Stocked 30 Gallon - Opinions

[Obsessive]

Hi,

New here and *relatively* new to aquariums. While I've had a 10 gallon for the last several years, I recently moved to a 30 gallon (36"W). The tank has been cycled.

I have the following setup, and would like opinions on stocking. I have followed recommendations from local aquarium shops on the size of fish, but I would like a more 'global' opinion.

-36"W 30 Gallon
-Penguin 200B
-150 watt heater
-Medium decoration density with driftwood and natural rocks for cover. Both tall and short plants (fake)
-Hood with florescent light

I have the following fish...

-6 Lemon Tetras
-One Pleco (5"-He's about 1yr old and actually was the 'one' who prompted the larger tank)
-One Rosy Barb (3" - came from old tank)
-One Honey Gourami (3" - came from old tank)
-10 Neon Tetras (5 from old tank, 5 just purchased)
-Two Dwarf Powder-blue Gouramis (just purchased)
-One Zebra Danio (she was one of the original two 10 gallon cycling fish - after I took a 2yr hiatus)

I'm thinking this is all I should get, as the pleco will get large.

I would appreciate input. Also, I do have a powerhead rated for a 30 gallon, should I install in this tank? It did come out of a 10 gallon, and I used it for the undergravel filter in the 10gal + oxygenation.

Eric

[MandyL]

First off, sorry to say it, but that Pleco will not last in that tank long. They get 12-14" long and need something like a 125gal.

Besides that, you are pretty much stocked even with just the other fish. It's unfortunate that you don't have room for a proper school for the barb and for the danio. Personally I would see if the LFS would take those 2 fish, as they are going to be stressed without a school in your tank.

Are the gouramis all male? You'll have to watch them closely for aggression as they don't do well with other males.

[Obsessive]

First off, sorry to say it, but that Pleco will not last in that tank long. They get 12-14" long and need something like a 125gal.

Besides that, you are pretty much stocked even with just the other fish. It's unfortunate that you don't have room for a proper school for the barb and for the danio. Personally I would see if the LFS would take those 2 fish, as they are going to be stressed without a school in your tank.

Are the gouramis all male? You'll have to watch them closely for aggression as they don't do well with other males.

Well, the Danio was a leftover and schools with the lemon tetras or the neons. She's a pretty laid back fish (remember, it was one of two from my re-cycling of my 10 gallon). I'm not a big fan of them, and only bought a pair on the advice of the LFS.

I will give the pleco up when he gets too big. There's NO WAY I want a freaked out 10" fish in a 30 gallon tank. I plan on giving him to my LFS for a proper home. I'm not going to torture him.

Not sure on how to sex the Gouramis. They all seem to get along. Actually, my Honey Gourami and the Barb hang out together a lot, but the blues seem skittish. The barb is rather timid when I come around, but has a protected corner he hangs out in and when I'm not close, he hangs out with the others

Actually, minus the pleco and the rosy barb, I followed the stocking suggestions from another fish forum but used the minimum stock to account for the barb and pleco. Do you think that the barb would be happier in a 20 gallon with 30 other fish at the LFS?

By the way, most LFS's throw plecos at people like candy at a veterans day parade. They don't tell people that they get a foot long.

[MandyL]

I know, most LFS will do anything for a buck... No educating the customer.

Your stocking looks good without the Pleco, but I wouldn't add any more.

[Tolley]

Just a heads up. the chance that someone will take a pleco that is larger than 5" of you is very small.

[Incredulous_Ed]

ONce the pleco is gone, are you going to get rid of the rosy barb? It needs to be in a school. Other than that, I think you could ad some more neons or lemons. I dont thin gourami aggression should be a problem in a tank that size. Just amke sure there are several territories.

[Obsessive]

ONce the pleco is gone, are you going to get rid of the rosy barb? It needs to be in a school. Other than that, I think you could ad some more neons or lemons. I dont thin gourami aggression should be a problem in a tank that size. Just amke sure there are several territories.

I'll consider it... If I get rid of the pleco, maybe I can purchase one more rosy barb? I know that doesn't consitute a school, but I'm just throwing it out there.

See, the problem for me is that I don't know anyone into aquariums except for friends who have goldfish for thieir kids... I assume that I can give a single barb a better life than getting thrown in a goldfish bowl with no regular water changes, etc. I'd be glad to ship him out (for shipping costs and advice on packaging of course) for no cost for the fish. He is a beautiful red.

Also, I'll take Tolleys advice and maybe ask my LFS if they want him now (before he gets too big). Well, that is, when they get done making their move (they are moving to a new location across town).

So, question is... If the pleco is gone, what is a good fish for bottom/alge 'cleanup' that won't get too large?

Good news is that after the purchase of the powder blue gouramis and the tetras last night, everyone is getting along well. The lemons have gotten back into their routine of shoalong, so have the neons, and the gouramis/barb are hanging out together. Those gouramis are sure pretty.

[Tolley]

-6 Lemon Tetras
-One Rosy Barb
-One Honey Gourami
-10 Neon Tetras
-Two Dwarf Powder-blue Gouramis
-One Zebra Danio

Well heres what your left with. Adding another rosy barb won';t help much as they still prefer a school of atleast 6. But alkso remember rosy barbs get to 6". I'd say it would be best to take him to the lfs as well as the lone danio.

For your cleanup i'd recommened maybe 1 Bristlenose Catfish and maybe 6 Corydoras.