Planning My Fish For My Aquarium

[Nayelismama]

Hello all and thank you for taking the time to help me with my fish planning. I'm currently doing a fish less cycle and am on day 1. I wanted to get some advice on weather or not my choice of fish for after my tank cycles will work.

The fish I currently have planned are danios, mollies, platys, angelfish, golden dojo loachs and rainbow shark.

My tank is 12.5x48x24 and it's a 60 gal

Any and all help greatly appreciated

 

[Gvilleguy]

Hi - what is the pH of your tank water? While farm raised fish can tolerate wide range of pH, if you have a pH closer to one end or the other of the spectrum it will affect recommended stocks.

 

[Nayelismama]

My city has a water ph of between 7.4 and 8.1.

 

[Byron]

You/we also need to know the GH (general hardness) of your tap water.  This refers to the amount of dissolved mineral in the water, and is in fact more important for fish than the pH (which is related but not of its own an indicator of hardness).  For example, mollies in particular (along with platy) will not last long in soft water.
 
But leaving the parameters aside for the moment, there are some other issues here.  First off, I would not include the dojo loach (weather loach).  This fish is not strictly speaking "tropical" and there are issues if kept warm.  It needs a group of three, and its darting movements will frighten sedate fish like angelfish.  It likes to dig and explore in sand.  And, it needs a larger aquarium; 48 inches length is fine, but the width should be at least twice the fish's adult size of 10-12 inches.
 
The Rainbow shark can cause issues, as this is not always a peaceful fish.  It will certainly limit other options, and again not a good choice with angelfish.
 
As for the angelfish, this is by nature a shoaling species, so a group of five or more is best, unless you have a bonded mated pair.  It can be kept singly as one angelfish, though I would not myself do this, given the fish's inherent trait to be in a group.
 
Byron.

 

[Nayelismama]

Ok thank you I'll look into my water's hardness and find that out as soon as I can. If the loach's and shark wouldn't be good bottom dwellers could you recommend some fish that would hopefully work for my tank? As for the angelfish I had planned on a bonded pair.

 

[Byron]

Ok thank you I'll look into my water's hardness and find that out as soon as I can. If the loach's and shark wouldn't be good bottom dwellers could you recommend some fish that would hopefully work for my tank? As for the angelfish I had planned on a bonded pair.

 
The Corydoras catfish are good with angelfish; a group of 9-12 in your 60g would work fine.  All the same species, or you can mix them but always try to get several of each species.  Most will be fine with "average" hardness, some wild caught species would be more particular.  Another substrate fish that works, with the cories too, is the regular Whiptail, Rineloricaria parva (the so-called "Royal" species get large, but this one does not).  You could have one or more of these.
 
BTW, you can probably ascertain the GH and KH of your water from the municipal water authority, likely on their website.  Or just call them.  Once you know these numbers, they are not going to change so no point in wasting money for a test kit.
 
Byron.