Latest Thinking For My Little Tank

[Lizzie71]

I have a small tank, 34 litres. I now have some mature filter media in there (thanks to a lovely member one here ) and should be ready for fish very soon.

So far there are 3 plants in there, two tall ones at the back and a small one at the front, but I'm think of adding a couple more.

After extensive research and discussions with my children (it's meant to be their tank not mine!) I am minded to stock it with the following:

1 male dwarf gourami
4 platys (probably female or 1 male 3 female)
6-8 small danios or rasboras

How does this sound to everyone? Too much? I used www.thinkfish.co.uk to check and that reckoned it was OK, but it also said that I could keep a male betta in there with the others, so I'm not sure how much I can trust it!

The aim is to have a peaceful, colourful community of small fish which are relatively easy to look after.

I'm thinking of putting the platys in first and adding the rest over time.

 

[AJGray]

yeah i dont think id keep a betta in with danios or the gourami just incase they nipped

but i think you may be fine with that amount of fish

my fish shop would only sell my gourami's in a pair so i dunno whether its like that everywhere

 

[rowdyburns21]

That looks fine to me, some people might hit ya with some figures about cm per litre, but this is only a guide, as fishkeepers get more experienced they tend to overstock more as they know how to maintain the tank, look for signs things are going wrong, what I would say about your stocking choice is that it isn't very balanced
Danios or rasboras- mid-high level swimming
Gourami- all levels mostly higher IME
Plattys- all over mostly higher IME
I would possibly replace the danios or rasboras with 3 corys of some sort or maybe some ottos
What filter are you using?

 

[Lizzie71]

That looks fine to me, some people might hit ya with some figures about cm per litre, but this is only a guide, as fishkeepers get more experienced they tend to overstock more as they know how to maintain the tank, look for signs things are going wrong, what I would say about your stocking choice is that it isn't very balanced
Danios or rasboras- mid-high level swimming
Gourami- all levels mostly higher IME
Plattys- all over mostly higher IME
I would possibly replace the danios or rasboras with 3 corys of some sort or maybe some ottos
What filter are you using?

I have an internal filter which came with the tank.

I didn't want to get corys because I have bought the wrong substrate for them - we have brightly coloured gravel chosen by my son before I'd read that it wasn't the right thing. I'm worried it wouldn't be suitable for the corys. Haven't looked into ottos, I'll go and see now

 

[Lizzie71]

OK I've had a look now, so what if I gave up on the gourami and had a couple of ottos, the platys and 6 small danios/rasboras?

 

[Lizzie71]

OK I've had a look now, so what if I gave up on the gourami and had a couple of ottos, the platys and 6 small danios/rasboras?

Sorry, one more thought. If I go for this combination, is there any preference as to which fish goes in first?

 

[SJ2K]

Platy/Danio id recommend first, a little less sensitive to inevitable water fluctuations.

 

[rowdyburns21]

Platy/Danio id recommend first, a little less sensitive to inevitable water fluctuations.

Here here

 

[mark.w.jones]

I would unfortunately add that your tank is really not big enough for danios. They need a long swimming area, minimum 24" as they are very active fish.

Harlequin Rasboras are fine as are the ottos but to be honest you'll be fully stocked with just reasonably sized schools of those. 5 of each which it is recommended you aim for, will fully stock your tank. If you want small and colourful I'd certainly recommend endlers livebearers. Just don't stock males and females together or you'll be in fry heaven. Amano shrimp also look great, add real interest and take up virtually no stocking space at all. Just a thought.



ps I love sparkling Gouramis as a small gourami option. Much hardier than the dwarf and less prone to bacterial infection + better looking IMO

 

[SJ2K]

^^ Knows his stuff, +1

 

[doresy]

Hi, as an owner of a 34 lt (6.5 UK Galls) myself (See signiture) here is my 5 pennth worth

You have about 7" s worth of adult size fish to play with.....so

4 Platy will be your limit but if you mix sexes you will have fry soup and although most will be eaten it will be a continuous affair so some will survive resulting in over stock.

Danios need a lot more space.

Dwarf Gourami are best kept in larger, well matured and planted tanks. Also there are quite a few problems reported on this forum in conection with keeping them.

Lastly, in this type of tank the exhaust flow from the filter can be too strong for a Betta.

So, what do I have in mine? Mine is an AquaOne with an overhead trickle filter to which I have maxed out the filter media and it also adds to water capacity.

My stock is 6 small Neon Tetra, 3 Pigmy Cory and 4 Endlers.

The Neon Tetra are temporary guests and will be used to boost the shoal in my main tank as they grow.

Hope this helps

 

[Lizzie71]

The Aqua One is what I have. Thanks for all the input, we're off to the fish shop tomorrow and I'll let you know what we get.