Stocking Ideas

[thisguyek]

I'm sure this is the millionth post about stocking ideas ... but im just looking for some ideas!

So my Ph is right around 8.2-8.3, so i would need something that can tollerate that high of a Ph. I know cichlids are great for that... but i'm not sure if i'm ready to commit to them. I am very fond of the typical tropical fish and live bearers. I have three platties and two guppies in a 10gal that will be going into my 55gal (which is what i need the ideas for)

Just throw some ideas out there!!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

A few non-Rift Valley community fish that come to mind for hard alkaline water, that do well in temperate water like your Platies and Guppies are...

Blind Cave Tetra

Odessa Barb

Ilyodon genus goodeids

 

[littlegreentiger]

I've often read not to worry too much about the Ph, as long it's stable, as most fish will adapt but don't like it to swing wildly in an aquarium.

Lots of small fish such as Endlers, Celestial Pearl Danio, White Cloud?

A touch bigger with Neon/Cardinal/Glowlight/Rummynose Tetra, Cherry Barb, Harlequin (or similar related), Normans Lampeye, Hatchett?

Larger fish, but in smaller numbers, about 3"+ such as Odessa Barb, Black Ruby Barb, Gold Barb, Rosy Barb, Tigers in a decent size group to control their propensity for violence (lol) maybe a small shark (say 4"-6")?

Somewhere in between - I would perhaps think about Lemon/X-Ray/Rosy Tetra, Red/Black Phantom, Black/White Skirt, Bleeding Heart maybe Serpae but they can be evil to each other?

Or more of the same with a group of different colour Guppy/Platy/Swordtail/Molly?

 

[thisguyek]

littlegreentiger: I thought the same about the Ph. as long as it was stable it shouldnt be a problem. It's just that i've had problems with fish in the past. I will admit that some of the fish i tried keeping did better in softer water. Im not sure if this was the problem or something else though...


The only thing is... these fish that both of you have mentioned... I have never seen in my LFS. I dont know how i feel about buying fish online. I may stay in the direction of the livebearers... but at the same time i would like to try something a little different.

thanks for the suggestions!