Hypothetical Stocking Plan (:

[Olympia]

Okay, yea wow that is very tall.
My 20 gallon is 30" long so I thought it would be longer than that.
I don't think I'd mix anything in with any of those gourami, besides honey and dwarf you could probably have some tank mates.
24"x14"20" - and I think height is the largest dimension.

[MaisyDawgThirteen]

So, 1 Dwarf, 12 Rummynoses and 6 Palateus Cories?

The tank is huge in person. (:

I wish I would be able to actually get this tank!!!

EDIT: By huge I mean compared to my 10 Gallon. xD

[thekoimaiden]

Originally Posted by MaisyDawgThirteen

It's a fluval bowfront 26 gallon. I'll see if I can find a link to it.

EDIT: http://ca-en.hagen.com/Aquatic/Aquar...ll-Glass/15226

It looks really tall. And if you look closely, there are discus on the front cover. I'm mortified.

If you look in the TFK profile for sparkling gourami you'll see that they actually prefer to be kept in groups of 6 or more. That might crowd the tank a bit. I would go for a single centerpiece fish and then a group of schoolers.

[Olympia]

I think you are okay load wise. Rummynose are extremely active, I don't know if that tank would be that good for them. Koimaiden?

[MaisyDawgThirteen]

If I was to get this tank, I don't think rummynoses would work. :( My water is moderate-hard to hard. :(

EDIT: I saw the discus on the box at the store and I was like "WTH?!"

[thekoimaiden]

Ya. Rummynose show their best colors in soft (<5 dGH) waters. I think they can live in up to 12dGh, but they aren't going to be as pretty or healthy. As far as fairing in that size tank, I would be hesitant now that I see its size. If I were to keep rummynose I would want them in a large group (10+), and I'm not sure that size tank would be suited for them. Especially the larger false rummynose (Petitella georgiae) which gets close to 3 inches long TFK profile on them.

I'm a bit irked that they don't show the dimensions as length is going to make a difference here especially when talking about smaller schooling fish. I always assumed the tank was similar in size to my 30" 29 gallon, but it looks a little taller and thinner to me. Either way, for tanks of this size I think it's best to limit to 2-3 species. One substrate fish; one column swimming schooling fish; and a centerpiece fish if you so desire.

You could do a colony of sparkling gourami in there with a substrate fish.

[Olympia]

I posted its dimensions above, I googled it and found a retailer that had it listed.
It's 24"x14"20" - and I think height is the largest dimension.
So there's only 20" of length on it.. tall tanks are very popular and modern but in practice not that useful.

[Bombalurina]

They are ok as long as you choose the right fish for them, but they are super limiting. :( Which sucks for those of us with only 17 inches of space. :p

[MaisyDawgThirteen]

What fish work in hard water and a tall tank? :P Other than livebrearers.

[thekoimaiden]

Depends on how hard. I think I remember you saying your dGH was around 15 or 12. That's only moderately hard water and encompasses some of upper ranges of hardy soft water fish like gourami and some tetra. Some of the rainbowfish would work (but again you need the small ones). Cichlids love hard water, but your tank is a bit small for most of the rift valley lake cichlids. Interestingly enough, brackish water tanks need hard water. You could attempt a brackish tank.

I don't think your hard water is that limiting. You've got a lot of things that can live there. I think your main problem is the tank. With something longer you have a world of possibilities opened up for you.