Stocking Options for Fluval Flex 32.5

[zpayne10]

I've recently ordered a Fluval Flex 32.5 gallon and am FINALLY thinking about my stocking options. I do intend to go fairly heavy on the low- to medium-level plants, but I do want to make sure I have plenty of swimming life, too. Do people have recommendations on stocking options? I'd love some schools, or maybe one big school or something, and of course a show fish. Thanks in advance!

[Levi_Aquatics]

I would go with a group of corydoras of your choice, a bristlenose, and a school of guppies or other livebearers.  For a show fish I think a dwarf gourami would be a nice addition.

[lefty o]

fairly heavily planted, and want a big school.... id go with a big pile of ember tetras. 

[cavdad45]

I would get a shoal of 6-8 corys, for big schools, look at some of the tetra or rasbora varieties. 8-10 for schooling

[zpayne10]

Thanks for the initial input! What's the "max" amount of fish I could look to add? I understand the 1" to gallon rule, but it's a loose rule. Just to give myself an idea!

I had an initial list of:

M/f pair of pearl gouramis

8x phantom red tetra

8x harlequin rasbora

6-8 panda cory

I do know this would be overstocking, but maybe not? I thought about removing the corys and putting in shrimp instead, especially if I wanted something like dwarf hairgrass in the tank.

Edited November 17, 2022 by zpayne10

[cavdad45]

instead of pearl ghouramis, look at  honey ghouramis for a lighter bioload, as well as playing well with others

[zpayne10]

@cavdad45 could I get a pair, or would it be best advised to do a single one?

[cavdad45]

I have a pair in a 20-gallon with Endlers and cories. 

[Scapexghost]

I would do a school of tiger barbs, maybe one of the smaller, more docile c/sa cichlids as a centerpiece. Could add swordtails as well, i find they do well with tiger barbs.

[JettsPapa]

On 11/17/2022 at 12:04 PM, Levi_Aquatics said:

I would go with a group of corydoras of your choice, a bristlenose, and a school of guppies or other livebearers.  For a show fish I think a dwarf gourami would be a nice addition.

I would not recommend a dwarf gourami.  It's difficult to find one that's healthy and won't kill everything else in the tank.

On 11/17/2022 at 12:44 PM, cavdad45 said:

instead of pearl ghouramis, look at  honey ghouramis for a lighter bioload, as well as playing well with others

I don't disagree with honey gouramis for the centerpiece, but pearl gouramis are rarely aggressive toward other species if they're kept in groups instead of single.

Here's my recommendation:

• For the centerpiece, 3 pearl gouramis or 5 honey gouramis, with females outnumbering males.
• Ten or so of your favorite mid-size rasbora, tetra, etc.  I'm a big fan of serpae tetras, especially in planted tanks, but there are many good options.  I also like black neon tetras, lemon tetras, and pristella tetras, and they have been pretty much trouble free for me.
• 6-8 of one of the smaller Corydoras species

or.

• a pair of Bolivian rams for the centerpiece, skip the corys (since the rams spend most of their time near the bottom), and up the mid-size shoaling fish to 15 or so.

[zpayne10]

@JettsPapa I love the recommendation! I had never considered the rams, but a quick search...wow! They look incredible. Is it pretty easy to sex them to get a pair?

[JettsPapa]

On 11/17/2022 at 2:13 PM, zpayne10 said:

@JettsPapa I love the recommendation! I had never considered the rams, but a quick search...wow! They look incredible. Is it pretty easy to sex them to get a pair?

I believe it's somewhat difficult when they're young, but much easier when they approach maturity (much like most gouramis).

[zpayne10]

Bump in case others have opinions on a stocking list!

[Patrick_G]

Corydoras for sure! After that I’d consider some nano fish since it’s a relatively small tank. Chili rasboras, Green neon tetras, Honey gourami are a few that come to mind. 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

Ember Tetras for a schooling fish. You could get many more of them than you could Harlequins as they get rather large.