Can I Have Pygmy Cory In This?

[rodders666]

Hi,
 
So my tank is up and running, cycled and ready. Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = ~15. Ph is approx 7.0/7.2. Hardness is 1.75 Clarke, which converted is 25 ppm CaCO3. Temp is 24C.
 
It's a 20g long with black sand substrate.
 
Plants are:
Java Fern (on larger bogwood)
Anubias Nana (on smaller bogwood) (x2)
Amazon Sword (x2)
Water Hyssop (Bacopa Caroliniana)
Cabomba (x3 bunches)
8 Marimo Moss Balls
Water Lettuce (x15 but going to add more or maybe Amazon Frogbit)
 
2 Nerite Snail currently inhabit, and I may add 2 Rabbit Snails.
 
I'm looking to put 10 pygmy cory in but I'm not sure on the water hardness suitability.

In another 6 months or so I will be adding a group of around 12-15 Neon Tetra.
 
Apologies for the photo, taken on my phone. The light in the tank is fairly bright so this is why I want to add more floating plants.
 

 

[Byron]

I see no problem here, provided the sand is very smooth.  Certainly no issue with water parameters.  The pH will likely lower a bit naturally, which is also fine.
 
I might suggest adding some chunks of bogwood perhaps?  This will benefit all soft water fish, and be natural from their habitats.
 
Byron.

 

[rodders666]

Thanks, Byron. Perhaps you missed it in my post I do have bogwood. One piece approx 8 inches and two small pieces a couple inches each. I'm open to adding more but I want to ensure the Cory do have enough surface area to cover.
Also, yes the sand is very fine.

 

[Akasha72]

Hi, I've not kept pygmy cories but I've got loads of other types (peppered, bronze, panda, melini and smudge-spot) and the one thing I've learned is cories like cover. All my cories sit and rest under wood, amongst plants ... anywhere that's got some cover. They're not scared to come out, I feed in the open space in the middle of the tank and they all come out for food but once they've finished eating and want to have a nap they all retreat to the sides of my tank where I'm heavily planted and have my decor.
 
Looking at your tank photo it's very open - which is normal for a new tank, it takes time for plants to 'grow in' but you might find that the cories struggle with all the open-ness. I think this may have been what Byron was meaning when he suggested adding more wood. You could always take it out once the plants grow in

 

[Byron]

Yes, cover is very important for all forest fish.  Floating plants were initially mentioned, and I concur with adding some (I consider floating plants essential in any tank housing forest fish) and the wood would also help.  Branches are also good,if you can find some.

 

[rodders666]

Thanks, yes I get what you mean now. I'm looking at some nice redmoor root pieces so I think I'll get one in with the extra floating plants before I go any further with stocking.

In my experience with cabomba it grows fast and thick so I may move a piece over towards the right middle where I would put the wood.

 

[DoubleDutch]

Please realise C.pygmaeus often swims midwater !

 

[Byron]

Good point.  C. hastatus comes to mind as very much an upper water swimming cory, and C. pygmaeus certainly does spend a lot of time off the substrate.  My 10g is solely a C. pygmaeus tank now, except when I am growing out Farlowella vitatta fry, and with about 25-30 pygmy corys ranging in size from mere specks on the sand to mature I frequently see a group of 9-15 of all sizes cavorting mid-water for a couple hours.  There are some other species among the more normal sized corys that like to browse surfaces of leaves and will be off the substrate a fair bit as well, and then there are those species that basically never leave the substrtate.

 

[rodders666]

Hi, yes I know they are not exclusively bottom dwellers, it was the reason I was looking at the Pygmy variety as I'm hoping to make the tank look busy without overstocking.

 

[rodders666]

Just a little update, I added more hiding space for the corys with an ornamental piece I had hanging around, I also added 10 x Amazon Frogbit, and 10 x Salvinia natans (floating fern/floating moss).

As you can see, the plants have really taken off and you can just make out a couple of the cory in the middle, I see these little guys a lot, they don't tend to hide much. The picture isn't great as it's facing my living room window so I had to angle it in a way to avoid the reflection.
 
Full stocking list as it stands:
Java Fern (on larger bogwood)
Anubias Nana (on smaller bogwood) (x2)
Amazon Sword (x2)
Water Hyssop (Bacopa Caroliniana)
Cabomba (x3 bunches)
8 Marimo Moss Balls
Water Lettuce (x15)
Amazon Frigbit (x10)
Floating fern (x10)
2 Nerite Snails, 2 Horned Nerite Snails
14 Amano Shrimp
6 Emerald Corys (which was an adoption after a friends tank disaster so the pygmys are no longer being added)
10 Endlers (which was a gift from my kids for Father's Day - they weren't in my original stock plan but they are lovely little fish)
 

 

[Akasha72]

looking good ... it's grown in very quick ... but then, as you say, cabomba does grow fast. I have some in my fry tank and it's growing like an uncontrollable weed ... and that's without  any ferts ... I dread to think how over run I'd be if I was adding ferts

 

[rodders666]

looking good ... it's grown in very quick ... but then, as you say, cabomba does grow fast. I have some in my fry tank and it's growing like an uncontrollable weed ... and that's without  any ferts ... I dread to think how over run I'd be if I was adding ferts

 
Thank you. Same, no ferts here either and all plants going well. I need to get my hand in and untangle some of the stems, but I don't want to trim just yet as I like that it's taking some of the intensity of the lights out of it.
 
I kind of wish I'd done a journal on this now as it was literally a fresh start twice, I cleaned it all up and set it up and cycled, then had a change of heart on the substrate and changed to a fully planted tank so had to do the final part of the cycle again. I'm happy with it now though