help me find my 2nd fish species

[elmer]

Well I've had my 3 baby keyholes for 5 days, so time to think about the remaining fish I want to put in the tank, lol. Actually I love these little guys - they are so active and curious.

But I love the choosing as much as the getting - I obsessed for a month about what car to buy when my old one went kaput for example.

I have a AquaClear 50 on this 20G tank. There are some plants which I hope will keep growing: moneywort, java fern on driftwood, american val. I might add a carpet plant or a small crypt sword in front.

As I mentioned in another thread, I have pH 8.1. Same pH as my tap water, and it's been stable like that in the tank for a month.

I do 25% water change weekly.

I have crushed coral with a bit of regular gravel. Now looking at the coral a bit closer I realize it's tumbled and not really sharp.

I'm thinking one of the following:
a) 3 or 4 platys
b) 3 or 4 swordtails
c) 1 angel
d) 1 male Betta splendens
e) 2 or 3 female Betta splendens
f) 2 rainbowfish of some kind

I'm not looking for a bottom swimmer, as these keyholes like middle-bottom mostly.

My concern about the Betta is apparently they don't like a current. There's a pretty strong current at the outlet of the power filter.

My concern about the angel is it may not like the high pH. However, my guess is the local fish stores have ones that are acclimatized to this.

And then the rainbowfish are generally schoolers, so 2 is not enough.

And then I think platys or swordtails might be boring. Waiting to be convinced otherwise though.

Honestly I'm leaning towards a male betta plus an angel.

So, what do you think? Any other ideas? Any thoughts on the above?

[Lady Hobbs]

You will seriously have to consider that coral substract in whatever you chose as it will keep your pH elevated.

[elmer]

More ideas...

Electric Yellow Lab (Labidochromis caeruleus) :c5:
African butterfly cichlid (Anomalochromis thomasi)
Neolamprologus brichardi

[Spyder]

Keyholes usually do better at water around 7.0 give or take.

With that said, I would consider Rainbows, a group of 6 Celebese Rainbows.

[elmer]

I have finally removed the last of the crushed coral. I also got some Popondichthys furcatus (forktail rainbowfish). Now that the coral is out, I expect the driftwood will do it's job and get the pH a bit lower. I guess my eventual goal is pH 7.5-7.8, hardness dH 6-10. Will post pictures sometime soon. I am waiting for two keyholes to pair off (hopefully) at which point I'll get rid of one.
The presence of the furcatii seems to eliminate the keyholes' minor aggression towards each other, and they are mostly nice to the furcatii, simply staking their claim to the bottom portion of the tank and letting the furcatii claim the top.

[Lady Hobbs]

Kribs are a good tank mate for keyholes.

[YaYgoldFish]

or maybe rams?

[elmer]

As for why I didn't go for kribs or rams - in my 20 gallon there's already barely enough territory for the keyholes to call their own. A shoal of smaller fish seemed the safest bet to minimize territorial disputes between species. So far I like it - it's an active tank and I don't see too much stress happening. Feeding time is hectic but everyone seems to be getting their fill. We'll see how it goes. The LFS told me that in their experience these furcata rainbows can be pretty sensitive, so I am crossing my fingers. They had been living at the LFS for at least a couple of weeks, so that's good.

[Spyder]

Don't forget, Keyholes do get a bit large.