Stocking A 20g

[Chri$]

I can't decide on the stocking for my 20 ukg.

How does this sound?

4 x Black Widows (already in there)
8 x Harlequin Rasboras
1 x Male Bolivian Ram
6 x something else (ideas?)

Would i be overstocked? Any other ideas /combinations??

Thanks guys

Chris.

 

[timmystood]

How about -
6 Black Widow Tetras
6 Harlequin Rasboras
1 Male Bolivian Ram
5 Sterba Cory Cats

Might be overstocked, I haven't done the maths but it's a good selection. With good filtration I doubt it will be overstocked anyway. Good luck!

 

[Chri$]

Thanks Timmystood

Not sure about the Sterba Cory Cats - would they be ok on fine gravel? I know they prefer a sand substrate.

Any other suggestions/ideas welcome!

 

[Nevergone815]

cories prefer sandy substrate but will do good on any substrate that isn't "sharp". sharp edges can damage their feelers. fine gravel will work jsut as well. you could also substitute the sterba for any cories really.

as for being overstocked i don't think it would. the bioload might be a tad much, but you're not exactly going to have fish that produce a lot of waste anyways. good filtration will make this easier for you and regular gravel vacs and such. routine tank maintanence is all that is needed.

with thsi stock plan:
6 Black Widow Tetras
6 Harlequin Rasboras
1 Male Bolivian Ram
5 Sterba Cory Cats
you will have a nice center peice fish (bolivian ram) and have some nice schools to accompany him (tetras and rasboras). the bottom substrate will be inhabited by the cories, so this set up looks really good to me.

good luck with it

 

[timmystood]

Yeah, I agree. The stock plan is a good one and like you say if your LFS doesn't have Sterba cats or your don't like them then you can always get a different type of cory cat.

 

[Chri$]

Thank you both for your replies

Are corries quite big waste producers?

 

[timmystood]

Nope not really and they help even more by eating food that has dropped to the bottom etc. people have them as part of a 'clean-up crew'! All 3 of my tropical tanks have them

 

[Chri$]

Do they uproot plants and such like?

 

[Nevergone815]

no they are very peaceful. they jsut play with each other and sometimes with the other fish, it is quite cute to be honest.

you have nothing to worry about as liek said before, they are used in "clean up crews" to maintain clean substrate (eat leftover food) though they are nice to have even if not used for that purpose. they won't uproot plants either. they are really good fish to have. especially if you like nonaggressive/nippy fish that are veryinteractive and playful.

 

[Chri$]

Thanks for your reply

Would a pair of pitbull plecos work in this setup?

Although i am coming round to the idea of a group of corries now!

 

[tetraman]

Most of those ideas sound overstocked. Try this:

3 cories (1 female, 2 males)
5 swortails or platies (only get 1 male)
a school of small tetras

 

[Chri$]

Most of those ideas sound overstocked. Try this:

3 cories (1 female, 2 males)
5 swortails or platies (only get 1 male)
a school of small tetras

Thanks for the idea

I've kept swordtails and platies before and i am wanting to keep something different now.