have a look at lots of information, try to find fish that like the same sort of conditions. Not extremes but averages!!.

 

[Diab2005]

Ah I thought platys liked soft waters..thats annoying. Looks like im confined to non colourful fish

 

[AilyNC]

You can't keep platy in soft water. Forget those and increase the cories to group of 4-6.

I would check SimplyFish.com to make sure the tank dimensions and your water parameters are suited to fish you want.

 

[Diab2005]

You are all ruining my picture in my head of what I would have haha. Maybe I can harden the water instead?

 

[AilyNC]

Hu

You are all ruining my picture in my head of what I would have haha. Maybe I can harden the water instead?

No it's best to stock fish to suit your water. What is your hardness? Can you do a test or get info from water company? A measurement number & unit.

There are lots of colourful fish for all water ranges so you can still have a lovely community tank. A big group of 10 or 20 ember tetra would school and give a lovely burst of red. They're ok in water under 179ppm.

 

[Colin_T]

3x Corydoras
10x assorted tetra (neon,glowlight,black widow and silver tip - Black widow maybe too big imo and may eat the others?)
1x Otto but may buy this once tank is established
2x dwarf gourami as a centre piece
6x assorted platy

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

Depending on what the GH of your water is, will determine what fish you should keep. Tetras, barbs, gouramis, rasbora, Corydoras and small species of suckermouth catfish all occur in soft water (GH below 150ppm).

Livebearers (guppies, platies, swordtails, mollies) occur in medium hard water with a GH around 200-250ppm.

If you have very hard water (GH above 300ppm) then look at African Rift Lake cichlids or use distilled or reverse osmosis water to reduce the GH.

--------------------
1) Corydoras need to be kept in groups of at least 6 and preferably 10 or more.
2) Tetras need to be kept in groups of at least 10 of their own kind.
3) Otocinclus catfish do best in groups but should not be put into new tanks because they starve. They need an established tank that is several months old and has some biofilm and algae on the glass, and driftwood to chew on.
4) Dwarf gouramis (Colisa lalius) and all their colour forms should be avoided due to the health issues they have. There are other small gouramis like honey, Indian banded, sparkling, which don't have the same issues.
5) Platies need different water chemistry requirements to the aforementioned fishes. If you want platies and tetras, get two tanks and have a soft water tank for the tetras, catfish and gouramis, and a hard water tank for the platies.

 

[Diab2005]

I've read posts saying because fish are bred in the UK and its all soft water here then they will be accustomed to the softness, seems alot of conflicting views regarding this

 

[Diab2005]

Just tested my water and its 7dgh or 125ppm

 

[Diab2005]

Thanks fir the detailed response. I have a multi test kit so got accurate details. My tap water ph is 7 but fir some reason my tank dropped may have been due to de chlorinator not sure so I added some baking soda and now its around 7.5-8ph. The measurements of the tank, its a corner unit so hard to work out i know its 40cm on the two straight sides, its a ufo550