Hi all

About a month ago I upgraded from a too-small tank to a Fluval 125L and have gradually added to the community.

I'm now looking for a new pair to join the family, existing inhabitants are:

2x Platy
6x Male Guppy
6x Endler
1x Dwarf Gourami
2x Assassin Snail
1x Amano Shrimp

The DG is recently bereaved after losing his partner in crime to what I believe was Dwarf Gourami Disease - I had already replaced one who died within days of getting home and will not be chancing it with them again.

I'm also planning to bolster the Shrimp ranks as 3 of the Amano's compatriots passed away following the tank upgrade.

Rightly or wrongly I've been using the AQAdvisor site as a guide on stocking levels and they have me at 67 % full. So I'm now looking for something pretty and/or striking to more or less complete the community. So I am open to suggestion!

Have included my water parameters on my profile.

Thanks in advance!

Hi

Firstly regarding Dwarf Gourami: I think you're losing them to your water as it's too hard an alkaline for them so for that reason best not replaced. You may wish to consider re-homing the one remaining for this reason.

The rough and ready old-fashioned stocking guidelines which still work well for smaller fish would say 1 inch of fish at adult size per gallon in a new tank, gradually increasing over the first 12 months to a maximum of 2 inches per gallon if all other stocking requirements are met. 125 litres minus at least 10% for gravel and decor is 24 gallons. That means initial stock of 24 inches of fish and a maximum after a year of 48 inches of fish.

Current stock:

2 Platies (assuming 1m and 1f) = 5 inches
6 male Guppy = 12 inches
6 Endler's Guppy (assuming 2 male, 4 female) = 9 inches
1 male Dwarf Gourami = 3 inches

Total = 29 inches. If the Platies and Endler's Guppies are all male that takes it down to 27 inches leaving room for roughly another 20 inches of fish at adult size, introduced gradually.

If your Platies are 1 male and 1 female you first need to add at least one more female as a solo female with a male will be harassed too much and suffer stress.

Beyond that you need to look at fish who like your hard, alkaline water and choose those that are also compatible with the tank size and existing occupants.

There's a good article here on hard water fish which may help you to make your choice, or try a Google search for : "fish for hard water".

Pop down to Living Waters in Beddington and have a look whats available. They had some very nice Odessa Barbs last time I looked.