Going to either go with a 37 gallon or a 20 gallon high. I'm going to start with substrate (sand) and some plants. Plant to let them sit for a couple weeks then add some fish. How many fish are safe to add at first? I was thinking Kuhli loach/Shrimp/Guppy mixture.
Stocking question
- Thread starter jenembers
- Start date
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Colin_T
Aquarium Advice Addict
Hi and welcome to the forum 
What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?
What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).
Depending on what the GH of your water is, will determine what fish you should keep.
Angelfish, discus, most tetras, most barbs, Bettas, gouramis, rasbora, Corydoras and small species of suckermouth catfish all occur in soft water (GH below 150ppm) and a pH below 7.0.
Livebearers (guppies, platies, swordtails, mollies), rainbowfish and goldfish occur in medium hard water with a GH around 200-250ppm and a pH above 7.0.
If you have very hard water (GH above 300ppm) then look at African Rift Lake cichlids, or use distilled or reverse osmosis water to reduce the GH and keep fishes from softer water.
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If you have a planted tank that is set up for a few weeks before adding fish, you can add a small group of fish and do a fish in cycle. The plants will help deal with any ammonia from the fish food and waste.
If you don't have plants, then it is recommended that you do a fishless cycle before adding fish. This usually takes around 4-6 weeks and entails you adding a source of ammonia to the tank and letting beneficial filter bacteria develop before adding the fish. I prefer the planted method with a few fish being added once a month.
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Shrimp can be added a few weeks after the plants are added. Shrimp do require feeding and have a high metabolism so give them a bit of food when you have them in the tank.
Snails should be added after the fish have been added and when you have some algae on the glass. Live plants should help reduce any algae and you might not require the snails.
What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?
What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).
Depending on what the GH of your water is, will determine what fish you should keep.
Angelfish, discus, most tetras, most barbs, Bettas, gouramis, rasbora, Corydoras and small species of suckermouth catfish all occur in soft water (GH below 150ppm) and a pH below 7.0.
Livebearers (guppies, platies, swordtails, mollies), rainbowfish and goldfish occur in medium hard water with a GH around 200-250ppm and a pH above 7.0.
If you have very hard water (GH above 300ppm) then look at African Rift Lake cichlids, or use distilled or reverse osmosis water to reduce the GH and keep fishes from softer water.
---------------------
If you have a planted tank that is set up for a few weeks before adding fish, you can add a small group of fish and do a fish in cycle. The plants will help deal with any ammonia from the fish food and waste.
If you don't have plants, then it is recommended that you do a fishless cycle before adding fish. This usually takes around 4-6 weeks and entails you adding a source of ammonia to the tank and letting beneficial filter bacteria develop before adding the fish. I prefer the planted method with a few fish being added once a month.
---------------------
Shrimp can be added a few weeks after the plants are added. Shrimp do require feeding and have a high metabolism so give them a bit of food when you have them in the tank.
Snails should be added after the fish have been added and when you have some algae on the glass. Live plants should help reduce any algae and you might not require the snails.
