Stocking 37 Gallon

Hello,

I'm looking for some advice on stocking options. I have a 37 gallon that's more or less completely cycled. There's some plants in there willy-nilly and driftwood with some sharp spots I have to sand down, plus gravel.

Originally I wanted white cloud mountain minnows but their comfortable temperature range is lower than other species I'd like to keep. I also wanted albino corys but I read a post on a fish forum that corys much prefer sand than gravel. I'd love a couple bottom feeders, a schooling fish, and then maybe 1-3 larger peaceful fish as a community tank. I've had fish before but I'd still call myself a beginner, so maybe some hardy fish that don't require a lot of specialized equipment or time would be great. Does anyone have suggestions for fish who would play well together?

Thanks!

Before ideas for stocking can happen, your water parameters have to be stated because which fish to suggest depends on them. Please tell us your pH, GH, KH of both the tank and your supply of new water at WC time and water temperature/WC sequence, % of WC, filtration type, and type of substrate. Sorry, but suggestions made blindly don’t help you in the least imo.

If you do have gravel can you take a picture of it? if it is not sharp you can still keep cories, if it is sharp that effects the choice of bottom dwelling fish.

Originally I wanted white cloud mountain minnows but their comfortable temperature range is lower than other species I'd like to keep.

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White Clouds are awesome little fish. It's understandable to skip them if you'd like other warmer water species. Although, I've kept White Clouds in the mid to lower 70s F, and they've seemed happy enough.

I also wanted albino corys but I read a post on a fish forum that corys much prefer sand than gravel.

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Agreed. Cory cats do seem to love sand. They nuzzle around in it constantly. This doesn't mean you can't keep them on gravel though. It's just that you'll see more of their natural behaviors on sand.

I'd love a couple bottom feeders, a schooling fish, and then maybe 1-3 larger peaceful fish as a community tank. I've had fish before but I'd still call myself a beginner, so maybe some hardy fish that don't require a lot of specialized equipment or time would be great. Does anyone have suggestions for fish who would play well together?

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Possible White Cloud Tank:

• 9 White Clouds
• 6 Gold Barbs
• 3 Panda Garras

Possible Albino Cory Tank:

• 6 Albino Cories
• 6 Lemon Tetras
• 9 Black Neon Tetras

The species mentioned above are hardy, adaptable, and not prone to hiding too much. But...you have many options available to you.

I love this game!

What are the dimensions of your tank?

I'd suggest finding an online fish shop, or going to your local real one if you have one, and having a peruse to see what catches your eye.

Then pop back here with a list of whatever caught your fancy, as specific as species type or as vague as colour or shape or movement, and with the info requested above and we can try thinking up some ideas for you

Are there any places around the world that have a specific meaning to you, like South America, places in Asia or elsewhere, because you could try and look at fish in specific countries too.

Exciting!

Since you like the mountain minnows, you might look at Rosy Barbs, Giant Danios or maybe Black Ruby Barbs.

All listed species are shoaling fish, that can tolorate low & relatively high temperatures. They all can adapt to a wide range of water parameters.

Although the Rosy's and Giant Danios are listed online as growing up to five inches, I've kept both varieties healthy and happy for years. Most never exceed two inches, although a few outliers have exceeded three inches.

Rosy Barbs and Giant Danios are super easy to keep and usually very inexpensive. The Black Ruby's are beautiful but a little on the expensive side.

As for a bottom feeder, I always recommend Loaches. Maybe Kuhlis would work in your setup.

Before ideas for stocking can happen, your water parameters have to be stated because which fish to suggest depends on them. Please tell us your pH, GH, KH of both the tank and your supply of new water at WC time and water temperature/WC sequence, % of WC, filtration type, and type of substrate. Sorry, but suggestions made blindly don’t help you in the least imo.

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Yes, you make a good point! My parameters are below:
pH - around 8
GH - 180
KH - btwn 180 and 240
taken with API test strips

new water supply is tap water provided by city
Water temperature is kept at 70 - 80 and I do 50% changes
Filtration is TopFin Power40 for now, with Fluval Bio-FX and sponges
Substrate is pebble gravel, rounded and not too rough

It's a TopFin 37 gallon, so it's 30 by 12.

I have live plants in the tank but I'm not too optimistic about being able to keep them alive.

If you do have gravel can you take a picture of it? if it is not sharp you can still keep cories, if it is sharp that effects the choice of bottom dwelling fish.

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I tried my best to grab a photo below; it's not very sharp, I think. It's Imagitarium's river rock gravel.

I love this game!

What are the dimensions of your tank?

I'd suggest finding an online fish shop, or going to your local real one if you have one, and having a peruse to see what catches your eye.

Then pop back here with a list of whatever caught your fancy, as specific as species type or as vague as colour or shape or movement, and with the info requested above and we can try thinking up some ideas for you

Are there any places around the world that have a specific meaning to you, like South America, places in Asia or elsewhere, because you could try and look at fish in specific countries too.

Exciting!

Click to expand...

Mostly I want a schooling fish, 1-2 "centerpiece fish" and some bottom dwellers. I'm not opposed to shrimp or snails although I wouldn't really prefer them. I love schooling fish and the way they look. The WCCMs, rice fish, etc. are my favorites but I feel like they'd look miniscule in a 37 gallon, even if it would give them more space. I'm leaning towards giant danios right now or rosy barbs as A201 suggested.

I want more "flashy" colors, like blues/reds/oranges, and preferably fish without longer tails or fins. I don't like the shape of kuhli loaches unfortunately, or the bristlenose plecos' snout(?).

I like the idea of a themed tank based on country, that's a really good idea; I'll look into that!