Nanofish-safe suggestions on stocking a 20l?

[VivaDaWolf]

I'm debating picking up a 20L as an upgrade to a little tank of fish I have but I'm curious on what other fish can go in there. The plan so far is:

10~ dwarf rasbora
15-20 lampeyes
6 cories (either habrosus or pygmaeus)
2-3 ottos with maybe amanos, snails for cleanup

How close is this to stocking limit? I would probably increase those numbers if possible. I want to add in centerpiece fish too, but Im not entirely sure whats the biggest thing that would be safe with those tiny fish. Can a pair of kribs work? Or other dwarf cichlid pair? Not into badis or gourami... I would love a betta but Ive seen a female betta swallow one of my lampeyes.

What about adding in another school? Either CPD, or some other rasbora/nanofish. I like threadfins/blue eyes and white clouds as well. I realize Ill cant have them all sadly.
As for tech, Id prefer low-medium light, fully planted, and using a HOB (AC30 or 50 maybe? )

[Imi Statue]

Hi

By 20L you mean 20gallon long tank?

If so your stocking limit will be best if you knock off one group of either the Rasboras or Lampeyes and add one pair(center fish) of small dwarf cichlids like Panduro or other fairly peaceful fish. As you have it now it is over stocking. IMHO

Imi

[steven p]

My 65, which has been up in its current condition for nearly a year has approx 100-150 inches of fish, mainly live-bearer males. It has had maybe 65 gallons total changed out since last fall. Cory cats were spawning regularly during the early months of spring. nitrate rarely gets up to 5ppm with all the plant mass... i need to pass on some fishies so i can weed whack without water changing...

but this isn't about me. it is about you and your tank. add plants fast and fish slowly. check params regularly if youre planning on a having a heavy stock list. your fish list looks fine to me. however, for me, oto cats arent the best janitors. i have a dozen in two tanks and they just kinda kick it and party with each other...

So,

Edit: ^so? i dont remember what else i was going to say... my juvi bristlenoses do work tho...
also, i assumed 20 gallon long... is it a 20 litre?

[Bananariot]

It's a 20long I assume.

I've always successfully pushed the stickig limit with no chemical spikes, just make sure your tank had adequate filtration and the fish have enough room

[causemisahastheeyes]

Haven't we debunked the 'inch of fish per gallon' rule by now? It isn't just about size of the adult fish; a multi shelldweller maxes at three inches and would decimate anything but its colony mates, and even perhaps then, in a 10 gallon tank.

A better rule for schools is that one larger school is better than two small ones; if you do want two small ones, make the tetras similar in build and color (which somewhat defeats the two schools idea for identity but eh). When I built up my shoal of aeneus cories, I only got green ones, and then a few brochis green cats: different size but same body build and color, and the cories are much happier for a larger shoal.

If the tank is planted and you keep up with water changes I think your stock list is fine.

[150EH]

I think your over the limit already, I'd take off the 10 Rasboras or add 10 and take off the lampeyes. You can have them all but you'll be doing maintenace sooner and more water changes unless you are really over filtered and heavily planted.

I only have a nano with a HOB and I think the make poor water flow so overstocking could be an issue but again water changes and maintenance will take care of it.

[steven p]

Originally Posted by causemisahastheeyes

Haven't we debunked the 'inch of fish per gallon' rule by now? It isn't just about size of the adult fish; a multi shelldweller maxes at three inches and would decimate anything but its colony mates, and even perhaps then, in a 10 gallon tank.

A better rule for schools is that one larger school is better than two small ones; if you do want two small ones, make the tetras similar in build and color (which somewhat defeats the two schools idea for identity but eh). When I built up my shoal of aeneus cories, I only got green ones, and then a few brochis green cats: different size but same body build and color, and the cories are much happier for a larger shoal.

If the tank is planted and you keep up with water changes I think your stock list is fine.

It was more so to generalize the overpopulation of the tank; i did say they were mainly male livebearer, right? Now think for a second...

100+ little critters... Everytime i have to scape or plant, my guppy and molly fish attack my arm hair... Hah

Edit: was this rule of thumb not intended for inch sized fish anyway.. obviously, big fish = big poop..

Adversely to that 65, i have a 55 with 6 african cichlids all still at about 2 inches, average. A blue 3 dot gourami and 3 little pictus cats. More appropriate for normal tank conditions.

[causemisahastheeyes]

Wait, I'm sorry, I should have asked: what species is the lampeye, because I realize there are probably more than one fish called that, and I'm thinking of a killifish.

[VivaDaWolf]

Its 20 long. And I meant the normans lampeye.
As far overstocking with two schools.. Really? Itll be very planted with an ac50, i didnt think theyd be making much of an impact with the small fish. i will be taking it slow, but mainly i was looking for compatible larger centerpiece fish. One lfs sells panduro, would cockatoo ones work?

[Imi Statue]

As I stated... I like things to ere on the light side for fish count that way if there is any future problems that can cause the death of one fish(disease/pump failure etc..) I have enough room to play for a couple extra days to week even without concern that things are already out of hand BEFORE the problem even exists.

The tank is of course the owners, and what ever that person can handle stress wise for both you and your fish is great!

I too have kept large quantities of livebearers and other in medium sized tanks, and yes the smaller fish size denotes less detritus in the water/gravel to clean, but over population in any aquarium suffers the little guys more when things don't go right.

If you have other aquaria take the chance and put in all you want to then when things possibly go wrong you can always move something out..

Imi

[kuni]

Schooling fish always look better as one type. Try it and see.

I'd recommend going with the normans lampeyes (great fish!) and cories. If your lampeyes are small enough for a female betta to eat, most dwarf cichlids will do the same thing.

You could try peacock gudgeons. They're very colorful, stay near the bottom, and they're really too small to eat lampeyes.

[VivaDaWolf]

Wow I like that peacock gudgeon! Ive never seen them around here though, hopefully I can find a source. I already have a small number of lampeyes and rasbora- which is why I wanted to stick with those 2 schools.

Do swords outgrow the height of a 20L?

[Gsneufeld]

One that's a little harder to find but really pretty nano fish that makes a good centerpiece, the Scarlet Badis, I have the pygmaeus corys right now, and they are nice, but i've had habrosus before and if you want a community tank, I recommend the habrosus as I find the pygmies pretty shy.

[kuni]

Originally Posted by VivaDaWolf

Wow I like that peacock gudgeon! Ive never seen them around here though, hopefully I can find a source. I already have a small number of lampeyes and rasbora- which is why I wanted to stick with those 2 schools.

Do swords outgrow the height of a 20L?

Lots of folks are breeding peacock gudgeons on Aquabid. It shouldn't be hard to track down a few.

You won't be able to have big schools of both lampeyes and rasbora in a 20L if you want to keep other fish. Trade one of the groups to your LFS for more of the other type. I would also go with cories OR gudgeons for bioload reasons. Overstocked tanks stress fish, are hard to keep, and don't look as nice.