Blue gourami in my 55?

[cowgirluntamed]

Yes on these numbers (in the 55g). You could also consider Pristella Tetra here too, in a group of 15 or so. They do remain in the upper level, where the gourami will reside, but in the 55g this might be advantageous.

Just to illustrate the sort of thing I was getting at earlier, here's a photo of my former 29g from early 2016 before I moved these fish into the new 40g. You could eliminate the chain swords (I had initially intended this, but as I had them I tossed them in the tank rather than the compost bin).

Awesome! So I could do like, 15 each of the pristella tetra, black phantom tetra, and the harlequin rasbora, along with 10 or so sterbai cories? And of course the bristle nose and gourami.

Here is my 20 gallon currently. I guess I need to find more branch like wood. Lol. Right now I have mopani in there which is helping keep the tannins up.



I have two kliner bar swords in the back left that are giving out new leaves very nicely. The crypt lutea in the back right is going nicely. The crypt wendtii in the front left is transitioning but finally getting new leaves. I have a couple of anubias (Nana and coffeefolia) in the front right. The chain sword isn't doing well so not sure if it will stay in there. And my dwarf lily in the center is finally sprouting new leaves. I'm hoping some of these plants get taller! And of course the wisteria is doing well just floating!

 

[Byron]

Awesome! So I could do like, 15 each of the pristella tetra, black phantom tetra, and the harlequin rasbora, along with 10 or so sterbai cories? And of course the bristle nose and gourami.

Yes. And with room for more later.

The 20g is doing well. When you get the 55g, you could consider moving the swords, or not, up to you. With a thicker floating plant layer (in time this will occur) the lower regions will be darker, which is what you want for the glowlights, but some plants like the swords may not appreciate it. Crypts should be fine.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

Yes. And with room for more later.

The 20g is doing well. When you get the 55g, you could consider moving the swords, or not, up to you. With a thicker floating plant layer (in time this will occur) the lower regions will be darker, which is what you want for the glowlights, but some plants like the swords may not appreciate it. Crypts should be fine.

Wow! Lots of fish then! I'll definitely enjoy that for sure!

I will see how these do in the 20. I was hoping to at least keep that one corner a bit brighter. These are supposed to stay smaller than a normal amazon sword. And I was going to try some regular ones for the 55g. Maybe some crypt spirallis in the back as well. Other than that, more crypts, probably another lily, anubias...the wisteria and maybe frog bit. I plan on having 2 aquaclear 50s (I think) on the 55g. One set up with 2 sponges and biorings, the other with one sponge and just polyfil for polishing. Probably both on or close to the lowest setting. And instead of an air stone I was going to have the same dual sponge filter in the back as well.

 

[Byron]

When using the sponge filters, they are best in one of the rear corners. All filters are,m actually. This creates a normal flow down the tank from one end to the other, which improves water circulation and obviously represents a stream which is what the fish expect.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

Thanks again. I'll keep that in mind when I'm doing the 55. Not sure I can really do that on the 20 though because of where I placed the plants.

 

[Byron]

Thanks again. I'll keep that in mind when I'm doing the 55. Not sure I can really do that on the 20 though because of where I placed the plants.

The plants can grow up around the filter, or be moved a bit.