Small tank, hard water...Fish suggestions?

[whimik]

I am new to your forum and would appreciate some advice. I have a 12g and 20g long that I will be setting up. Water from the tap is quite hard - pH about 7.8, KH about 20. I have tried to do some research and have found that fish that might do well are: African Cichlids, platy, guppy, molly. I have read conflicting info on Gouramies, barbs, killifish, rainbows, danios. Each tank has an UGF, the 20g has a power head and a small whisper with biobag; the 12g has the eclipse top with biowheel. I will have some driftwood to put in one of the tanks - don't know how much effect that has on the water hardness. Any suggestions on fish choices much appreciated. Would consider brackish fish but not sure the tanks are big enough for anything other than mollies/guppies.
Mike
(I tried to post this previously but it never showed up - sorry if it shows up twice)

 

[OrionGirl]

I'd go with shellies--shell dwelling cichlids. They need piles of snails shells, and will love the harder water. They also stay smallenough that you could have a small colony comfortably in the 20.

Your water isn't that hard though, and as long as you acclimate the fish, you should be fine with most fish. Check with your LFS and see--they probably have similar water conditions, so the fish will already be used to the water. However--is either tank cycled? You won't want to add any fish until the tank is cycled.

 

[whimik]

Shells?

Thanks for the reply. I know very little about shellies - where do you get the shells? Would you only put the cichlids in the tank, or would you recommend any non-cichlid companions for them?
I am cycling the tanks now - I didn't know about fishless cycling until very recently and already have a few goldfish enduring through the process. Where I live has a different water system than the LFS but I'll check to see what their water is like.
Mike

 

[OrionGirl]

There are a couple sources online, and you can buy the shells from either the LFS, or from a hobby place--just make sure they are clean, and untreated. You might be able to add a few other fish--something like danios, or a fast, small tetra. The shellies stay pretty much at the bottom, so it the tank is covered, hatchets would be a good choice.

Even if the LFS has softer water, you can still acclimate the fish to your conditions.