Does this sound like a good tank setup to you?

Question

30 gallon tank:
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4 mollies
4 platies
4 swordtails
7 cory cats

Does that sound like a good setup?

Answer 1

That's a little tight...
If you go by the 1 inch per gallon rule (which does not really apply, but anyway), you have to take into account that mollies and swordtails can easily reach 2.5 - 3 inches, and that platies can hit 2 inches, and that corydoras can reach 2-3" depending on species. Also, it's best to understock at first, in case you decide you like another fish, later. I suggest:

3 mollies OR 4 swordtails
3 platies
5 corydoras julii or sterbai

Get 1 male and 2 females when you get the mollies and platies. In the future, if you wanted to, you could add another female molly and platy, OR if you saw, say, a dwarf gourami that you loved, you could get that.

I don't advice getting a plecostomus (sucker fish). Most species grow to 12-24 inches. The smaller Bushy-Nosed plecos can grow to 5-6" and would be cramped in a 30 gallon. They are high waste producers and should be given 8 gallons per inch of fish (adult size).

Answer 2

This sounds like a bit much. A full grown molly will be 2-5 inches in length. Black molly are 2-3 inches, sail fins 4-5, and the rest being hybrid fill some where between. Like wise the platty, and swords will grow to 2-3 inches. (Swords don't count.)

Honestly the 1 inch per 1 gallon is only useful for preventing beginners from over loading their tanks. Also consider a 50 gallon tank, as it's easier to care for. In real life it's going to depend on the following:
0)If you cycle your tank, and put no more than 2 fish a week in.
1)How well you watch your ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels.
2)How good your filter is, and how well you take care of it.
3)How often you clean the tank, and do partial water replacements.
4)If you over feed.

My advice is to cycle the tank, then start putting in 1-2 fish a week. Get a good filter with a dry wet wheel. Watch the ammonia, and nitrate levels. Eventually you'll reach the point where the nitrate levels build up faster than yo are willing to change water long term. If you find ammonia levels start spiking every time you add more fish, then you need more/better filtering. (Or you're adding fish too fast.)

PS- Before you buy fish check your water harness. If you have a low kH consider not buy molly as they need harder water. Also consider not having the cory cats. Molly, guppy, swordtail, and platy can take a lot of salt, and it prevents some diseases. Normal table salt is fin, but if your water is soft aquarium salt might help the molly. Take a look at liveaquaria.com and the pH, and kH preferences fish. Life is easier if you fit the fish to your water.

Answer 3

Yeah, as BettaChris reported, you received't ought to attend to fry, so that you're in fantastic condition. in case you've room for yet another different fish besides. possibly a Dwarf Gourami? they are very non violent in course of alternative species and an stunning blue Dwarf Gourami would seem large with your orange/pink Platies. Soop Nazi EDIT: The wast output of four man or woman Ghost Shrimp isn't that a lot diverse than that of a Gourami (and that is with the help of no ability a huge fish at 2 inches as an man or woman).

Answer 4

I would cut down to no more than 3 of the each because of the size they will acquire and then add a couple Tetras. The tetras are very active vigorous fish, and will give a visual quality to the tank, and there is a huge variety of tetras to choose from.But, that's my personal thing more regarding tank aesthetics than anything else. Good luck!

Answer 5

Sounds pretty good. With only 19 fish in a thirty gallon tank, you might be able to up it to about 6 or 7 of each. I believe the rule of thumb is still one inch of tropical fish per gallon of water.

I would make sure you have lots of live plants, like hornwart or anacharis, since you have so many live breeders.

Additionally, one or two sucker mouth fish to keep the glass clean, either a traditional chinese algae eater or a flavor of plecostomus.

I'm partial to egg-layers myself, particularly since mollies are so prone to ick, etc.

Answer 6

It does! Remember that with platies and swordtails, you need to have more females than males so there won't be as much aggression and sexual harassment (!) and they are very closely related so will interbreed.

Answer 7

if you had a 60 gls tank yes, but not for this one