46 gal. Planted Tank Stocking

[Slaphppy7]

46G is not large enough for congos, as stated above.
"Skirt" tetras can be nippy, I'd look at phantoms (red, yellow, or black) instead.

 

[Byron]

Yes, I meant Danio albolineatus. How many cories would you increase it by?

Assuming the tank is 36 inches (90 cm) length, you can easily double or triple the cories. Same species, or different won't matter, they just like lots of chums!

 

[sadness child]

So the tank dimensions are 36" wide, 12" deep (minus the bow), 21" tall, but I have saved 2/5 to 1/3 of the tank for a densely planted area which I never thought cories would like.

 

[Byron]

So the tank dimensions are 36" wide, 12" deep (minus the bow), 21" tall, but I have saved 2/5 to 1/3 of the tank for a densely planted area which I never thought cories would like.

Yes, cories like most of our "forest fish" do not appreciate bright overhead light if they can avoid it. [And just to confirm, it is Black Phantom, not Black Skirt, I assume.]

 

[sadness child]

Yes Black Phantom Tetras.

Should I extend the panted area of the tank, or can I just add some floating plants for the cories?

 

[Byron]

Yes Black Phantom Tetras.

Should I extend the panted area of the tank, or can I just add some floating plants for the cories?

Either, up to you. All my tanks are covered with floaters, and it is interesting that when I thin them out, the fish that tend to remain in the upper half of the water column will usually move lower down until the cover grows back a bit. They don't like light. My Congos did this in the big tank.

 

[sadness child]

Thank you for all of your help

 

[sadness child]

I also forgot to ask this before, but what is your recommended clean up crew?

 

[Byron]

I also forgot to ask this before, but what is your recommended clean up crew?

There are no fish that do any "clean up" because they need (usually) special food suited to them. Cory catfish will keep the bottom spotless, but they need to be fed sinking foods, not left to manage on leftovers.

The ideal clean up crew are small snails (pond, bladder, Malaysian). Some people have an aversion to snails, sometimes because they do not understand them, but the fact is that nothing can get into every corner and through the substrate like the small snails, also grazing leaves for algae, and they do not eat plants.

 

[sadness child]

So, I have 4-5 Black Racer Nerite snails and small snails, that were previously in this same tank. I was just wondering if there are some other snails that would be better, or if I should add some more snails.

 

[cdelly]

I needs to get some trumpet snails to keep the sand turned over a it.

Just don't overfeed the tank or you will get loads of snails