r/Rainbowfish

Hi! I'm new to this forum and new to rainbow fish. I'm hoping you all can offer some advice.

I recently purchased 5 Pseudomugil Tellenus rainbows. They tend to hide in the water lettuce at the back of the tank, so I don't really get to see them much. I'm thinking of getting more, and maybe getting some Pseudomugil gertrudae as well. (These are the species available in my area.) I'd also really like to get some cardinals and blue emperor tetras as mid-water fish. I am wondering if everyone would get along and not bully each other. I've read conflicting information.

My current set up is a 20L with pants and a HOB. Water parameters are always good. I do have about 20 panda corys. Bought 5 five and they magically turned into so many more. I'm going to get rid of a bunch so I can add other fish.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice you might have.

So I was hoping to breed my luminatus rainbowfish (for myself mostly) and I was hoping to keep them with the parents in the same tank but in a breeding net/box. The one I bought though has mesh that’s way too big. Is there a way to keep the eggs and fry in the same tank but separated so the adults don’t eat them?

Any other type of net or box that can stay in the tank?

First time keeping rainbow fish, picked up a small school of 6 Kali tawa (4 boys and 2 girls) from LFS. I put them in my planted high tech tank with a few Corydoras and tetras. They don’t seem to be the happiest campers - hiding a decent amount, not swimming aggressive at feeding time.

I read they might not like CO2 and subsequently lower O2 levels. Has anyone done it successfully ? Any tips / tricks ? Maybe they just need a little time to settle in, or maybe a bigger school ?