Best fish for a 2 feet tank
AquaLog guide · Published
In short: A 2-foot tank of 60 × 30 × 30–35 cm holds 54–63 litres of glass volume but only about 43–57 litres of real water, so many fish rated for 60 litres don't fit. Stock it with one small schooling species plus either a bottom-dwelling group or a single centrepiece fish. The three plans below pass our stocking checker at 43 litres, with group sizes and the shared temperature, pH and hardness for each.
How many litres is a 2 feet tank?
Multiply length × width × height in centimetres and divide by 1,000 to get litres. A tank sold as "2 feet" is about 60 cm (24 in) long, but its depth and height vary, so measure yours.
| Tank (length × width × height) | Glass volume | Real water (about 80–90%) |
|---|---|---|
| 60 × 30 × 30 cm | 54,000 cm³ = 54 L (14.3 US gal) | about 43–49 L |
| 2 × 1 × 1 ft (about 61 × 30.5 × 30.5 cm) | 56.6 L (15.0 US gal) | about 45–51 L |
| 60 × 30 × 35 cm | 63,000 cm³ = 63 L (16.6 US gal) | about 50–57 L |
Substrate, rocks and the gap below the rim take up room, so you have less water than the glass volume. The aquarium volume calculator works out both from your measurements.
This matters because the minimum tank size in our care guide assumes that species is the main occupant. A fish with a 60-litre minimum needs more water than even the taller 35 cm tank holds, so the plans below use only fish whose minimum is 40 litres or less.
Aquarium me kitni fish rakhni chahiye? (How many fish should go in an aquarium?)
There is no reliable formula; the old one-inch-per-gallon rule ignores adult size and waste. Start from each species' minimum tank and group size, add a few fish at a time, and let your tests decide: ammonia and nitrite at 0 ppm and nitrate under about 20–40 ppm. In practice a 2-foot tank holds one schooling species plus either a bottom-dwelling group or one centrepiece fish.
Our aquarium stocking checker compares minimum tank sizes, group sizes, shared temperature, pH and hardness, and each species' list of fish to avoid. We ran every plan below through it at 43 litres, the real water of the smallest tank above. None raised a problem; the one caution it gave is covered in Plan 3.
Plan 1: a nano shoal for soft to neutral water
| Fish | How many | Min. tank | Temperature | pH | GH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ember tetra | 10 | 40 L | 22–28 °C | 5.5–7.5 | 2–15 dGH |
| Pygmy corydoras | 8 | 40 L | 22–26 °C | 6–7.5 | 2–12 dGH |
Shared range: 22–26 °C (72–79 °F), pH 6–7.5, 2–12 dGH. Each lists the other as a good tank mate, and both stay under 3 cm, so this plan suits even the 30 cm-tall tank. You can add 10 or more cherry shrimp; the shared range then narrows to pH 6.5–7.5 and 6–12 dGH. The catch is heat: pygmy corydoras top out at 26 °C, so this tank needs a cool room or active cooling in summer.
Plan 2: livebearers for hard borewell water
| Fish | How many | Min. tank | Temperature | pH | GH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guppy | 3 or more | 40 L | 22–28 °C | 7–8.5 | 8–25 dGH |
| Nerite snail | 1–2 | 20 L | 20–28 °C | 7–8.2 | 6–20 dGH |
Shared range: 22–28 °C (72–82 °F), pH 7–8.2, 8–20 dGH. Our care guide lists the nerite snail among the guppy's good tank mates. Guppies breed relentlessly, so keep males only or plan for the fry before you buy. For a smaller fish, use endlers instead (30 L minimum, 22–29 °C, pH 7–8.5), with the same shared range alongside nerites; never keep endlers and guppies together, because they hybridise.
Plan 3: a single betta for the hottest rooms
| Fish | How many | Min. tank | Temperature | pH | GH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betta | 1 | 20 L | 24–30 °C | 6–7.5 | 2–15 dGH |
| Nerite snail (optional) | 1–2 | 20 L | 20–28 °C | 7–8.2 | 6–20 dGH |
Betta alone: 24–30 °C (75–86 °F). With nerites: 24–28 °C, pH 7–7.5, 6–15 dGH, a narrow pH window, so test before adding snails. The betta has the highest top temperature of any beginner fish small enough for this tank. Keep one betta only.
Our care guide rates the betta aggressive, which is why the stocking checker asks you to check its care page before adding anything. The nerite snail is on the betta's list of good tank mates, but guppies and cherry shrimp are on its avoid list, and pygmy corydoras and ember tetras list the betta as a fish to avoid. Watch the betta for the first few days after adding snails.
Will these plans survive an Indian summer?
| Plan | Top of the shared range |
|---|---|
| 1: ember tetras and pygmy corydoras | 26 °C (79 °F) |
| 2: guppies or endlers with nerites | 28 °C (82 °F) |
| 3: betta | 30 °C (86 °F) alone; 28 °C (82 °F) with nerites |
A sensor study of Chennai homes, reported by Down To Earth, found indoor temperatures rarely fell below 31 °C (88 °F) between October 2025 and April 2026. In a room like that none of these plans is comfortable without cooling. Shade the tank, run surface movement and a fan, and feed lightly; see how to cool an aquarium in summer.
Which fish only just miss?
| Fish | Minimum tank in our care guide |
|---|---|
| Honey gourami | 55 L |
| Harlequin rasbora | 60 L |
| Cherry barb | 60 L |
| Platy | 60 L |
| Neon tetra | 60 L |
| Dwarf gourami | 60 L |
These suit a 60-litre tank, but each needs 55 litres or more, and a 2-foot tank holds only about 43–57 litres of real water. Enter your measured water volume in the stocking checker: if it is below a fish's minimum, the checker flags that fish as too big. If you want these fish, choose a larger tank.
Which popular fish are too big for a 2 feet tank?
| Fish | Minimum tank in our care guide |
|---|---|
| Bronze corydoras | 75 L |
| Molly | 90 L |
| Swordtail | 110 L |
| Tiger barb | 110 L |
| Fancy goldfish | 150 L |
| Angelfish | 200 L |
| Oscar | 450 L |
Shops often sell these as small juveniles. Plan for the adult fish, not the one in the bag.
Our list of fish for a 60-litre tank compares every species with a minimum of 60 litres or less; for a 2-foot tank, pick those whose minimum is no more than your tank's real water. How to choose compatible tank mates explains the checks behind these plans. Signed in to AquaLog, the "Will it fit your tank?" check compares any species with your tank's size and latest temperature and pH. Try it with your tank.