Top/Middle/Bottom stocking mix. Hard water bottom dweller?

[ClownLurch]

I’ve 340ppm water and would like a bit of activity on the bottom of the tank. Currently stocking 5 male guppies but will hopefully soon be getting 10 or so mixed (long fin) WCMMs and probably 4-5 male Platys.
Can anyone recommend a site that lists whereabouts a fish will spend most time ie top-middle-bottom-all over etc?

From what I can gather:
WCMM: Everywhere.
Guppys:Top-Middle.
Platys: Middle.

I’ve read cherry barbs prefer Middle-Bottom. Is this true? I’d prefer a more regular bottom dweller though as there’s potentially a crowd scene scenario if added to the above.

Surely there’s a cory or other bottom dwelling fish who loves a bit of liquid rock action? Anyone? Please?

Tank size dimensions are in signature.

 

[mbsqw1d]

I’ve 340ppm water and would like a bit of activity on the bottom of the tank. Currently stocking 5 male guppies but will hopefully soon be getting 10 or so mixed (long fin) WCMMs and probably 4-5 male Platys.
Can anyone recommend a site that lists whereabouts a fish will spend most time ie top-middle-bottom-all over etc?

From what I can gather:
WCMM: Everywhere.
Guppys:Top-Middle.
Platys: Middle.

I’ve read cherry barbs prefer Middle-Bottom. Is this true? I’d prefer a more regular bottom dweller though as there’s potentially a crowd scene scenario if added to the above.

Surely there’s a cory or other bottom dwelling fish who loves a bit of liquid rock action? Anyone? Please?

Tank size dimensions are in signature.

@NCaquatics put this together a little while ago concerning corys for hardwater

Corydoras for Hard Water List

In general, it's easy to say that most bottom dwellers are from softwater habitats, but there are a few exceptions if one does enough digging around. This is a list of corydoras suitable for ranges 200ppm and up, but be aware it may vary availability for your particular water as some are...

www.fishforums.net

My experience of barbs so far is that they go all over the tank. Very inquisitive fish.

 

[ClownLurch]

268 ppm. Just not high enough im afraid.
Due to my past unknowing fish/water/tank errors I don’t want to push my luck......

 

[FishGuest5123]

My cherry barbs think they own the entire tank!

 

[ClownLurch]

My cherry barbs think they own the entire tank!

I’ve read on a few sites care guides that theyre middle-bottom type fish in the way that Guppies are Middle-Top types. I’m a bit worried that middle tank is gonna be over crowded.

Emerald Dwarf Rasbora could be a possibility though I’ve read they don’t thrive around big fish. If I was to not get Platys and Cherry Barbs and just get the 10 WCMMs would a large group of EDRs be happy alongside the 5 Guppy’s I’ve already got? Anyone?

 

[Wills]

Rainbow fish sound like a good option for you. I’ve found a good biotope to get fish for hard water from is lake inle some sites reference fish up to 268ppm but the river is harder than that and some profiles for fish from there on seriously fish have it over 300ppm - rummy nose rasboras are probably the star from here but there are other danios and loaches fro here too that are possible to find in he hobby

 

[AilyNC]

Hey fellow hard water hobbyist

@essjay recommended this gorgeous fish yo my today that's happy out with our hard water tanks.
Forktail blue eye fish in a group of 8-10

Pseudomugil furcatus – Forktail Blue-eye (Popondetta furcata, Popondichthys furcatus) — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

 

[AilyNC]

Also my Platys may be defective as they swim all over the tank and like to dodge through plants low down in the tank.

 

[ClownLurch]

Hey fellow hard water hobbyist

@essjay recommended this gorgeous fish yo my today that's happy out with our hard water tanks.
Forktail blue eye fish in a group of 8-10

Pseudomugil furcatus – Forktail Blue-eye (Popondetta furcata, Popondichthys furcatus) — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

There’s three pseudomugils will fit my ppm requirements that I know of but only cyanodorsalis fit WCMM temp requirements.

 

[utahfish]

I’ve 340ppm water and would like a bit of activity on the bottom of the tank. Currently stocking 5 male guppies but will hopefully soon be getting 10 or so mixed (long fin) WCMMs and probably 4-5 male Platys.
Can anyone recommend a site that lists whereabouts a fish will spend most time ie top-middle-bottom-all over etc?

From what I can gather:
WCMM: Everywhere.
Guppys:Top-Middle.
Platys: Middle.

I’ve read cherry barbs prefer Middle-Bottom. Is this true? I’d prefer a more regular bottom dweller though as there’s potentially a crowd scene scenario if added to the above.

Surely there’s a cory or other bottom dwelling fish who loves a bit of liquid rock action? Anyone? Please?

Tank size dimensions are in signature.

Easiest way to determine where a fish spends majority of its time is by looking at its mouth. If the mouth is turned up like a platy then its a top feeder. Face forward mouth like a terta or barb mid feeder/swimmer down turned mouth like a cory or geophagus a bottom feeder/swimmer.