Stocking

[maya]

Hey Everyone,

I'm almost done cycling my 20 gal freshwater tank-- I have plants, and driftwood, and now I'm trying to narrow down some of the fishies that can live in it!

My ph is 7.8 at the moment (I added driftwood to try to bring that down, but all it's done is make the tank look really pretty..)

I still have another week or so until I am ready to add the fish, and I know I should only add a few at a time-- so, this is more of a tentative brainstorm..

Here are a few ideas I had:

My lfs has really nice Otocinclus-- very healthy and happy-- so I was thinking about adding maybe a group of 3 or 4? And if not, do corys get too big for my set up? I know you need groups of them, and if I could fit them, I would love to have them, but I don't want to crowd my tank..

I definitely want some small, schooling fish-- so maybe a group of tetras? If so, do you have any suggestions for fun, small species? Maybe mollies or platys, as well?

.. And them a snail of some sort-- that can come later, though..

Let me know what you guys think-- I am open to all suggestions!

Thanks,
Maya

 

[toddnbecka]

Oto's are delicate fish, not a good choice for a newly established tank. They aren't crazy about high pH either. The pH will likely drop gradually as the tank ages a bit. What are the gh and Kh measurements now? You'd be best to keep an eye on those (as well as the pH), get some liquid reagents and test the water weekly.
A bristlenose pleco would be a much better choice for algae control, at least after there is some growing in the tank. Cory's would be fine, tetras or rasboras would too. Livebearers in general prefer hard, alkaline water, particularly mollies. They would be happy with the current water conditions, but a heavily planted tank isn't likley to remain hard and/or alkaline in the long run.