Stocking plan
Plan a freshwater tank stocking
Set volume, add species with the numbers you actually plan to keep, and get a conservative verdict for the whole stocking — bioload, group size, zone crowding, and multi-species conflicts, not a single pair in isolation. Use the editor first; the planning notes below explain why a pairwise match still needs a tank-level check.
Shared plan · RISKY
Tank volume is below published minima for at least one species — shop size is not adult swimming space. Review supporting points next, then re-run the check.
Primary issue: Tank volume is below published minima for at least one species — shop size is not adult swimming space. Hard conflicts on file (water, pairing, size, or bettas) — resolve red items before fine-tuning decor or food. 8 fish across 3 species in 40L. Shared temperature 24–28°C. Stocking: balanced (load index 17 vs ref 40).
Your stock
Tank volume is below published minima for at least one species — shop size is not adult swimming space. Review supporting points next, then re-run the check.
One or more species profiles are only partially verified or need verification — treat numbers as planning guidance, not guarantees. Elevated risk verdict — we bias toward safety; your reading of specialist sources still matters.
Pair compatibility for any two species · Fish library
Critical problems
- Ember Tetra needs about 45L minimum for adult size (~2cm) and normal swimming space — your 40L tank is below that. Shop size is not adult size.
- Chili Rasbora is a schooling/shoaling species — keeping only 1 is a serious welfare risk; aim for at least 8.
- Ember Tetra is a schooling/shoaling species — keeping only 1 is a serious welfare risk; aim for at least 8.
Water overlap
What every fish can share at the same time
Shared temperature: 24–28°C
Shared pH: 5.0–7.0
Shared temperature range for all species: 24–28°C.
Shared pH window: 5.0–7.0.
Stocking pressure
balanced
Load index 17 vs conservative reference 40 for 40L (adult cm × quantity × bioload weight × territory factor).
Swim-zone distribution
Fish-weighted zone use — top 3.0, middle 5.0, bottom 0.0 (relative biomass per level).
Most biomass leans toward one swim level — shy fish may feel exposed or outcompeted at feeding time.
Compatibility summary
Species pairing: needs care
warning· other- Sparkling Gourami + Ember Tetra: Sparkling Gourami + Ember Tetra: Tank may be too small. Sparkling Gourami and Ember Tetra together need at least 45 litres. Your tank is 40 litres. Outcomes still depend on your tank shape, maintenance routine, and individual fish.
- Chili Rasbora + Ember Tetra: Chili Rasbora + Ember Tetra: Tank may be too small. Chili Rasbora and Ember Tetra together need at least 45 litres. Your tank is 40 litres. Outcomes still depend on your tank shape, maintenance routine, and individual fish.
Pairs checked: 3 · RISKY pair flags: 0 · CAUTION: 2
Fix this setup
Grouped by scenario — work through each block in order
Volume & minimum tank
- 1.Increase tank size to at least 45L, or remove Ember Tetra from this stocking plan.
Schooling & group sizes
- 1.Add more Chili Rasbora to reach at least 8 individuals, or remove the species.
- 2.Add more Ember Tetra to reach at least 8 individuals, or remove the species.
Suggested swaps
- Single-biome community: e.g. soft-water South Americans together (tetras + corydoras + small gourami) — run the pair tool for every add-on.
- Species or centrepiece tank: one main species (or one compatible pair group) in a right-sized aquarium with dither fish from the same water profile — not random continent mixing.
- Where a pleco is the volume problem, consider bristlenose pleco instead of common pleco for sub-200L plans.
Beginner difficulty
advanced
- Includes intermediate species — stable parameters matter.
- Serious compatibility or tank-size issues — not a beginner layout until resolved.
Schooling / group size
- Chili Rasbora is a schooling/shoaling species — keeping only 1 is a serious welfare risk; aim for at least 8.
- Ember Tetra is a schooling/shoaling species — keeping only 1 is a serious welfare risk; aim for at least 8.
Fish behaviour varies. Fishori gives conservative planning guidance based on adult size, temperament, tank size and common aquarium care sources.