Pick Me Some Fish To Add To New Tank

[stubedoo]

As the title suggest I'm looking to a small number of fish to my new(ish) 300 litre tank.

I fishless cycled the tank from December last year until about 3/4 weeks ago when I got my first fish. I started with 7x Zebra Danios, 4x Gold Barbs, 3x Platy & 2 x Dwarf Neon Rainbows.

Unfortunately despite regularly testing the water and having perfect results, I've still lost a handful of fish. 5 of the Zebra Danios have died, for no apparent reason, although when I went back to the shop I bought them from suspiciously their Zebra Danio tank was empty, yet all other tanks looked well stocked. They claimed they had sold out, I wasn't convinced. A gold barb also suddenly died during a water change, I wasn't there when it happened so I'm not sure of the cause... but I imagine more mishap/shock than anything else.

So current stock is:

2x Zebra Danios
3 x Gold Barbs
3 x Platy
2 x Dwarf Neon Rainbows

Water parameters are:

Ammonia = 0
NitrIte = 0
NitrAte = 12
pH = 7.2
KH = 3
Temp =26C

So I'm looking to add about 4/5 new fish. I don't really want to restock the Danios (yet) after the problems we've had with them, but I'm thinking another 2 Gold Barbs. But I'd like some suggestions for another 2/3. I'd like something a bit different to what I've already got, and preferably something that will grow a bit bigger than the current stock (remember it is a 300litre tank).

I will be very appreciate of any help.

 

[Anguilla82]

you could go for more rainbows:
boesmani look amazing when adult as do the red ones (can't think of the proper name).
how about something for the bottom of the tank like cories?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

you really need some more rainbows to start out, bump it up to a group of 6.

while the tank is cycled you still want to go fairly carefully with increasing the stocking so give it a few weeks after adding those before you get anything else.

cories are always a good choice for a community tank, likewise a couple of BN Plecs will be nice.

maybe a little too soon but in a few months you could go for a pair of angels.

 

[stubedoo]

Some more Neon Rainbows does seem a good idea... I wasn't aware they preferred to be in groups. Is there an ideal Male:Female ratio? I currently have just 2 males, who see very content and peaceful at the moment.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i seem to remember there is a ratio but i can't remember it off the top of my head

but yes they do best in groups and look up the ratio, sure a google search will yield some results.

 

[Craster]

I think the idea with Rainbows is try to avoid the males outnumbering the females.

 

[stubedoo]

I think the idea with Rainbows is try to avoid the males outnumbering the females.

Yep I think you're right... I've done a bit of research (aka googling), and while there are differing views that seems to be the general consensus. Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to try and get hold of 3 females and 1 male to even up the ratio. Which isn't as easy as it sounds as my LFS is only willing to sell them in male/female pairs at the moment.