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Tank will be planted. SO far just one bunch of Cabomba. Sand mixed with living substrate/2 big driftwood pieces/a holey rock.
Is in my living room would like something that is showy..
then again, one idea is:
4 Pearl Gouramis (1 male/3 females)
and a few loaches to controls snails that may come in with plants..

or..???

That idea is good but you can also go with a school fish such as zebra danios or neon tetras. Or you can get a bunch of fancy guppies and have some kulhi loaches.

Pearl gouramis grow to at least 4" which really wouldn't leave you a lot of space for other fish. I've never kept them but I've read different info on stocking, some say a pair is best, others say as long as there is only 1 male.

I like loaches a lot and they're good bottom feeders, as well as taking care of snails. They like to be in groups of at least 3 and are most entertaining when kept that way. Yoyos and zebras grow to around 4". The dwarf chained loaches are available more often lately. But while they're small I've read conflicting info on max size, anywhere between 2" and 5"!

Are pearls and loaches something you definitely want to have, or do you have other ideas? It's not a huge tank but enough that you have options available to you.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Have a look online or get a good book aquarium book and always stock using the max size as a adult for stocking purposes.

I've had Pearls and you can keep multiple males together, but it's better to have more females than males.
However, I've decided to do Pearls in my large tank..
they supposedly get 4" but I've had them get 5" and 6"...

If I can get some dwarf peaceful loaches ..maybe..the loaches I have had always got moody though.

Now I'm thinking Ottos for sure..and ?

12 tiger barbs.

12 tiger barbs.

er... I'd go with something a bit more peaceful personally. What about a school of rummy-nose tetras?

Now I'm thinking Ottos for sure

Ottos are great little fish. Very diligent cleaners. I've got a couple in my 20 gal, one of the best additions you can make, imo.

I love ottos.
Ok now I'm seriously thinking a pair of kribensis...
LFS has one now but he's about to put a hold on them becausing they are nesting. I see kribs are ok with ottos..and ottos would not harm babies..
BUT would Kribs hurt ottos when they had babies?

If so, I've decided on most likely doing some pearl gouramies and other peaceful things in my big tank and could do a big school of ottos in there..and get one or two bottom feeders that would be OK with the kribs.

No just have a good few hiding spots for the ottos.

Otos tend to stay out of the way and mind their own business. I have a very devoted krib pair, they've been together for 4 months now. It's a busy tank with black phantoms, a BN, cories, guppies...the kribs never bother any of the other fish. They have a cave that's theirs and the other fish seem to know and respect that Sometimes one of the bottom feeders ventures a bit too close and one of the kribs will chase it away, that's as bad as it gets.

Very pretty fish, too...now I have to show off mine
Theresa_M attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/398726.jpg"]

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

a few loaches to controls snails that may come in with plants..

http://www.aquabotanic.com/disinfect.htm
http://www.plantgeek.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1445&highlight=disinfect