Stocking advice

[Sstev]

Hi all, looking for some stocking advice. I have a 144l tank, Fluval U4 filter, with the following:
2x honey gourami
2x dwarf gourami
1x platy
12x cardinal tetras
1x pleco.

Am I able to add any more or will I be overstocked? If I am able, I would like like as much colour as possible, and suggestions with what might work with the group?! Thanks!

 

[dudley]

Hi and Welcome to AC!

Can you also post the dimensions of your tank and if it is rectangular, square or some other shape?

 

[Sstev]

Thanks! A bit new to the aquarium game so really appreciate any help!

It's rectangular, L: 80cm D:30cm, H:50cm

Thanks!

 

[Sprinkle]

Hi and welcome to AC!

Your tank is roughly 120L


I would say to never mix gouramies together, so do:

- that one plceo
- one honey gourami (DGs have their iridovirus)
- i would say no to 12 tetras, do 7 maybe. But think they should be okay as long as you keep up with maintenance.
- add few more platys

 

[fishorama]

Yes, welcome!

Do you have or plan to have plants? Preferably real but fake is ok. Are the gouramis male & female pairs? I'm a little worried the smaller honeys will be in trouble from the dwarfs. Plants would help break up the sight lines.

What species of pleco? Bristle noses get to ~4 inches (10cm) & is a good choice. Clown plecs are ~3 inches, pretty but mostly nocturnal. Some "common" plecs grow to 8 or even 18+ inches. If you don't know post a pic & we'll help.

Really, it looks to me like you're pretty well stocked with a nice colorful tank. We love to see pics! How long have you had your tank set up & are the fish adults?

Sprinkle, it sounds like Sstev already has the fish...

 

[jake72]

The dwarf gourami can be quite aggressive - I'd drop them completely to be safe if not than at least one of them. If you already own them well i guess cross your fingers. Fyi: The bn can get up to 5 inches but can be quite bulky. There is a wide variance in adult size with the more exotic ones generally being smaller (lemon, super red, starlight, ...) though I have one lemon that is at least 4 1/2 and a plain mail bn that is probably pushing 5 inches.
-
Honey gourami are super peaceful but prefer to be in larger groups - so adding one or two more in exchange for the dwarf would be a good route.
-
Clown pleco are small and L204 are wee bit smaller.
-
In all honestly I would get 8 to 12 otto and drop the pleco - the otto in large groups can be a lot of fun.
-
If you already have the fishes I would not add anything else for at least 8 weeks to see how the fishes react to each other. Also your tank is a bit high with little floor space so i'm not sure i would add too much more in the upper area of the tank but something else at the bottom is probably feasible. Maybe pygmy cory (6) or kuhli loaches (6+) but i'd be careful....

 

[Sprinkle]

Sprinkle, it sounds like Sstev already has the fish...

I know^^

 

[Sstev]

Yes, welcome!

Do you have or plan to have plants? Preferably real but fake is ok. Are the gouramis male & female pairs? I'm a little worried the smaller honeys will be in trouble from the dwarfs. Plants would help break up the sight lines.

What species of pleco? Bristle noses get to ~4 inches (10cm) & is a good choice. Clown plecs are ~3 inches, pretty but mostly nocturnal. Some "common" plecs grow to 8 or even 18+ inches. If you don't know post a pic & we'll help.

Really, it looks to me like you're pretty well stocked with a nice colorful tank. We love to see pics! How long have you had your tank set up & are the fish adults?

Sprinkle, it sounds like Sstev already has the fish...

Hiya! Thanks for your message. It's been up and running for about a year and have had no problems with the gourami fighting. Unfortunately poor pet shop advice meant I had them all so have been monitoring them a lot, but they seem to get on fine!

I have been gradually planting over the past 6 months, so it does have 5/6 live plants in but might add more!

 

[Sstev]

The dwarf gourami can be quite aggressive - I'd drop them completely to be safe if not than at least one of them. If you already own them well i guess cross your fingers. Fyi: The bn can get up to 5 inches but can be quite bulky. There is a wide variance in adult size with the more exotic ones generally being smaller (lemon, super red, starlight, ...) though I have one lemon that is at least 4 1/2 and a plain mail bn that is probably pushing 5 inches.
-
Honey gourami are super peaceful but prefer to be in larger groups - so adding one or two more in exchange for the dwarf would be a good route.
-
Clown pleco are small and L204 are wee bit smaller.
-
In all honestly I would get 8 to 12 otto and drop the pleco - the otto in large groups can be a lot of fun.
-
If you already have the fishes I would not add anything else for at least 8 weeks to see how the fishes react to each other. Also your tank is a bit high with little floor space so i'm not sure i would add too much more in the upper area of the tank but something else at the bottom is probably feasible. Maybe pygmy cory (6) or kuhli loaches (6+) but i'd be careful....

Hiya, thanks so much for all your advice. Some poor pet shop advice meant I have all the gourami together but they have been fine so far, we're about a year into having them so ???he's a bristle nose, again I was poorly advised that I should get him to keep the algae down, so I may look at rehoming him!.

Thanks so much for your help!