20 gallon long stocking

[FreshwaterFins99]

Would this stocking work for a 20 gallon long?
3 Honey Gourami
8-10 Harlequin Rasboras
1 BN Pleco

My aquascape will have black sand, some live plants and driftwood. I will have an AquaClear 20-55 Gallon filter and do a 40% water change weekly. The temp will be kept at 74 Fahrenheit. Is this ok?
Thanks for the help

 

[PheonixKingZ]

What is your water hardness? (pH and GH)

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Welcome to the forum! That should work fine and look great assuming your water is in the normal range. I've never kept honey gouramis, but if they're like most gouramis you'd do best with one male and two females.

 

[FreshwaterFins99]

Dont have a kit to measure parameters right now but I think I have harder water. I have heard though that with drip acclimation that is fine. So this is a good stocking?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Dont have a kit to measure parameters right now but I think I have harder water. I have heard though that with drip acclimation that is fine. So this is a good stocking?

We really need to know the hardness of your water. You can most likely find out this information on your water providers website.

If you have harder water, Rasboras might not be the best option.

 

[FreshwaterFins99]

We really need to know the hardness of your water. You can most likely find out this information on your water providers website.

If you have harder water, Rasboras might not be the best option.

Any other type of schooler that would work better?

 

[Sgooosh]

Any other type of schooler that would work better?

rasboras? they can go harder i think

 

[Byron]

Any other type of schooler that would work better?

We need the data in order to offer practical suggestions, check the website of your municipal water authority. GH is the more important, this is the general or total hardness and it does impact fish...and drip acclimation has no bearing on this as it is long-term and in any event, just so you know, it takes fish weeks if not months to acclimate.

In the interim, I second post #3 re the gourami gender/number. Plants must include floating species, like Water Sprite (ideal), Frogbit, Water Lettuce. Gourami need these, and the rasbora (any rasbora) will be less shy with them.

Re the rasbora, if they are suited I would recommend looking for the other two species in the same genus, Trigonostigma hengeli or T. eques, as they are smaller, very peaceful, and go well with peaceful gourami. You could have a group of 9-10 of either of these wit5h the gourami and BN, provided you have floating plants (these are not just a shade issue, or food source (critters on the roots) for these fish, but incredible water purifiers, literally "ammonia sinks."

 

[Avel1896]

Hello
Be careful with Honey Gouramis as there're very even impossible to sex.

 

[Circus]

If the hardness numbers work out, this should be a fun tank to watch. I love to watch my Harlequin Rasbora and I have pearl gourami. I hope you will post pictures of your tank, whatever the final stocking may br.

 

[FreshwaterFins99]

We need the data in order to offer practical suggestions, check the website of your municipal water authority. GH is the more important, this is the general or total hardness and it does impact fish...and drip acclimation has no bearing on this as it is long-term and in any event, just so you know, it takes fish weeks if not months to acclimate.

In the interim, I second post #3 re the gourami gender/number. Plants must include floating species, like Water Sprite (ideal), Frogbit, Water Lettuce. Gourami need these, and the rasbora (any rasbora) will be less shy with them.

Re the rasbora, if they are suited I would recommend looking for the other two species in the same genus, Trigonostigma hengeli or T. eques, as they are smaller, very peaceful, and go well with peaceful gourami. You could have a group of 9-10 of either of these wit5h the gourami and BN, provided you have floating plants (these are not just a shade issue, or food source (critters on the roots) for these fish, but incredible water purifiers, literally "ammonia sinks."

Sorry about the lack of data. I know a reputable breeder so I can make sure I get 1 male 2 female gourami. I hope to get lots of frogbit for the top and some anubias to attach to the driftwood. Unfortunately I am only able to get harlequins at the moment but I can ask my LFS about glowlights. I have heard that BN plecos can be pretty messy. Will that be a problem in a 20 gallon long?

 

[Byron]

Sorry about the lack of data. I know a reputable breeder so I can make sure I get 1 male 2 female gourami. I hope to get lots of frogbit for the top and some anubias to attach to the driftwood. Unfortunately I am only able to get harlequins at the moment but I can ask my LFS about glowlights. I have heard that BN plecos can be pretty messy. Will that be a problem in a 20 gallon long?

BN should be OK, though they do produce more waste, but floating plants, and increasing the volume of the weekly W/C (I would do 60%) will help. BN must have real wood to graze; they do not digest wood (some loricariids do) but they need it for a healthy digestive system. I thought you were tied to the BN, if not, there are other substrate fish to consider, but not until we know the GH.

You are inn the USA so finding the other rasboras may be not too difficult.

 

[FreshwaterFins99]

BN should be OK, though they do produce more waste, but floating plants, and increasing the volume of the weekly W/C (I would do 60%) will help. BN must have real wood to graze; they do not digest wood (some loricariids do) but they need it for a healthy digestive system. I thought you were tied to the BN, if not, there are other substrate fish to consider, but not until we know the GH.

You are inn the USA so finding the other rasboras may be not too difficult.

I would love a BN but have been told that they cant be in a 20 gallon long because of their high bioload by some and that they can by others. Not really sure what is best at the moment. Any thoughts?

 

[Sgooosh]

I would love a BN but have been told that they cant be in a 20 gallon long because of their high bioload by some and that they can by others. Not really sure what is best at the moment. Any thoughts?

i would rather not actually, they can grow quite big and i think a 50g is needed, just my opinion

 

[Utar]

74° F is on the low end for the Honey Gourami and the Harlequin Rasboras. 78° would be better for them. The BN Pleco will do alright at the higher temp.