I’ve finally decided on stocking....subject to you lots approval. My indecision is final etc.

[ClownLurch]

Eventually narrowed it down to two possible tank stocking types:
R&R=Rainbow & Rice Fish.
R&B= Red & Black Fish.
I hear you saying to yourselves mts is alive and well, I’d imagine! I’m hoping your right to be honest. But for the time being I’m going with the R&B tank.
19dh/340ppm 8ph 120L/31USG 765x325x550mm 30x12x22”.
All fish selected meet SFs guidelines for the above. It’s compatibility issues and swimming areas inside tank I’m worried about which is where you lot come in. Will this lot live happily ever after or not?

R&B Tank:
White Cloud Mountain Minnows X10
Odessa Barbx8
Platyx4
Guppyx4

In a year or so if Mrs Lurch’s approves we may get a bigger tank 6’ or so for these guys and after ROing for a good length of time approved by this place move them over. I’d like to then possibly add Corys, Apistogramma Hongsloi, Cherry Barbs and maybe a Scarlet Badis or two. But that’s for the future. So.....tell me where I’ve gone wrong and I’ll rip it up and start again!

BTW R&R Tank is/was:
Forktail Blue Eye x8
Neon Blue Eye x8
Delicate Blue Eye x8
Wolasi Ricefish x8
Hopefully theyll be occupying our current tank in a couple of years time.

Do your worst...

 

[Treestone]

In regards to your stocking, it's pretty darn good. I keep platies and Odessa barbs together in a 215l with bristlenose and hopefully soon a shoal of three spot gourami. The Odessa barbs are a bit ruthless at feeding time but seem to leave the platies alone, wcmm would be perfect with them. From past experience, platies and guppies are a bit rocky when store-bought and the fry of those fish seem to be much stronger. And don't expect many fry to survive with the barbs and wcmm around.

 

[mbsqw1d]

I would've thought Odessa Barbs would be nipping at the Guppys? Personally I'd like to see Odessa in a longer tank, 4ft. I'm still undecided on getting some myself and my tank is 3ft.
Also I'd say your water is too hard for the Odessa

Edit: I didn't read your entire post there did I sorry. You'll be RO-ing your water
In that case my concern is just the barbs nipping the guppys

 

[ClownLurch]

Hmmmm yeah. I’m about 35mm short lengthwise of SFs min for Odessas I’m afraid. Hopefully that’s not critical as it’s a high tank and I’ve no intention of overstocking. Rethink reqd probably.
SF are ok with water though im pushing it at the moment.
Is nipping a guaranteed thing?

Just thinking aloud here.....WCMM, Platys and Guppy’s are first choices and their numbers can be bumped up in the first tank and Odessas held back for next year in bigger tank with more room for everyone which seems a better solution all round as I don’t want a mass of fish overcrowding. Maybe Hongsloi/ Badis/Corys added to RO altered later.
Hard water is hard planning.

 

[Treestone]

I would've thought Odessa Barbs would be nipping at the Guppys? Personally I'd like to see Odessa in a longer tank, 4ft. I'm still undecided on getting some myself and my tank is 3ft.
Also I'd say your water is too hard for the Odessa

Edit: I didn't read your entire post there did I sorry. You'll be RO-ing your water
In that case my concern is just the barbs nipping the guppys

I disagree, odessa barbs love hard water in my experience. I keep mine in a 3ft tank and they have plenty of room even though they are growing quite large. Never had them nip platies, they didn't touch the three spots long, trailing fins either. My main point is they relish hard water and in such a setup you can achieve spectacular colours.

 

[mbsqw1d]

Hmmmm yeah. I’m about 35mm short lengthwise of SFs min for Odessas I’m afraid. Hopefully that’s not critical as it’s a high tank and I’ve no intention of overstocking. Rethink reqd probably.
SF are ok with water though im pushing it at the moment.
Is nipping a guaranteed thing?

Just thinking aloud here.....WCMM, Platys and Guppy’s are first choices and their numbers can be bumped up in the first tank and Odessas held back for next year in bigger tank with more room for everyone which seems a better solution all round as I don’t want a mass of fish overcrowding. Maybe Hongsloi/ Badis/Corys added to RO altered later.
Hard water is hard planning.

Sounds like a plan. A large number of WCMM can look quite impressive actually. What temperature will you be running at? Perhaps Glowlight Danio as an upper level inhabitant? Some loaches would be cool in the 6' .. maybe yoyo although they do get big..

Have heard Odessa prefer higher PH, but not hard water?

 

[Byron]

Considering the existing tank size, Pethia padamys (Odessa Barb) need more space than this. This fish is a very active swimmer, and that means length is important. A 3-foot (90 cm) tank is often considered the bare minimum though that seems restrictive too. And in case you think "we may get a bigger tank in a year or so..." don't stock the existing tank as if it were a larger one. The larger tank may not materialize for any one of several reasons, and the fish are the losers.

 

[ClownLurch]

21c works out ok for everyone (originally) listed except the Hongsloi.
Mrs Lurch would love glowlights AND kubotai green rasboras I think they’re called AND Silvertips after our last trip to LSF but waters too hard for two at the moment according to SF. I thought all three but an ex work colleague I’ve been consulting who keeps fish texted a couple of hours ago that silvertips are suited to my water and SF agrees.
I’ve already discounted Odessas for this tank.

Yip. My indecision is final alright. Drawing board here I come. She’s gonna go nuts tomorrow as she thought it was decided but Silvertips should cheer her up.

 

[ClownLurch]

I’m gonna dig my big list out and subdivide everyone on a temperature basis as other stuff : dh, ph, tank size etc is fixed. Silver Tips werent In the equation this afternoon when my “final” indecision was made but it’s not worth the risk of MrsLurch finding out they were possible as it’ll be her that has final say on big tank.
Dont wait up.

 

[Treestone]

I agree, silvertip tetras will work wonderfully

 

[mbsqw1d]

Pentazona barb could be an option.

Also what about some Apisto Borelli?

 

[ClownLurch]

I agree, silvertip tetras will work wonderfully

They’re in with a shout.

 

[ClownLurch]

Pentazona barb could be an option.

Also what about some Apisto Borelli?

Pentazone Barbs look way outside my dh.
Im bending over backwards to fit possible Apisto Hongslois into the equation atm to the extent that the WCMMs may have to go as they’re serious outliers in the temperature range.

 

[ClownLurch]

Two options now.
A/
WCMMs
Guppy’s
Platys
Scarlet Badis & Corys in future RO water?

B/
Wolasis
Guppy’s
Platys
Scarlet Badis, Corys & Apistogramma Hongsloi in future RO water?

Hongslois and Wolasis have different temp requirements to WCMMs.

Im leaning towards List B which could also possibly accommodate Silver Tips and Dwarf Gourami (GD disease excepted) in a larger tank. Any nipping in an eight breed list B?

Northumbria Water where are you when I need you?

I’m off to bed.
Stay safe everyone, those fish can’t feed themselves for long.

 

[utahfish]

Im confused, do you have multiple tanks and one is hardwater and the other one you are going to soften with RO water ir do you have one tank that is hard and you are attempting to soften that?
If the latter mixing soft water fish like silver tip tetra( super nippy tetra) with guppies or platies that are hardwater fish either the platies will suffer or the tetras will suffer depending on if water is hard or soft. If its in the middle both will suffer as mollies and guppies and live bearers do better with 10dgh and above, higher even better and tetras do well with around 7 and lower. The water requirements for livebearers and tetras are on the complete opposite side of the dgh spectrum.
As for Scarlet Badis, they belong in species only tanks. They are shy terrotorial and picky eaters that will lose out for food as they are so small and slow picky eaters. Cool fish but shouldnt be kept with other fish.