12 Gallon Advice

[bedowyn]

First of all, apologies if this is a redundant question, or if it is in the wrong place...

I am looking for some advice on choices. I am starting a 12 Gallon tank at work. My intent is to plant it and I will be cycling the water weekly. The footprint is 10" X 20".

I am leaning toward some neon or cardinal tetras - say six of these - and 4 pygmy corys.

What I am looking for is a suggestion on one or two fish that are compatible, hardy, friendly and that might be ok by themselves, meaning not part of a shoal.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[adadkins1]

First, you should do a little research on fishless cycling an aquarium. This will get you started on the right foot. I would say that you could do this in your tank:

6 Neon/Cardinal Tetras
6 Pygmy Cories

For a "centerpiece" fish, you could go with a Betta (some are aggressive so watch out), Honey Gourami, or Dwarf Gourami

 

[bedowyn]

Oh, I will definitely plant and then fishless cycle. I am in no hurry.

Basically, I am looking for that centerpiece fish, as you put it.

As an aside, I am also looking for suggestions on softer and acidic water, since our local tap water is SUPER hard. (It has rocks floating in it )

 

[adadkins1]

Very glad you have done your research and hae patience. If you are wanting to soften your water, you can use RO/DI water.

 

[JohnPaul]

What I am looking for is a suggestion on one or two fish that are compatible, hardy, friendly and that might be ok by themselves, meaning not part of a shoal.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

One betta (either male or female) might be a nice centerpiece fish that *should* go well with what you describe there. Only thing I would suggest is, if you go that route, add the other fish to the tank first and the betta last.

Another option, instead of the betta, would be a lone dwarf gourami. Though getting healthy gouramis from pet stores nowadays seems to be a real issue.

 

[Bubble_B0y]

- betta/fighting fish
- dwarf gourami
- dwarf puffer
- corydoras
- white clouds
- school of tetras

 

[bedowyn]

you can use RO/DI water.

RO/DI water??? I am not familiar. Is that reverse osmosis?

 

[bruinsbro1997]

RO/DI water??? I am not familiar. Is that reverse osmosis?

Yes. It is expensive to get a filter for one though. If you have an LFS that carries RO water for __cents per gallon I would use that instead of spending a lot of money for the unit. Here its 39 cents per gallon.

Stocking sounds solid. Also if you looked into it you could try a pair of killies as a centerpiece.

There are other ways to lower pH too. By adding driftwood to the tank or running peat moss into the filtration you can gradually lower pH. Your tank will have a brownish tinge to it however.

 

[JohnPaul]

Also if you looked into it you could try a pair of killies as a centerpiece.

Depends on the species of killie. I used to have a pair of Golden Wonder killies in my 29g community tank which featured (among other things) a school of about a dozen neon tetras. Once the killies got large enough, they ate the entire school.

Some of the smaller killies would work though.

 

[bruinsbro1997]

Oh definitely no golden wonders, way too big for that tank. Maybe one of the smaller killies like Australae...?