How Does This Stocking Sound?

[ZephyrStarPlaties]

I currently have a 37 gal with a pearl gourami, five albino cories, and four harlequin rasboras (I'll be adding a few more rasboras soon). Would glass catfish be ok in this setup? What I've read up on has generally said that it would be fine, but I'm a little paranoid since I've never kept them, and the gourami is new to me as well. It's moderately planted with some driftwood and shade, which I've heard they like.
 
PH is 7.5 right now, I'll add gH and kH here once I test them.

 

[techen]

Up the cories numbers too, Since that's the only bottom fish you have. Glass catfish would be fine really as well.

 

[Byron]

This is a very delicate fish.  Requires a group of six or more to reduce its natural shyness, as it forms close bonds.  The rasbora will be fine but the Pearl might be an issue, depending upon its behavioural tendencies.  The glass catfish is very easily frightened to the point of not eating.  It is an ambush predator, remaining in thick vegetation until "food" passes by.
 
Wild caught, so attention must be paid to water parameters.  The pH should be below 7, but the GH is more important.  Obviously this is a soft water fish.
 
More info here:
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/kryptopterus-vitreolus/

 

[ZephyrStarPlaties]

Alright, thanks for the input! I'm definitely planning on upping the cories as well, don't worry. The pearl seems somewhat timid and very peaceful so far, but I'll keep an eye on that for a while.
 
Also, pH has dropped some to between 6.5 and 7, possibly because the driftwood is a fairly recent addition.
 
GH is 60, KH is 40. Do you think these are too high?

 

[Byron]

Alright, thanks for the input! I'm definitely planning on upping the cories as well, don't worry. The pearl seems somewhat timid and very peaceful so far, but I'll keep an eye on that for a while.
 
Also, pH has dropped some to between 6.5 and 7, possibly because the driftwood is a fairly recent addition.
 
GH is 60, KH is 40. Do you think these are too high?

 
The GH and KH are fine, actually ideal for any soft water fish (just for the record, avoid any livebearers and other fish that require moderately hard or harder water, these simply will not last here).  And these numbers explain why your pH has lowered; it is not primarily the wood, though here that is a factor.
 
The pH is tied to the GH and KH, and the latter tends to "buffer" pH preventing fluctuations.  With the soft water and a low KH, there is not much to counter the normal acidification that results from organics being broken down by various bacteria, primarily in the substrate.  This process produces CO2 which creates carbonic acid and the pH lowers.  Don't let this scare you, it is not going to be troublesome in most cases with soft water fish, provided you are regular with your partial water change every week.  I would change 50-60% of the tank volume weekly, and at one go, which is more beneficial than multiple smaller-volume changes; the latter can sometimes be necessary if parameters differ widely, or for other emergency reasons.
 
The larger the group of glass catfish the better they will be, so I would suggest 7-9.  Be prepared to remove the gourami; if it is a male, he is territorial (all gourami males are) and this usually only matters to/with other gourami present.
 
Byron.

 

[ZephyrStarPlaties]

Ok, I see what you're saying. I'm pretty new to dealing with hardness, my parents always said we had hard water so I just went with that. Thanks for the more in-depth explanation!

 

[Byron]

Ok, I see what you're saying. I'm pretty new to dealing with hardness, my parents always said we had hard water so I just went with that. Thanks for the more in-depth explanation!

 
If your GH/KH numbers are from your own tests, it is worth checking them with the posted numbers from your municipal water authority.  Most have sites with water data, and GH might be termed general hardness or total hardness; KH is carbonate hardness or Alkalinity..
 
I also assumed your numbers were in ppm (parts per million), or mg/l (milligram per litre) which is the same thing.  There is also degrees (dGH) but it is highly unlikely your numbers are in degrees.  You can convert from ppm to dGH and reverse with the number 17.9, multiplying degrees by 17.9 to get the equivalent ppm, or dividing ppm by 17.9 to get the equivalent dGH.  Your 60 ppm (or mg/l) is 4 dGH, and your 40 is 3 dKH.
 
Everyone should always know the GH/KH of their source water, as these do impact fish, and it is much easier to have fish suited to your water.
 
Byron.

 

[ZephyrStarPlaties]

The numbers are from my own tests, I have well water so there's no authority to check. And yes, the 60/40 is in ppm.

 

[Byron]

The numbers are from my own tests, I have well water so there's no authority to check. And yes, the 60/40 is in ppm.

 
Another way to check is to take a water sample (from the tap, not the fish tank) to a reliable fish store for a GH (and KH while there, but especially GH) test.  Make sure to get the number, not some vague description as many do.
 
The only reason I'm suggesting checks is your comment that you thought your water was hard, since the numbers indicate very soft.  If you used test strips, they are sometimes less reliable than say the API liquid GH/KH test.  I use the latter and it has been reliable.