They are actually pretty easy to spawn, but I would suggest to go for a low-tech planted setup for easier maintenance. Provide some easy plants like Anubias sp. or Microsorum sp. for hiding places, and also some moss. I am of the opinion that the dimmer lighting would help the fish be more comfortable with their environment.
If the intention of setting up the tank is just for breeding, then I would go with a pair or a trio. They are egg scaterers. After spawning, I would suggest to remove them as they may eat the eggs or newly hatched fries, and leave the fries to grow up in the tank.
If you intend to just leave them for nature to take its own course, then you can stock more fish, probably six fish (3 pairs or 2 trios). For this setup, use as much moss as possible, so that the fish will find it more difficult to reach the eggs/fries and also provide infusoria for the fries. Then you can leave all of them in the tank.
They aren't all too fussy about water, but I am not too sure about the high pH and hard water. I would go with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 (or lower). They spawned for me in a plastic tank, with lots of moss, sponge filter and no adjustment of water parameters at all (the pH is probably close to 7.0 on either side).
As mentioned, they are not difficult to spawn and in my experience, the most difficult part is raising the fries, which I admittedly neglected them too much to ensure their eventual survival.
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