Tetra compatibility

[CyprusSteve]

My small tank has now cycled to the extent that I have zero readings for both ammonia and nitrite, and also zero for nitrate - although it is my understanding that the nitrate takes longer to develop.
I have put in live plants, and some clay pottery and rock hiding places - ( all sterilised first ) .
The tank is 60 x 36 x 30 cm = 65 litres .
I have today put in :
2 x Dwarf Gourami ( male )
4 x Platy ( 2 male - 2 female )
I am planning to add 4 x Bronze Coryodorus in a weeks time to keep the bottom clean.
I want to add a school of colourful fish - probably tetra - to add some shoaling, and variety - from the research I have done there is a large variety of tetra - some of which grow maybe too big, and others which are nippy ,and others which spend most of their time hiding !!
Can you recommend a variety which may be suitable for open peaceful shoaling, preferably in bright colours, which would achieve this objective ?
I did consider guppies as an alternative, but, many sites said that they are very prone to disease.
I look forward to your recommendations and maybe alternative suggestions.
Thanks
Steve
PS - I am planning a weekly water change of 10 % - does this sound right ?

 

[Dubby]

Neons are bright, colorful and shoaling fish. You will need atleast 6 for them to shoal.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Be careful not to overstock though. 65 litres=c. 15 gallons.

2 dwarf gouramis = 4 inches

4 platys = 8 inches

4 bronze corydoras = 12 inches

Seems a fairly hefty load for a 15 gallons even without the neons. I would leave out the corys. There are pygmys, and otos are also smaller, if you want bottom dwellers. As for the neons, if you go for them instead, I would wait a few months and let the tank settle with its current inhabitants first as neons can be very sensitive to new tank conditions, even if the tank is settled. The tanks is too small for any fast swimmers IMO, but neons or guppies could be allright.

When people are talking about the fragility of guppies I think we need to see it in context: guppies were at first considered a hardy species, now they are fragile in comparison with how they were, not necessatily in comparison with all other fish. Also, with guppies I think it depends very much on the variety and on your batch. Mine seem very happy, even the tiny male struggling behind his enormous red tail

For the moment, if I were you I would stick with the 1 inch fish/1 gallon water rule, as you are a beginner and you seem to have exactly the sort of fish it was designed for.

 

[cheekeyarab]

The only tetras I have experience of are black widows. Whilst very beautiful they can be nippy if kept in small numbers. Thought that might be helpful to know as I was sold them as "ideal community fish, very placid" - in my experience not true!

 

[sinistral]

I know this wasn't part of your original question, but how heavily planted is the tank? Plants use nitrates and ammonia for metabolism, which may explain your zero nitrate reading.

Weekly changes in the range of 10% to anywhere upwards of 40-50% (depending on who you talk to-- I do weekly 25%-35% changes) will be fine. You may have to adjust frequency and/or volume depending on your stocking levels and nitrogen readings.

 

[Bloo]

Also keep in mind that neons are known to be delicate fish and require well-established, stable & pristine water conditions. It's not really a starter fish.
With your platies - you could even have a ratio of 1 male and 4 females, but 2 / 2 should be fine as long as you don't have one overly dominant male who wants both females for himself. I had one such situation and the dominant male absolutely hounded the other male to death (quite literally).

Rummy nose tetras are lovely and peaceful shoaling fish, and you'd have to have at least 6 for them to be "happy" and create a nice little school. But that would add approx 6" to your bio load.

Also bare in mind that cories also prefer groups of 6. You might be better off going for pygmy cories or ottos.

However with the amount of "inches" you have available you'd be squeezed to fit that combination in. Rummy Nose Tetras are low waste producers but cories are much higher.

If you have very good filtration and tank maintenance, you could possibly add those 4 cories - but you cannot add anything else I'm afraid.

 

[CyprusSteve]

Thanks fot the info
I have about 7 plants - ( not tiny ones ) - too many ? -
Is zero nitrate a problem ?
I will reconsider the guppy - I thought it was a very attractive fish, but, have been warned against it as it may spread diseases according to certain websites.
Regards
Steve

 

[CyprusSteve]

How about if I leave out the cory's , ( I have read that Platy's do some bottom feeding also ) - and put in a few cherry - ( or other type of barb ) - barbs ? -they have nice colouring, and would offer variety - I cannot find the pygmy cory here, so I may leave the cory off my list ?
Any views please ?
Thanks
Steve