Help Stocking 30 Gal tank.

**Ullrum** · 05-13-2012, 11:32 PM

Hello!

I am not new to having fish but I am ready to up my game a bit..I inherited years and years a go some gold fish and a few plants in a 10 gal tank. They recently passed away so I am going to get a large tank but I need a bit of help.

What I plan on putting in the tank.

Good mix of live plants.

Trio of dwarf gourami.(1 male 2 female)

18 or so neon tetra.

Amano shrimp.

1 or 2 Corydoras.

I am pretty sure everyone would get along and no one would cause anyone any bother. But my questions are.

How many Amano Shrimp should I have? I would like for them to keep the place pretty clean but at the same time not be fighting each other for food.

I would really like to get a filter feeder shrimp like a wood shrimp..But if I did that I would need to add in something to great a good flow in the tank for it to feed better...Would this extra current bother the tetra or gourami?

If they would be ok in the extra current..would it be better to have one flow going all the time? Or set up two diffrent currents that alternate every 6 hours or so.

Also any other suggestions to fish that would get a long with everyone are more then welcome.

**Cermet** · 05-13-2012, 11:45 PM

Looks to me that you will be pretty well fully stocked; however, simply use the site in my signature and check the stock/filter you have and the site tells you the stocking percent and filter cap and will also issues stock type warnings and water change amount and times.

Also, not certain (others will know) but aren't Corydoras a schooling fish? The gourami's will work well with any of or all those fish.

Didn't say your pH or water hardness - neons can have issues if these are out of their prefered range. Still, would be a very nice school.

**Ullrum** · 05-13-2012, 11:56 PM

Thanks for that link.

Yes I realize now thanks to that site that Corydoras do better in a group. So I may drop them for something else that would do better a lone or in a pair. But not sure what.

I cant remember what my water likes to sit at off the top of my head but it was well suited for the tetras.

**fishmommie** · 05-14-2012, 12:23 AM

Hi,
You've found a great forum. they've helped me a lot!

IMLE you may have difficulty finding female dwarf gouramis. I understand most LFS don't stock them. I have 3 dwarf male gouramis in my 30 gal. They've been a dream although people have warned me they may get aggressive. So far it hasn't happened.
As for the corys - I was going to pass on them until someone here suggested them. I'm so glad they did. I love those little guys! Maybe you could consider cutting back on your neon school a little and get the 6 corys?
Just a thought. Good luck and have fun with your tank

**TheVoldevader** · 05-14-2012, 12:45 AM

A pleco can be kept lone and is a bottom feeder. if you're interested, make sure you get a smaller variety. The common one can get to be a foot long.

**Danifins** · 05-14-2012, 01:09 AM

Corydoras are 100% a schooling fish and you would need at least 6 of them for them to be happy. More is better, I've seen so many people say that once they got the numbers higher, their behaviour completely changes.

**PhillipOrigami** · 05-14-2012, 01:16 AM

6 is a crazy number. most agree. I reccomend ten C. Habrosus.
Not mr. stocker here tho

**Ullrum** · 05-14-2012, 01:18 AM

I feel fairly confident I can get a hold of two female dwarf gourami. If I cant I will drop them all together. I like for everyone to be happy.

I realize if I take my neon tetras down to about 12-14 there would be room for 6-7 cories which I like the idea of for a good amount of species diversity in the tank.

No one has really commented on my questions about the shrimp. Mainly the number of amano shrimp to throw in there. As well as if adding in a stronger current then what my filter would offer would bother the other fish.

**puffmaster221** · 05-14-2012, 01:33 AM

They would be fine as they don't much add to the bio load your only issue would be that the smaller ones might end up as a snack for the gouramis. the corydoras and tetras might eat them too.

**Ullrum** · 05-14-2012, 01:38 AM

Alright I figured there bio load was not at all that large. From what I understand Amano shrimp full grown are bigger then say..Cherry shrimp and given that there will be plenty of hiding spots for them I am sure they could get plenty big with out fear..but when I hit up the pet store ill make a note to check out there size compared to the larger fish to make sure they would be safe.