Stocking Questions And Recomendations

[Flash_Fire]

Starting to plan out stocking for my 70g (48lx18wx20h) aquarium. I plan on planting it heavily. (going shopping tomorrow for more plants and to look at fish)
Fish I currently own that are going to move in there from my 30g include:
 
1 male betta
4 Black Skirt tetras
4 Sunset Platys
4 Silver tip tetras
 
I would like to get some pearl gourami, and maybe some more tertras so they'll have a bigger school. One of my platy's is pregnant too. Before you ask, none of my current fish are fin nippers. They live together very peacefully. What are some of your suggestions for the rest of the stocking of this tank?

 

[LyraGuppi]

I can't help much, but I'd be wary about a betta and gourami. I read that they are iffy to each other, but I may be wrong.

 

[attibones]

I'm surprised that you say the skirt tetras don't nip. They are very boisterous fish and love to nip their own fins as well as the fins of other fish. Longer fins are suspect. Your betta is at risk. I would move him to his own tank because a lot of these fish require different temps and params. For example, the platys like hard water. The skirt tetras (and likely the other tetras) like softer water.

Get at least four more tetras of each species and you could add the pearl gourami to the larger tank. The livebearers would be best suited for the thirty gallon. The betta would be more comfortable in his own tank around ten gallons.

 

[Flash_Fire]

The 30g must be replaced due to a crack in the glass. (kids!) This new tank fell into my lap from a friend after posting about it on facebook. It's running with half the water it normally would waiting for this tank to finish it's cycle. I moved over a filter to speed along to process. All these fish were gotten from the original owner of the 30g. But yeah, I've read a lot about them being nippy, but these guys are pretty peaceful. You'll see them chase each other about from time to time, but there's never been any evidence of biting and they leave the other fish alone. Been contemplating getting the betta his own tank for a while. Current seems like it will be a bit strong for him in the new tank anyways. Maybe I can take advantage of the petsmart $1/g sale. I have plenty of extra filters and stuff laying around for it.
 
On the gourami and betta compatability note, i was talking to a guy in a facebook group who provided pictures and video of his sucessesful, heavily planted tank that houses 5 male bettas and 7 pearl gourami along with some other fish. I was amazed by this. Says he's been running it for over a year. I guess there are always exceptions to the rules.

 

[attibones]

That sounds like a terrifying set up, a disaster waiting to happen, really. I'm not saying that several male bettas and pearl gourami couldn't work. I'm just saying it usually doesn't.

Well, either way, you'll want to increase both tetra species in order to help make the fish more comfortable. The platy shouldn't be in the same tank as the other fish due to their water needs, but pearl gourami and at least eight of those tetras would work well. Six is the minimum for schools, but the more the merrier with tetras. You could also do some peacock gudgeons in the bottom with a species of catfish. I'm fond of albino BN plecos (my three are goofy), albino corydoras (notice a theme?), and panda corydoras. However, I'm not sure what the temp lineup would be.

Whiptail catfish have been mentioned frequently lately. These are interesting fish. Maybe they would work? I don't know much about them. Dwarf chain loaches would be very cool. But I'm not sure what water conditions they like.

 

[Flash_Fire]

I love the long finned variety of the albino BN myself, harder to find though. Normal ones are pretty too.  I'll see if anyone locally can take the platys, if not, they'll have to stay for now.