Tank Stocking

[Callum]

i am currently in the process of stocking my tank its an 84 litre tank 18 gallon (uk) or bout 22.5 gallon (US) made by fluval. the tank is 6 weeks old and currently has 4 harlequin rasbora and 2 albino cory. i am planning on getting a pair of Dwarf gourmai next week and 2 weeks later a pair of Rams. i have read all the requirements and am in the process of lowering my ph slightly currently 7.1 it is planted and all seems well my question is will a pair of Dwarf Gourami a pair of Rams 2 albino corys and 4 harlequins all get on together without and hassle or quarrels? in other words will they get on and would this be a good community tank? and are theyre any special needs i should know about

 

[Callum]

any help?

 

[WILDER]

Wouldn't mess with the ph it not worth it, as if you do a larger water change it going to alter the ph, not sure of the rams never kept them, don't no if they will get on with the gouramis.

 

[lljdma06]

I wouldn't mess with pH either. If you want my opinion, I'd ditch the rams, not to offend any ram lovers, just get the gouramis, and increase the numbers of the rasboras and the cories. Rasboras are at there best with more than six, and I prefer to keep my corys in groups of 5 or more. Or you can ditch the gouramis and get the rams. A note about Dwarf gouramis, they are best kept in a trio, one male to two females. The females will come out more that way.

 

[grumpymole]

i currently have in my tank 9 gourami and 3 rams and they all seem to get on fine.
i have searched on google and aparently all gourami get on with all rams. so i'd say that your addition of a pair of dwarfs should be fine.

 

[osteoporoosi]

I agree with lldma06: More corys, harlquins and a pair of gouramis.

 

[sylvia]

Don't mess with pH. All the fish should be fine as long as your pH is stable (unless they are wild-caught).

With the dwarf gouramies, make sure you know how to identify females as most LFSs only stock males and go for a trio (1 male, 2 females) rather than a pair. Actualy, I would suggest going for a hardier species (ie honey gouramies - colisa chuna/sota) instead as dwarfs are notriously prone to internal bacterial infections which you wouldn't want to risk itnroducing to a tank containing rams (which can easily catch such things).

I'd also add some more cories or rasboras and consider that, if your rams were to breed, any bottom-dwellers (ie your cories) would get bullied. The more cories you have, the less likely they are to be harmed by the rams. The minnimum group number for the rasboras is 6, for the cories its 4. Both, realy need more added to their group.

Having said that, 3 dwarf gouramies, 2 rams, 6 harlequins and 4 or so cories would only just about fit into a 22 gallon tank. At least, if you switch the dwarf gouramies to honeys, you'll be saving a little space as honeys stay smaller. Also, I'd add everything except the rams. Wait a few months, then put the cichlids in. Not only will this allow your tank time to mature and stabilize, it'll mean you'll know whether you can keep up with the number of water changes necessary for your stocking levels and you'll be more familiar with your tank's limmits.

Alternativelty, skip either the rams or gouramies (I'd skip the rams because of the cory clash issue - but I preffer gouramies anyway ).