Hardy Beginner Fish?

[PattyCakes81]

Hi all Acers!

I decided doing fish-less cycling using pure ammonia(Ace Hardware has it). Adding a few live plants as well. Going with a Aquaclear 50 for my 20g high tank. Still a little stuck on substrate:huh: I want corys so I guess a sand substrate.

My real question is:

Is this stocking mix is good or will it be overstocked?
Option 1
3-4 platies (top level)
4-6 CPD(celestial pearl danio)(mid-top)
3-4 Corydoras(bottom level) thinking either peppered or sterbia
1-2 snails
Option 2
1 Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami (center piece)
6-7 Cardinal tetras
4 Panda or Shwartz Corys
1-2 snails
Option 3
Betta (centerpiece)
?:huh:the rest of his tankmates I need help on

All help is greatly appreciated!!:1zhelp:

PattyCakes

 

[user_name]

Personally, I love honey gouramis and would get something like this:

3 Honey gouramis (1 male 2 female)
5 Harlequin Rasboras
6 of the smallest corydora cats

 

[PattyCakes81]

Personally, I love honey gouramis and would get something like this:

3 Honey gouramis (1 male 2 female)
5 Harlequin Rasboras
6 of the smallest corydora cats

Thanks user_name;2395553!! Speedy reply!:dance2:
That sounds like a great mix!!

Keep it coming ACers!!

PattyCakes

 

[SubRosa]

If you really want a hardy community try this combo:

6 Black Skirt Tetras
3 Buenos Aires Tetras
1 Banjo Catfish (and a really good hiding place for it !)
2-3 Mystery Snails

If you can't keep BS and BA Tetras alive may I suggest that coin collecting is more suitable a hobby! To the negative they're nippers, but they're as tolerant of water conditions as you could ask. As long as the Banjo hides all day, (which they usually do) it'll be fine and the snails won't move fast enough to distract them all from chasing each other.

 

[slackline]

I'd go with 12 harlequins and 6 cories. Lots of entertainment with both as well as a fairly hardy and peaceful existance for the fish. You could add a couple of snails but the more "empty space," the better the aquarium will look.

 

[user_name]

I'd go with 12 harlequins and 6 cories. Lots of entertainment with both as well as a fairly hardy and peaceful existance for the fish. You could add a couple of snails but the more "empty space," the better the aquarium will look.

depending on which spcies of cory.....

 

[jpappy789]

Keep in mind that a 20H has a smaller footprint than a 20L. I'd go with 5-6 harlies/tetras, 3-4 platies, and 4-5 of the smaller cory species.

 

[the wizard]

If you really want a betta, they are pretty, consider getting a 5-10 gallon tank from craig's list and keep it by itself.

They are much more active than many think because the LFS's keep them in those tiny cups. put one in 5-10 gallons with a good HOB filter and watch how much they love to swim in the current.

 

[PDX-PLT]

Most cardinals are wild-caught and anything but hardy. Sterbais aren't the hardiest of the corys, either, in my opinion, although they are good for cases where the tanks needs to be kept warm for other species.

The platies are hardy. I've found that zebra danios deserve their reputation for being bullet-proof. Their coloration is a bit boring, unless you get them in the Glowfish version, assuming you don't object to a little genetic engineering (I don't). A 20G tank with a few of these, in both colors, with some corys on the bottom, and maybe a small UV blacklight to really bring out the color in the fish, would be pretty neat.

 

[toddnbecka]

Hardy fish are generally livebearers, gourami's, or cichlids. Zebra danio's and bettas are also tough critters, and the albino Cory cats are probably the easiest to keep in the average community tank.
What sort of tap water do you have? Hard/alkaline or soft/acidic?