40 litre stocking ideas please!

[Darkest Minnow]

Hi all. I’m hooked! After getting a tank at the beginning of the year, I have acquired a free 40litre/11 gallon Interpet insight 40 tank. I have used seeded filter media and the tank is heavily planted. I have soft water in my area. I’m trying to plan stocking and would really appreciate suggestions. The tank is quite ‘dark’ with a black background and black gravel substrate so I’m keen for some colourful fish. I was keen for some Pygmy Cories but don’t think there is enough floor space for them given all the plants and rocks. Equally a Betta may struggle with the jagged hardscape (dragon stone and spider wood). I have Amano shrimp and RCS in my other tank so can introduce some of them. I had thought about cpd but have read they are very timid and would also like a small ‘showpiece fish’ if possible. Your help as always would be really appreciated! Thank you

 

[Guppylover3x]

Hi all. I’m hooked! After getting a tank at the beginning of the year, I have acquired a free 40litre/11 gallon Interpet insight 40 tank. I have used seeded filter media and the tank is heavily planted. I have soft water in my area. I’m trying to plan stocking and would really appreciate suggestions. The tank is quite ‘dark’ with a black background and black gravel substrate so I’m keen for some colourful fish. I was keen for some Pygmy Cories but don’t think there is enough floor space for them given all the plants and rocks. Equally a Betta may struggle with the jagged hardscape (dragon stone and spider wood). I have Amano shrimp and RCS in my other tank so can introduce some of them. I had thought about cpd but have read they are very timid and would also like a small ‘showpiece fish’ if possible. Your help as always would be really appreciated! Thank you

Hi and welcome to the forum

There’s lots of nice knowledgable people here and lots to learn, I hope you enjoy it with us!

Is there any chance you could provide us with the GH from your tap water, this will help us to identify what’s suitable.

This information can be found by your local water supplier, alternatively you can test regular tap water from home with a kit and post your results.

Some species prefer softer water while others prefer hard, this is why we require this information.

Best of luck!

 

[Darkest Minnow]

Hi and welcome to the forum

There’s lots of nice knowledgable people here and lots to learn, I hope you enjoy it with us!

Is there any chance you could provide us with the GH from your tap water, this will help us to identify what’s suitable.

This information can be found by your local water supplier, alternatively you can test regular tap water from home with a kit and post your results.

Some species prefer softer water while others prefer hard, this is why we require this information.

Best of luck!

Thanks for the welcome! My water is 1.4 dH and 26 ppm.

Thank you!

 

[Byron]

You have many more options with soft water than you would with hard, so now you want to be looking at the "nano" species that come from soft water areas.

Pygmy cories or one of the other two "dwarf" species would suit the space, but not with gravel; these must have sand.

Colourful upper water fish include the dwarf rasbora species in Boraras such as Boraras brigittase, B. maculatus, etc. These are all red with variable black patterns depending upon the species. The Ember Tetra is similar, orange-red. Any of these need a group of at least 9 up to 12 in this tank.

The pygmy sparkling gourami in a trio would work, with one of the above dwarf rasbora. I am not too familiar with the other nano fish from SE Asia but other members will be.

Finding a "showpiece" is not easy, and frankly impossible in this small a tank. Staying with smaller fish will allow you to have more and make it an interesting tank none the less.

 

[Darkest Minnow]

Thanks Byron! Are the sparkling gourami likely to harass Amano shrimp? Would a small school of neon green tetras work, I was also wondering?

Thanks again.

 

[Byron]

Thanks Byron! Are the sparkling gourami likely to harass Amano shrimp? Would a small school of neon green tetras work, I was also wondering?

Thanks again.

The problem with the green neon tetra (also known as false neon tetra), Parachierodon simulans, is space. I am assuming the tank dimensions are probably something like 20 inches (50 cm) length by 10 inches (25 cm)? This is a basic 10g. A tank a bit longer/wider would suit the tetras, and any similar-sized small fish.

As for the gourami and shrimp...all fish consider shrimp as food since many natural habitats have crustaceans and these are food for fish. But the upper level habit of the gourami might make a difference. Larger shrimp might also avoid being eaten. I've never kept shrimp so I will leave this for those who have to comment.

 

[Darkest Minnow]

Hi Byron,

Yes it is 38.5cm Hx 50cm Wx 27cmD so I assume a standard tank. I believe there is a lot of line breeding issues with neon tetras so it may be best to give them a miss anyway.