Suitable Fish For A Tank Less Than 24 Gallons And Hard Water?

[Mark300zx]

I was thinking of some shell dwellers but it has been a while since I have kept fish, so would appreciate other suggestions, btw don't really want marine?

 

[fishwatcher]

I guess it really depends on how much less than 24 gal it is, but maybe some sort of cichlid, as a lot of them like harder water. I'd post this in the cichlid forums, as they can help you better over there.

 

[Kay1123]

Depends on how much less than 24 it is but I've had success with a number of fish with hard water. Though I do use AquaSafe it's a water conditioner made by Tetra.

The following are fish that I have had success with (not all at the same time, make sure they are good companions for what you may have or want):

Bettas, Honey and Dwarf Gourami's, Black Neons, Halfbeaks, Marble Hatchet's, Paradise Fish, Ghost Shrimp, and at the moment that's all I can think of.

Whatever you do, DO NOT get Mollies.

 

[-germ-]

Depends on how much less than 24 it is but I've had success with a number of fish with hard water. Though I do use AquaSafe it's a water conditioner made by Tetra.

The following are fish that I have had success with (not all at the same time, make sure they are good companions for what you may have or want):

Bettas, Honey and Dwarf Gourami's, Black Neons, Halfbeaks, Marble Hatchet's, Paradise Fish, Ghost Shrimp, and at the moment that's all I can think of.

Whatever you do, DO NOT get Mollies.

I'd say poecilids, unless you do go for cichlids of which i'm unsure.
Betta, gourami, neons, hatchets, paradise. All prefer soft water...

 

[angeli697]

I was thinking of some shell dwellers but it has been a while since I have kept fish, so would appreciate other suggestions, btw don't really want marine?

well depends on how much smaller than 24 gallons...but you could get like shrimp, crayfish, hermit crabs, snails. you can also put in some livebearers: mollies, guppies, and platies. or you can get some tetras. tetras are cooler cause they're a schooling fish. you can choose what ever you want. remember 1 gallon per inch of fish. if i could choose, i would pick neon, cardinal, black, and some other kinds of tetras. ang maybe a few baby shrimp. with a few snails. also, go buy aquarium salt at wal-mart for like $1.50 american. this will help soften up your hard water.

-angeli697

 

[Biulu]

Do you know how hard your water is? We have hard water here too, and I am keeping pearl and dwarf gouramis, serpae tetras, and cories. For a 24 gallon, you could have 6 serpaes. 3-4 tetras, and a trio of honey gouramis. I am not recommending dwarfs, as they are vulnerable to diseases.

 

[Eigdoog]

I was thinking of some shell dwellers but it has been a while since I have kept fish, so would appreciate other suggestions, btw don't really want marine?

I really like swordtails...there very nice fish to keep as i have 2 now

 

[Kay1123]

Depends on how much less than 24 it is but I've had success with a number of fish with hard water. Though I do use AquaSafe it's a water conditioner made by Tetra.

The following are fish that I have had success with (not all at the same time, make sure they are good companions for what you may have or want):

Bettas, Honey and Dwarf Gourami's, Black Neons, Halfbeaks, Marble Hatchet's, Paradise Fish, Ghost Shrimp, and at the moment that's all I can think of.

Whatever you do, DO NOT get Mollies.

I'd say poecilids, unless you do go for cichlids of which i'm unsure.
Betta, gourami, neons, hatchets, paradise. All prefer soft water...

Most of the fish I listed I've had for a year or more just fine. No stress and very little issues with disease. Only one I've had an issue with is Ick and that's when I get new fish (which I keep in a different tank for at least a week). I was told the same thing "You can't have any of these fish because you have hard water" when I started. I decided not to listen to that and have had a successful time with them.

 

[-germ-]

I'm not sayng they can't be kept successfully....
They have been kept well in hard water and i'm sure this will continue to happen....
But optimum water condition for these fish is soft water, simple fact!