Rebuilding And Restocking

[Lizzie71]

After most of my fish have died of old age, I now have a tank which only contains 6 black phantom tetras and I am having a complete change around.
 
All the old, straggly plants have gone and been replaced with silk ones (I just never manage to keep real ones in good condition), and there are a couple of new rocks and some bogwood.  The tank is 60 litres (60cm long) and has been established for a few years.
 
As there is a relatively small number of fish in there now, I will build up the stocking gradually.  My plan is something like this:
 
6 black phantom tetras
4 platys (1m 3f) 
 
And then EITHER 6 pygmy corydoras OR 3 dwarf gouramis but this is the flexible bit and I am open to other suggestions.

 

[the_lock_man]

The pygmy cories tend to go mid-water, for some reason, they don't stay on the substrate like other cories. If you want them for the bottom, then try Dwarf Cories (c.hastatus) or Salt & Pepper Cories (c.habrosus) - I had a shoal of the latter at one point, and they are hilarious little things.
 
I would personally think along those lines, as the platies and tetras will inhabit the upper echelons of the tank - and gouramis would go there to. If you do go with DGs, make sure it's 1 male and 2 females, as males tend to squabble.