[Hello from Louisiana/Canada]

Hi All,

My name is Ian and I am Canadian but currently living in Louisiana. I’m looking forward to participating in the conversations here. Right now I have two aquariums. The first is a high tech shallow planted tank with Celestial Pearl Danios, Dream Blue neocaridina shrimp, and clithon corona snails. (The lily pipes desperately need cleaning but that will have to wait until tomorrow.) The second is a 3 foot low tech bookshelf tank that currently has a bunch of Anubias and some clithon snails but will soon be home to a pair of apistogramma mcmasteri and six Honey Gourami.

[Fish Recommendation]

If it were me, I would try out a loose Myanmar/Lake Inle inspired stocking that I have been wanting to do for years. For schooling/shoaling fish, I would do 20 or so Sawbwa resplendens (Asian rummynose) and 40 or so Danio erythromicron (dwarf emerald rasbora). On the bottom, I would do 20 or so Rosy Loaches. They all like the same water parameters, are shrimp friendly, go really well in heavily planted tanks, and would give you a lot of color and activity.

[Stocking a 75]

I think you might be able to do some species of rainbows?

[Fish for the top portion?]

I agree with @Ruud that a lot depends on whether or not you have a top/lid. If you do, I love pygmy hatchets and marble hatchets. If not, top level fish are a lot more challenging.

[Rummynose Tetra or Silvertip Tetra??]

I think it really depends on what you are looking for. Personally, I think the rummy nose look nicer in aquascaped/heavily planted setups where their schooling and red nose really stands out. If it is a more fish-focused tank, though, I think the silvertips have more engaging behavior and are more... interactive? It is rare that you get a tetra/small fish that will engage with you.

[90B Stocking]

Gobies would be great! I am just worried about them in a rimless setup. I've been told they are real escape artists...

I think I might be ok on dilution given the amount of Biohome that I've got going. In the past I have been able to get a complete cycle (eliminating/dramatically reducing nitrates through anaerobic bacteria) using it, though that cycle does often take a long time to get going. I am definitely worried about space on the bottom though between the Apistos and cories. Maybe I am better off with just the Apistos and gouramis for both dilution/filtration and space perspectives...

[90B Stocking]

I am looking for some stocking advice. I have a 90B (3 foot bookshelf tank-  36 inches by 8 x 10 - 12 gallons) that is set up with wood from ADG in Houston, La Plata Sand, dragon stone, a dwarf aquarium lily that has yet to sprout and lots of different Anubias (petite and golden from the coop and some rarer varieties like paxing that I picked up on aqua bid and such). It has lots of filtration (Fluval 307 with 4 pounds of Biohome Ultimate in it). I am adding a pair of Apistogramma macmasteri. I am thinking I would like to add 5-6 Honey Gourami instead of a schooling fish. My question is, can I get away with adding 5-6 panda cories as well? Any other suggestions for stocking would be welcomed. Pic is taken before adding any fish (other than some Clithon corona snails)... ignore the HOB filter, I just have that running with mature media to get the 307 seasoned. I promise the tank will look better soon once the Anubias anchors itself and I can remove the Wood Tight that is securing it to the wood.