🏠The Platy tank: 80 L, hardware and start-up

Platy : A tank of at least 80 L, planted, with a trio of one male to two or three females to spread out harassment. Plan a solution for the monthly batches of fry.

In short: 4 to 6 cm as an adult, 80 L minimum for a group, water between 20 and 26 °C. Hardy, calm and always busy in midwater, it is one of the easiest community fish to house together. A prolific livebearer that thrives in hard alkaline water: plan for managing the monthly batches of fry.

80 litres minimum: why that number

For a group of 5+ Platy reaching 6 cm as an adult, plan 80 real litres — and remember a big tank is more STABLE, hence easier, than a small one: parameters drift slowly, leaving time to correct. This volume suits a sturdy standard cabinet — just verify perfect levelness.

Hardware: filter, heater, lighting

A filter turning the volume over three to five times an hour, a heater around 1 W per litre set to 20 to 26°C, backed by an independent thermometer — built-in thermostats sometimes lie, and lighting on a timer at 8 to 10 hours a day: any longer and the algae win.

Substrate, plants and start-up

Nutrient substrate under fine sand or quartz, robust plants (anubias, vallisneria, Java moss) and wood to structure the territory. Then patience: a complete nitrogen cycle (3 to 4 weeks, nitrites back to zero) before the first Platy — the step every hurried beginner pays for dearly.

Frequently asked questions

What tank size for Platys?

A real 80 litres minimum for a group of 5+ — below that, parameters drift too fast to catch.

Does a Platy need a heater?

Yes, about 1 W per litre set to 20 to 26°C, with an independent thermometer double-checking the thermostat.

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