Stocking A 60L Fish Tank

[EthanF]

Hi I am fairly new to tropical fish keeping and own a 60L fish aquarium, which is under the process of fishless cycling. When It is finished I was wondering if this stocking was ok to use: (ps. the tank is planted at the back and has a hollow log in the middle)
 
1x Dwarf Gourami : This would be my Centre-piece and the first fish introduced in the first week.
5x Harlequin Rasbora: To add more colour to the tank and the second lot of fish added in the second week.
5x Glow-light tetra: To fill up the tank and also added into the tank on the second week.
2x Pygmy Cory: for bottom level and to keep substrate reasonably clean. and added in the 3rd or 4th week.
 
I think this is reasonable for my tank size however I was wondering if I could add any more fish later on such as:
2x Red eye tetra
Some more Corys
Additional Tetras.
 
 

 

[snazy]

Not sure about the rest, but 2 pygmy corys is a bad choice. They like to be in large groups, 10+ of these is best and the tank won't handle it considering the other stocking.
If you are fishless cycling the tank, you should be able to stock all at once because the bacteria you've build up with ammonia, will slowly die off if you don't replace with live fish straight after.

 

[the_lock_man]

I've seen worse stocking plans in my time, but I would recommend a few tweaks. THe Harlequins, Glowlights and Cories are all shoaling fish. In the wild, they live in groups that can number well into the thousands. In the aquarium, it's generally accepted that the level at which they lose count of how many are in the group is 6. At this point, they just assume that they are in a decent size group and therefore feel happy. In groups less than that, they are stressed.
 
I would suggest you lose one or other of the Harlequins or GLowlights, and up the shoal size of whichever you keep to 8. Then up the cories to 6. THat'll do you on stocking.
 
I just wanted to check whether what you are calling fishless cycling and what I and Snazy are calling fishless cycling are the same thing. Are you adding bottled ammonia to your tank?

 

[EthanF]

yes bottled ammonia, then testing it for (now) nitrite levels with a master test kit. also are you saying shoot the harlequins/Glowlights up to 8-10 and lose the other one, keep the gourami and put the corys up to 8?
which would you recommend the harlequins or glowlights considering i have light substrate?

 

[the_lock_man]

Cories, I reckon to 6.
 
I think I'd go for the Harlequins on a light substrate, tbh, that dark patch on the flank will show up nicely.

 

[EthanF]

okay, thanks a lot for the help!

So:
1 dwarf gourami
10 harlequin Rasbora
6 pygmy Cories
 
Will post pictures when it is all done

 

[snazy]

That sounds better to me but isn't that a bit overcrowded?
I've got 10 corys, 2 ottos, shrimp and snails in a 60 litre tank and it's overstocked and I'll be removing most of the fish soon.  I run 2 sponge filters and an internal U2 on it at the moment to make sure it copes and it's heavily overgrown by plants too, and it gets 50% water change a week minimum, otherwise the TDS will shoot up through the roof.

 

[EthanF]

surely not      

providing the harlequins don't grow much bigger than an inch and the dwarf gourami say at max. 3-4 inches, without the Cories the tank will look bare, the cories are there for bottom level and 6 seems relatively reasonable considering there will be a big open space in the tank surrounded by plants.
Maybe it would be a little too much but I plan 25% water changes weekly and an additional 10% if nitrate tests show high levels. ?
if you think I should re-think this stocking please tell me, I would like every bodies opinion. 

 

[snazy]

Honestly, I'd start with lower levels of fish and let the tank really mature, say 6 months. It's not all about nitrifying bacteria, but a whole balance.  Then add the latest school of watever you skipped at first if you really want it at that stage as the tank will be able to handle more. Increase the amount of plants and learn how to keep them healthy during that period. They are an additional ammonia remover and keep the water quality very well. This will give you a peace of mind and it will make it easier. With that much stocking for a 60L tank all at once, despite it being cycled, you may run into problems without even noticing, like a spike here and there that you won't notice via tests but you'll see your fish getting sick or "unexplained" deaths.  
Don't be shy on water changes either way, when you have the minimum of doubt, no matter what the tests show.
 
The pygmy corys don't stay at the bottom. They are one of the few middle swimmer cory species!!!

 

[EthanF]

okay, so what are your recommendations, as I say I want your opinion on Stocking.
It is why I posted on here lol.
maybe leave the cories un-till the tank matures?

 

[snazy]

Whichever you want to leave out...The corys is best as pygmy cories are very sensitive to water conditions and you want your tank tip top. They'll like lots of plants to swim through to feel confident.
That's my opinion anyway.
The rasboras can grow as bit as 4.5-5cm each too eventually.
Have you looked at mosquito rasboras for example, they are beautiful and small. Here is a link to them:
 
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/boraras-brigittae/

 

[EthanF]

So how does this sound to you?
.1 dwarf gourami
.10 harlequin Rasbora
Both in the first week of completed cycling.
when the tank matures a bit more and I get my water conditions tip top...
maybe 4-6 pygmy cories to clean the substrate and to fill out the tank?

 

[snazy]

That sounds fine to me, let it run a while.  Although as I said harlequin rasboras can and will probably grow too big for a 60L but may still work so if you like them, then it's an option.
By then you may have get infected with "Multiple Tank Syndrome" and have another tank lining up anyway 

 

[EthanF]

Yeah I think the harlequins are my favourite fish and will always have a spot in my tank, even when they get too big and I have to move them to a larger ta...Oh dear seems I'm already developing symptoms!

But seriously thanks for all your help and maybe after all my hard work I will have a tank just as beautiful as yours in your sig.

 

[snazy]

Good luck EthanF