Cories With Livebearers (Specifically Mollies)

[eaglesaquarium]

I've read that mollies need either brackish water (salt added) or hard water to be truly healthy in the tank. But, I also have read that those conditions don't work well for cories. I would really love to have them both in my new tank, but I'm not sure if it is really that plausible.


Maybe if I can keep the pH around 7.0-7.4, with a KH around 10-15 and no salt. Would this work for both? Are there a variety of corycats that would be hardier in slightly harder water, with a slightly higher pH?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'm also interested in the pygmy cories. These guys only grow to about an 1 to an 1 and a half. Any chance that they can be kept in a tank with livebearers? I know the cories generally keep to the bottoms, but will go up to the top at times. Also, how tall a tank is too tall? I am planning on getting a Marineland 56 gallon Column Style Tank. It has dimensions 30" long x 18" wide x 24" tall. Is this too tall for corys (or pygmies)?

Would a larger livebearer (3 inches) be aggressive towards the smaller cories?

 

[Harlequins]

Salt and cories don't mix,so i wouldn't recommend using it if you intend on keeping any cories.

I've kept platys & guppies in the past with cories with no problems,unsure on mollies has i've never kept them,although you may be better asking the molly question on the livebearer section.

My tank is 18 inches tall and my pygmies handle this very well,pygmies do tend to shoal around mid level,quite amusing to watch 17 pygmies shoaling with the tetras

Just for information i live in a hard water area and ph of around 8,and presently have 80 odd cories...