Stocking Opinions Needed

[tnfishlady]

My 36 gallon (30 inches long) has 21 fish in it right now, some of which may or may not stay. I have 5 harlequin rasbora, 5 blue rasbora, 3 flame tetras, 2 orange von rio tetras (the latter two I believe are just color morphs of each other), 3 zebra danios -- all of these are 1 inch or smaller. It also currently has a white skirt tetra about 2 inches long; a neon about an inch long; and a serpae (sp?) tetra about a little over an inch long -- the latter three came with another aquarium I got recently.

Filtration includes a HOB power filter rated for 40 - 50 gallons; a canister filter rated for 40 gallons; and an internal corner bottom filter rated for 30 gallons, all mostly aimed for biological filtration. The aquarium is lightly planted (live plants).

Most likely I will rehome or take to a LFS one or more of the last 3 fish, plus the danios if I can catch them!

I'm considering one or more of the following:

--Keeping the neon and adding 5 or 6 more
--Keeping the serpae (sp) tetra and adding 4 more
--Adding 5 black phantom tetras
--Adding 5 cory cats

Also, in my 25 gallon (24 inches long) I currently have 4 male rosy barbs about 1 1/2 inches long, a single black ruby barb just over an inch long, plus a 3-inch kissing gourami that was part of the group of fish I got recently with another aquarium. The black ruby barb chases the rosy barbs a bit and may be headed for rehoming or to a LFS soon. The kissing gourami doesn't bother the other fish and I was told he/she only went after long-finned fish. Still, unless the gourami is permanently stunted, he/she will outgrow this aquarium. I also wonder if the rosy barbs need a longer aquarium as they bicker a bit. The aquarium is lightly planted. I'm hoping to upgrade this aquarium to a 37 gallon (30 inches long) maybe by the middle of next year.

Any opinions on any of the above would be greatly appreciated.

 

[twodoctors]

Apart from the gouramis, they are all schooling fishes. Personally I would get closer to 10 of each (if space allowed). I wouldn't add any more new type of fishes. As you said the kissing gourami will outgrow your tank so it would be the first to be rehomed.

Adrian

 

[pablothebetta]

In the 36 gallon, I personally would stick with 1 or 2 species and do bigger groups, rather than smaller groups of different fish. The fish would be much happier in the larger numbers and in my opinion, I prefer the look oposed to smaller numbers of different species.

 

[tnfishlady]

I guess my main question is, is there enough room in my 36 gallon to add 5 - 10 fish?

 

[mike1977]

if it were me i would put two species of small tetras in big numbers in the 36 gallon
with a lot of plants

 

[tnfishlady]

Well, I came home from a LFS with 3 sparkling gouramis to add to my 36-gallon aquarium. From what I've read they should fit in fine with my tetras and rasboras, but if I'm wrong let me know!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I think you should be fine. I wish they had them around me. They are truly lovely fish. (beware of strange noises coming from the tank though... )