120 Litre Fish Stocking Query!

Hi there  !

I have a newish 120 litre, 80cm long tank which is cycled. It is planted, Amazon sword, Anubis, floating plants etc, also has rock and wood. I have 8 cherry barbs in it.

I think my water is 270 ppm, so pretty hard. I think that's 16 degrees German, but not sure on that one. I am considering buying an RO unit so as to open up my options on what I can keep.

Either way I am looking at honey gourami as 1 option. I saw some today and there were small yellow ones, large yellow/orange ones with a black belly (male I think) and large grey ones with a stripe (female I think.) I hear they are best kept at a 1 male to 2-3 female ratio. Were the small ones I saw a different type or do they change colour as they mature? I am trying to figure out whether I am best buying mature or juveniles but want to be able to sex them.

The second opinion I was considering were apistogramma Borellis. These I believe are also best kept in a 1 male to 2-3 female ratio. Does anyone have any experience with these and were they aggressive? I am not sure if my tank is large enough for a group of 4. I may struggle to get enough females as my LFS only had males. Other places said they can order a pair or they can order what I ask for but they don't always get what they order!

Both of these species seem to tolerate water up to my ranges based on 'Seriously Fish.' I know that softer would be better for both however so I shall look at that.

Any knowledge on these 2 species is very welcome!

Thank Sue, I have ordered my RO unit so I will figure that out. I think mixing my tap water with the RO water 50/50 when I do water changes should gradually bring my tank to 135ppm / 8 degrees German, which I think is more suitable for these species.

Yes, it's a hard choice! But, I would not mix them, it will be one or the other. I suspect I will struggle to find the female apistos, I've only seen males so far in my area. I suppose I could have 1 male, but that seems a shame.

Perhaps the honeys are the best option. Can you mix the natural and yellow types? I liked the natural males. I think some of the small yellow ones I saw had stripes from head to tail, could they be females?

Out of interest are the red thick lipped gourami aggressive between males? And can they be mixed with honey gourami? I've seen some red thick lipped and some yellow honeys and they were all small and I found it hard to tell male from female. If I accidentally end up with 2 males of either type is it very likely they will be aggressive or may they be tolerant?

I do have a small 2nd tank as a back up and a LFS that often accepts returns so there is a solution probably but just curious!

That will be amusing! I will give it a try, thanks for the information!