Who Gives A Fish Forums

A friend of mine is thinking of getting some fish for their tank, which is 35x59x31cm, and their general hardness is quite high at 400ppm. I'd like to suggest some fish, specifically bottom dwellers, but I'm not sure what to recommend given the water hardness. I've heard some people say most fish can adapt to hard water, but I'm not convinced that's entirely true. I thought I'd check in with you guys before suggesting any fish that typically thrive in softer water, as I have no experience with fish in harder water. The tank's dimensions, by the way, are 35cm in length, 59cm in height, and 31cm in depth. Thanks for any advice.

Hello bereb, I've got just the thing for a small tank like that. Platies are one of the best options - they're incredibly hardy and can handle most water conditions. They're also pretty affordable and come in a variety of colors, which is a definite plus. Given the size of the tank, I'd say six or so is the maximum you should keep. To keep them thriving, regular water changes are a must - aim for about half the tank every three to four days. Feeding them sparingly, just a little every day or two, will really bring out their colors and ensure they stick around for a while. And who knows, you might even get some little ones in the future.

I'm not sure about the tank dimensions - 59cm high seems quite tall for a footprint of 31x35cm. That's an unusual shape, and with a relatively small base, it's best suited for smaller fish. Platies might be a bit too large for this tank, considering its footprint. Endlers could work, size-wise, and they seem to tolerate higher hardness levels. Alternatively, you could consider one of the smaller rainbowfish species, such as Pseudomugil furcatus. However, be aware that 400ppm is too high for many Pseudomugil species.

I think there's been a mix-up with the tank dimensions - it's unlikely the tank is 59cm high. While platies might be a bit too large for this tank, there are plenty of unusual, small livebearers that would be a good fit. Many fish can tolerate moderately hard water, but 400ppm is exceptionally hard - I wouldn't recommend putting soft water fish in a tank with such high levels.

@sSjey @sidthy I appreciate you guys bringing this up. I got them to send me the link to the tank, it's this one: https://interpet.co.uk/product/aquarium ... /#features.

Now that we know the actual dimensions, I think stocking the tank just got a lot easier. The 59 x 31 cm footprint is a decent size, and the 35.5 cm height shouldn't be a major issue. I was concerned it might be a tall, narrow cylinder, but it seems that's not the case. Platies could work well in a tank of this shape, and I think they'd be a good option to consider.

Endlers are a possibility, I mentioned them earlier as a suitable option size-wise for the original tank dimensions, and they seem to be okay with water hardness around 400ppm.