Help With Stocking Numbers

[mandi]

A week or so ago I posted photos of my 30-gallon tank in the photos section and asked for suggestions for what fish to get.

After thinking about the fish suggested, this is what I'd *like* to do (but I need help with numbers)...

5 x otos (already have these)
5-6 x cory cats (have 3 right now, want to get 2 or 3 more)
1 x pearl gourami (OR if the LFS can't order me a pearl, I may go with a blue 3-spot)
6 x penguin tetras *
6 x cardinal tetras *

* The tetras are my concern. I really like BOTH kinds and I'd love the mix of colors, but I feel like I'm probably pushing it with 6 of each? Could I do some of each, or should I just stick with, say, 8 cardinals?

It's a 30 gallon long aquarium (36" long x 12" wide x 16" tall I believe). Sand bottom, big piece of driftwood, moderately planted (huge vals, java moss, java fern, and a few other misc. plants). The filter is an AquaClear 70 (rated for 30-70 gallon aquariums, 300 GPH) -- so the filtration is on the high side.

The tank's been up and running steadily for 6-months so it's cycled and stable. (Right now it has 5 otos, 3 corys, and 2 swordtails which are being returned to the LFS.)

 

[Ami]

Hey Mandi - if the tank is 30g you could maybe have:

10 x penguins
10 x cardinals / neons

Especially seeing as your overfiltering.

Sure someone will soon jump in and say that's too much though

 

[rEvolution27]

Yeh, that sounds good. Stick to 6 of each though. And why are you returning the swordtais? they're such lovely fish.

 

[pokagon55]

It is always a GOOD idea that you go a size or two bigger than what needed for the tank. That way you can have more fishes. Just remember that you also need more aggitation at the surface of the water for oxygen intake the more fish you have.