Need stocking help

[Mvaldez]

20 gallon tank
5x Neon Tetras
2x Blue Sword Tail Guppies
2x Pink Tuxedos Guppies
3x Peppered Cories

lightly planted tank
25% weekly water changes
Water parameters are all stable and good.

my questions are should I be fine with the amount of each (considering their are all schooling) or should I make it even six for each? And how serious is with the cories and their low bio load? Like should I count them towards the the size for the tank?

 

[Asomeone]

I'd say its a decent list. Based on the fact that you have a sandy light-colored substrate. I personally wouldnt wanna get corys...but that's just me. I feel like they prefer a darker substrate.
But you'll likely be fine with the stocking, bioload wise.

 

[Mvaldez]

I'd say its a decent list. Based on the fact that you have a sandy light-colored substrate. I personally wouldnt wanna get corys...but that's just me. I feel like they prefer a darker substrate.
But you'll likely be fine with the stocking, bioload wise.

Does it matter that I have two different types of guppies? When picking schooling fishes is it fine that it’s the same species but different t type?

 

[Asomeone]

Only if you care about interbreeding of the guppies. If they breed they'll produce some offcolor thing. But they will interact just fine.

 

[altwitch]

On the topic of substrate, I have a number of different corydoras and they love the light colored pool sand I use in the tank so don't see a problem whatever you choose. Seems to me to be a matter of substrate consistency vs. color.

Also, as a self confessed plant nerd always advocate for additional plants in the tank. Bio load is dependent on multiple factors such as waste generation, oxygen exchange and simple living quarters space per habitat. Plants help with all of these so would throw a good word in for some additional plants as they help with all of these. Some taller background plants will provide hiding spaces and help with oxygen content of the tank as well as bleeding off phosphates as well as some other negative variables, but at the end of the day is up to you. Your tank, your choice.

Agree on the guppies, would recommend single resident of related interbreeding species, but again only if you care. Living together will be fine but may produce mutt-guppies over time. As for schoolers, my experience has been different species don't tend to hang together so my X-Ray tetras stick in a group, but don't group with my Rummynose tetras. Depends a lot on personality of the fish in question.

 

[The Rover]

Just make sure to get all male guppies so you don't end up with a bunch of fry and are overstocked (unless you are planning on breeding and adding a second grow out tank). Corys are shoaling fish so more the better but you're limited with a 20g. I'd do at least a group of four. Peppered get a little bigger than some of the others like Corydoras Aeneus, which come in bronze, green, and albino and will all shoal together regardless of color.