What to stock???

[InNi2010]

After doing a bunch of research I found out that German Rams may be a little bit too difficult for me, so I thought could have a SE asian style tank.
Which one should I stick with though:
Option A: Asian dedicated tank - honey gouramis, danios/rasbora and kuhli loaches/any other bottom dwelling/ cyprinid
Option B: South American Biotope style tank (Original Idea) - german rams (if I try...), neon or cardinal tetras and cory cats
Any other ideas?
Tell me in the chat
*What bottom dwellers can I use for the asian tank?
Many thanks

 

[mort]

How big is the tank and what are your water parameters? Asian tanks can become more busy and south America more calming.

 

[InNi2010]

It's a Ciano Aqua 60 (58l)
I haven't started building it yet though - so I don't know the parameters now...
I might aim for a ph of 6-7

 

[mort]

In a modest tank like that you are going to limit your choices. It can still be really interesting but dwarf cichlids would feel cramped and there isn't a great deal of swimming space for really active species like danios.
I do stock my tanks really lightly so perhaps others will give their opinions but if that was mine I'd be thinking of nano fish like chilli rasbora and maybe a dario if I had enough live food. Rotsy loaches could make a nice addition as well.

 

[InNi2010]

Would there be a change to the amount of stocking if I add more decor/ change water more frequently?

 

[mort]

Would there be a change to the amount of stocking if I add more decor/ change water more frequently?

More decor would displace more water and therefore limit you further in what you could comfortably stock. Water changes can help but I'm very cautious and don't really like overstocking. Some cram them in and it can work but I've always felt less is more likely to be harmonious and less work, more relaxing. With higher stocking you run the risk that things will get in the way and you will miss maintenence, or the power goes out and it becomes far more serious than if you only had a few.
A heavy planted setup gives you more leeway but if the fish feel cramped you can run into conflict. There are far more options to what I have suggested, like you could get one of the smaller apistogramma/betta males and let it be your centre piece with a few dither fish like cardinals. You could have a group of espei rasbora with a few khuli loaches, or even endlers and some pygmy cories. Just because the tank is modest it still give you lots of options.

 

[InNi2010]

Thanks for your help. Will take it into consideration 😀