Choosing fish

[Penfold]

Hello,

As you’ll note from another post on here, I’m still working on my fishless cycle of the tank. Despite this I’m googling lots of fish options for my 60l freshwater tank.

I’m in a soft water area (3.15 clarke hardness) using a tank that’s currently heated to 26C. I’d like a mix of creatures and am currently thinking of some shrimp with some neon tetras. I would like some catfish but have a coarse gravel so have ruled it out.

Any views on the above or alternatives? Really I’d like a mix of fish including some that swim in a shoal and are shiny/luminescent.

Thanks,
Penfold

[Jon_D]

Hi Penfold and welcome . I gather your tank is 10 gallons. I also did the "Fishless cycle" in my soft water tank, about 7 - 8 months ago, and I don't know if you are aware that soon it will be suffering from brown and green algae, which is perfectly natural . When I first saw mine I got a little panic, but with the help of the experts on this forum, the tank got through that phase. I can relate some experience I have with my 40 gallon one. Regarding shrimps, well if you want to see them you will need quite a lot, and you will need to choose fish that will not eat them. Next about Neon Tetra; I have 10 as they are a shoal fish and don’t do well in small numbers, but are great to lighten up the tank. Also consider RASBORAS, as they also shoal and are quite small. You may also require bottom grazers to keep the substrate clean. For this task I originally got 5 Pepper Corydoras, but their hobbies are sex and eating. So there are now 8! There are many different varieties of Corys, but try to get the type which you can see against the substrate colour. After the cycle was complete, I found that my well planted tank was able to absorb the Nitrate created by the fish etc. I assume you will add plants. Good luck and enjoy lour hobby.

[plankton]

If you're still cycling, you could change the gravel for sand before getting fish.
If you are looking at shrimp and neons then when the cycle has completed, turn it down to 22C, the new inhabitants will be happier then.

[Jon_D]

Forgot to mention , you have GOT to have Guppies. But only the males. They are an incredible colourful fish and very active. If it is a mixed group then I understand the males hassle the females which can then suffer stress. I have 3 males and they are always on the move.

[Penfold]

The tank is 15 gallons / 60 litres.

turn it down to 22C, the new inhabitants will be happier then.

And so will I, cheaper to run then!

Unfortunately the tank is a Biorb so the gravel is a necessity. If I’d done a bit more research instead of a compulsive purchase in the shop I probably would’ve gone down a different route, but it looks good so hey ho.

I was looking at Guppys, but heard they have a taste for shrimp so I thought that neons might be a bit safer. Shrimps are there to act as bottom feeders in lieu of catfish plus they look quite cool.

[ahulleman]

I have 6 harlequin rasboras in my tank (only started 2 weeks ago lol) and from what ive read and know from my dad,
Rasboras are active and passive little creatures! They're not tail nippers as some fish! And them being relatively small (1 to 2") you can have a decent amount within your tank!
I myself am not sure yet wether im going for a big schol of rasbora's (as it looks amazing when you have a bunch together in the tank) or attempt to mix and match a bit!

[Stephen]

Forgot to mention , you have GOT to have Guppies. But only the males. They are an incredible colourful fish and very active. If it is a mixed group then I understand the males hassle the females which can then suffer stress. I have 3 males and they are always on the move.

Penfold has soft water (3.15 clarke hardness) which is only 2.5dGH (degrees German).
Guppy require hard water, so are out of the question. (sorry Jon)

Stay safe & healthy everyone

[plankton]

Harlequins should reach around 2.5", so aren't that small. They should be in a 3' really.
As Stephen says, guppies don't do too well in soft water, especially as soft as yours.

[Martinspuddle]

Greetings.

[Penfold]

Thanks all for the advice so far. Inwas contemplating the following set up:

6 tetra neons or cardinals (all same sex)
2 dwarf gourami (same sex)
6 shrimp

Does that seem reasonable as a mix and given the size it’s a 60l/15 gallon tank. I’d increase numbers where I can if that’s fewsible too!
My wife is more worried about the survival of the shrimp than anything!

Am I stupid to risk them all going in together at once the cycle is completed?

Final question (for now), with the current situation I was looking at ordering fish online although I have a few weeks yet so who knows. Any recommendations/places to avoid online?

Cheers,
Penfold