Newbie advice please

[CatsandOatcakes]

Hi there. I would like to set up a tropical tank. Water parameters are
GH 13.79
Nitrates 31.69
PH 7.35
What fishes will thrive in this environment?
I have a 60 L tank
I'm putting live plants in. Will I need to cycle the tank?. Any help would really be appreciated.

[CatsandOatcakes]

Any fishy people out there 🐟🐠🐟?

[CatsandOatcakes]

Still needing help mumsnetters. I've planted the tank and have decided to cycle it using fish food. Any fish suggestions. Please?

[bunnygeek]

You will still need to cycle the tank, do lots of reading on fishless cycling with fish food - be aware that some more fragile plants can suffer during the ammonia spike.

For fish suggestions, a 60 litre isn't huge but would work for a small shoal of something like Neon Tetra-sized fish. I would avoid female livebearers. Did you have a species preference?

[CatsandOatcakes]

Any fish that likes the conditions is acceptable. I like platys and guppys. I hear Rasbora like hard water.
Why not female live bearers ?

[bunnygeek]

At that level you're fairly neutral so most commonly sold species will be fine. Rasboras would work well, Harlequins are good and look great against a planted back drop. Platys might get a bit too big and boisterous for a 60 litre.

No females as you'll rapidly become way overstocked with babies! Unless you plan on breeding a more unusual livebearer of course, such as Metallic Livebearers. There is no market whatsoever for pet-shop quality common Livebearers, but go for a more unusual one and a decent aquatics shop may buy back or at least give you store credit for babies. I used to breed Metallics in a 65 litre, they're not as prolific as Guppies so you don't get overstocked. Purebred Endlers are also an option if you want babies, again not quite as prolific but if you want to be able to rehome them, you need to get a really nice strain of them (not the pet shop mutt ones!).

[CatsandOatcakes]

I am slightly concerned about the Nitrates as it comes out of the tap at about 32ppm. I've put some Amazon frog bit in the tank to help with this.

[bunnygeek]

Nitrates around 30ppm are fine, worry if they go over 60ppm. It's nitrites and ammonia, any reading at all of those, which will be a bigger issue. Make sure you do a proper acclimatisation for new fish.