Cory Tank Split

[Gazo]

Hey peeps.
Right, I've got my 140l (30G UK) tank ready for my master plan.
The plan is this weekend to get some playsand for substrate and move 4 groups of Corys in there and move the current occupants (Guppys and Danios to the 120l to aid in the cycling and the Clown Loaches to the 180l). Then I wanted to split the tank into 4 sections and put a different type of Cory into each 7.5G section.
I'm also going to purchase groups of Albinos and Bronzes as well as increase my Trili numbers.
My big dilemna is which to put in the tank, or at least which will 4 groups will enjoy a tank set up of certain specifications.
Can anyone help suggest anything eg temperature (currently at 25C), pH (currently 6.85) that I can set the tank to and then which Corys would be best suited to this.
Thanks for your help in advance.
Gazo

 

[Colin_T]

If you split the tank up it is only going to give you 4 small areas that will cramp the fish. You would be better of just letting them all swim around together. If you want to breed them then keep two species that look completely different and then if they breed you will be able to identify each species and any that look out of place will be hybrids.
If you have to split the tank then just halve it and have one species in each side.

Most cories are fine in water with a temp around 24-26C, PH of 6.5-7.5, a general hardness between 100-300ppm. Wild caught fish will prefer the slightly lower end of those levels but captive fish will live in just about anything.

 

[Gazo]

I hear what you are saying Colin, but my research leads me to believe there is more to it with regards to temperature and pH, hence why I have come here to ask the likes of the Cory breeders for their input. Also, they seem to put their stock in small tanks and have plenty of success with spawns.
Thanks for the words though cos every little helps!!

 

[Colin_T]

I used to do a big water change to induce spawning in mine. I would make up some new water a few days before and drain their tank about 80%, then refill it with clean dechlorinated water. The new water was a couple of degrees C cooler than the tank water. That did the job virtually every time.
I didn't bother too much about adjusting the pH because most corys are captive bred and will tolerate a wide range of PH.