Beginner60 L
Rainbow platy tank (60 L)
Ten colours in one species: red, blue, tiger, mickey — pick yours.
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Platy is a tough livebearer. Every imaginable strain is on sale: coral red, blue wagtail, tiger, mickey mouse.
Unlike guppies, doesn't need soft water — thrives in hard, alkaline. Ideal for hard-water regions.
Dimensions
60×30×35 cm
Temperature
20–28°C
pH
7–8.3
gH
10–25 °dGH
Setup time
3 wks
Budget
≈ $160
Total fish
10
Fish (10)
- Platy× 6
- Bronze Corydoras× 4
Plants (7)
Invertebrates (5)
- Cherry Shrimp× 5
Setup Checklist
Essential gear and water prep needed before adding fish
0 of 8 ready
- ≈ $32Internal filterEssential
- ≈ $22
- ≈ $5ThermometerCare
- ≈ $35Basic 6500K LED lightBase
- ≈ $25Inert substrate (2–5 mm gravel)Base
- ≈ $12Water conditioner (dechlorinator)Essential
Seachem Prime or Tetra AquaSafe — instantly detoxifies chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metals
- ≈ $25Liquid drop test kit (pH, NH₃/NH₄, NO₂, NO₃)Recommended
API Freshwater Master Test Kit or liquid drop tests to monitor nitrogen cycle
- ≈ $15Fish net & gravel vacuum siphonCare
Soft fish net matched to fish size + gravel vacuum siphon for weekly 20–30% water changes
Decor
- Natural rock (Seiryu / Dragon Stone)× 3
- Natural driftwood (mangrove or mopani)× 1
Tips & gotchas
- Ratio 1 male per 2 females. Females drop fry every 4–6 weeks — set up a nursery.
- Feed includes plant content (spirulina) — otherwise colours fade.
- Don't mix breeding lines — offspring become muddy.
- 25 % water change weekly.