Stocking A Community Tank

[entonnoir]

Hello there, I’m new to this forum as I have just (6wks ago) purchased a 110lt/24uk gal tank.
I have 5 albino cory catfish, 4 sunset wagtail platies, 10 neon Tetras and 2 algae-eating shrimp in the tank.  There are real plants and I have an air pump as well.
I was wondering want I could put in there to finish it off… 1 or 2 centrepiece fish ??  I was thinking of 2 dwarf gourami  or could I put say 5-7 Harlequin Rasboras.
 
Thank you/merci  for the advice in advance.
 

 

[josh63762]

what about some angels? just 1 or 2

 

[Wills]

Hi welcome to the forum the tank sounds good so far - you are better off using US gallons on forums in my experience as its what most other users work in. So the tank is about 28 US gallons.
 
That in mind I think you are at the right stage with looking for the centre piece fish. I would go for a pair or trio of something really attractive and characterful like the Gourami rather than the school of Rasboras.
 
I dont think Angels would be suitable as 1. they eat neon tetras and 2. you want 125 liters as a bare minimum of them.
 
I would look at the Dwarf Gouramis like the Blues and the Reds - Honeys would work and so would the Orange Thick Lipped Gourami.
 
Or you could go for Dwarf Cichlids like Apistogrammas or Laetacaras. Bolivian Rams would work with these fish but avoid Blue or Gold Rams IMO.
 
Wills

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

You already have ~75cm of adult fish excluding the shrimp, for a 110l that is already heavily stocked, bordering on overstocked long term IMO.
 
No room to "finish it off" without pulling out a group you already have in there.
 
6 weeks sounds very quick to "fishless cycle" a tank and then add so many fish, unless you are using a mature filter or have gernerously seeded this tank's filter...
How did you "cycle" the tank?
How are you testing the water is safe?

 

[fluttermoth]

This tank isn't really big enough for angels, and two never works, unless you have a mated pair.
 
I honestly think this tank is fully stocked as it is.

 

[entonnoir]

to -NOboby of The Goat- I test the water twice a week... and do a 30% change at the same time, everything is fine.
 "I would go for a pair or trio of something really attractive and characterful like the Gourami rather than the school of Rasboras." thank you Wills
I think I'll look at 2 Dwarf Gourami in the next couple of weeks.

 

[misterpro]

If you go for dwarf gourami make sure you get a pair.  Many shops almost exclusively sell males (more colour), but 2 males in a tank that size will not end well imho.
 
 

 

[Ruskull]

I agree with misterpro, 2 male Dwraf Gouramis will chase each other to death.
 
The tank is fairly stocked as is, but you could probably get away with a single male Dwarf, rather than trying to get 2 females for him for the perfect "trio."  3 Dwarf Gouramis would be way over the recommended stock.  
 
And even a single Dwarf, that's only as long as you keep up with the water changes & the fish all get along.  Gourami personalities vary quite a bit, more than most other fish in my experience.  

 

[Wills]

hmmm maybe I was a little generous with the stocking? I dont know I think if it were my tank I would be okay with those numbers but you would have to keep up the maintenance.
 
Perhaps in on reflection maybe just the one Gourami?
 
Wills

 

[Noahsfish]

10 neons and 4 platys doesn't sound overstocked to me? Am I missing something, a 28 gallon with 14 fish that all stay relatively small should leave plenty of room for a centrepiece in my opinion. I mean, in terms of billows neons produce hardly anything, and 10 should leave enough room in the tank for others. However, going for a bottom dweller might be a better option as it's sounding anbit crowded in the mid/top area of your tank. If you do want a centerpiece fish than some sort of dwarf cichlid always looks nice, but like stated avoid gbrs. I'm not sure what type mine are, but my apistos are pretty agressive, as well as with my opaline gourami.

 

[SouthernCross]

I have two angels who aren't a pair who get on fine. But I think I am the exception rather than the rule.

 

[MBOU]

Personally I wouldn't say that tank is near fully stocked, especially if maintained properly and the water is testing fine...
 
I agree with Wills on fish choices, though... I am not even remotely a fan of dwarf gouramis with their narky personalities and habit of dropping dead after a couple of months (if lucky).
 
Thicklipped gouramis are a lovely species and come in either orange or stripy (stripy ones look a lot like stripy dwarf gouramis) but my favourites are definitely the Honey Gouramis! I would happily add either a pair of the thicklips or 2-4 honey gouramis (which come in either wild/grey, orange/red or yellow). The honeys are also considerably more tolerant of keeping multiple males as well.