Bristlenose in Colony?

hey bristlenoeseworld, so i was wondering what would happen if i just dropped 1-2 regular BN males and 3-5 females into a 55 gal guppy colony? the pH is around 7.5 and the temp is around 80. The filter is a cascade canister 1000 (rated for 100gal) and i do 30% water changes every other day. Also there is a little more salt in the water than usual, but it's not brackish by any means. there's plenty of drift wood and plants in the tank for the babies to hide in/ graze on. I'd just add a cave or two per male. The guppies are fed flakes and blood worms, the plecos would be fed algae wafers, cucumbers, carrots, and peas.

Would they breed in these conditions?

Also, once the babies hatch could I just leave them in there until they were an inch or so?

If the water parameters are too off, would this basic set up work with different pH, temp, etc.?

yep yep and yep

though the breeding would sporadic at best. Bristlenose like soft, acidic water. Guppies on the other hand will live in anything short of oil. I would try and get the pH a bit lower. a bit more driftwood or some peat in the filter will do the trick.

Doug wrote:

Guppies on the other hand will live in anything short of oil.

That made me laugh out loud- glad I wasn't drinking coffee at the time or I'd need a new keyboard

well I have the pH that high for the breeding guppy colony which is the main focus of that tank or I would drop the pH. I usually wouldn't put 2 fish with different pH preferances in the same tank, but i've heard from several BN breeders that having guppies in the tank induces the plecos to "get busy" is this true?

there is some evidence to suggest this. nothing solid but there is solid evidence that other fish follow this pattern.

when i had guppies i used to breed them in rain water, pH 6.8...perfect for birstlenose