soft-ish water stocking continues

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

...yeah what type of sponge would i get?

What sponges do you have access to.
I'd guess that a good range of filter sponges, such as those intended for filters, might offer something useful
I was thinking out of the box, as you do, and looking at the standard washing up sponge, but I decided that these would probably be way to dense.

 

[Sgooosh]

I have no experience with red lizards unfortunately. I’ve actually never heard of it!

Honeys are known to be one of the more peaceful gourami, and they stay relatively small.

Red Lizard Whiptail Catfish (Rineloricaria sp.) - Aquatic Arts

This incredibly peaceful suckermouth catfish is a very colorful, manageable, and rare fish that can make a wonderful addition to almost any peaceful aquarium!

aquaticarts.com

these guys
how many gourami should i get?

 

[Sgooosh]

What sponges do you have access to.
I'd guess that a good range of filter sponges, such as those intended for filters, might offer something useful
I was thinking out of the box, as you do, and looking at the standard washing up sponge, but I decided that these would probably be way to dense.

yep ill look for filter sponges

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

yep ill look for filter sponges

Of course, if you use filter sponges in your own filters...

 

[OliveFish05]

Red Lizard Whiptail Catfish (Rineloricaria sp.) - Aquatic Arts

This incredibly peaceful suckermouth catfish is a very colorful, manageable, and rare fish that can make a wonderful addition to almost any peaceful aquarium!

aquaticarts.com

these guys
how many gourami should i get?

I am not familiar with those catfish, maybe someone more experienced will comment.

For the gourami, I would get 5

 

[Sgooosh]

I am not familiar with those catfish, maybe someone more experienced will comment.

For the gourami, I would get 5

5 sounds good
will they school?
ive got lots of calm places with floaters for them to build bubble nest

 

[OliveFish05]

5 sounds good
will they school?
ive got lots of calm places with floaters for them to build bubble nest

They won’t school, but they will feel safer you know? And they will likely group up occasionally and interact with each other