Stocking Options

[Neemod]

Hey guys and gals,

Well my 29g is nearing the end of its cycle and I needed to finalize my stocking options. So that's why I came to you, I want to know if what I decided on is appropriate for my tank and suitable in compatibility for the fishes.

Here's the background information. Its a 29g Planted tank, it has a HOB Aquaclear 70 filter, with little caves here and there from driftwood. And I plan on doing weekly 30% water changes

My first stocking idea was as follows

A Betta
A school of Tetras (Glass Bloodfins, Silver tip, Glowlight, X-ray tetras only)
And a Rainbow Shark

However i know that tetras could be nippy and the betta has fancy little fins so that might not work, plus I know the shark can grow up to 6'' which could also be a problem not to mention it being territorial. So I thought up of a back up stocking option if you guys say that the previous is a no go.

A Dwarf Gourami
A school of Tetras
A school of Pygmy Corys

The only problem I see with this is that I have medium sized gravel (not sand) and I know that corys have sensitive barbels, so could that be a problem?

And to be clear about the school of tetras, they will all be one kind not a mixed school of all the ones I listed. I just don't know which yet

I need advice on whether or not those are okay stocking options to go with and if its overstocked or not.
Or opinions of other fish similar to these that could work as substitutes

So give me your nays or yays, ill check back when i wake up:shappy:

[jaysee]

I like your second plan better than the first. As far as pygmy corys go, in a 29G you could get a mess of them, like 10-12. I'm not really into tetras so no comment there. A dwarf gourami is good, but I would suggest a pair of pearl gouramis if you want centerpiece type fish. Depending how many/big the tetras are, you could do the dwarf and the pearls.

I wouldn't worry about your gravel. Once it's been in the water for a little the rough edges aren't so rough anymore.

[DrNic]

I've got a 29G that is pretty much the same as your second setup. A school of neons (about 25 at the moment), a school of corries (4-5), and I'm still trying to find dwarf gouramis at the moment.

It's an overall great tank. My only dissapointment is that the neons don't school as much as I thought they would. Initially when the school was smaller they would school a bit. Not that the school is bigger they all just kind of have their areas in the tank that they hang out in. I'm hoping that getting something bigger in there (the gourami) will help encourage schooling behavior.

[gm72]

Your second plan would make a very nice tank. I don't like the idea of the shark in such a small tank.

[Red]

Cories will be fine in med. sized gravel. I like the second opition as well..

[Gayle]

I like option two!!!!! Sounds wonderful!!!! Cant wait to see pics!!!

[Neemod]

Good morning everyone (or afternoon)
Thanks so much for all the replies:19:

Looks like I will go with option two
As far as the quantity that I can put in there of each what do you guys think would be best?

Maybe 1 Dwarf Gourami, 10 Tetras, 10 Corys?

Is that too much? too little? just right?
Maybe you guys can balance the numbers out better than I can :hmm3grin2orange:

And I still don't know out of the ones I listed (Glass Bloodfins, Silver tip, Glowlight, X-ray tetras) which i will go with. They all grow under 2'' with the X-ray and bloodfins growing bigger so I might not choose those.

[robflanker]

I liked option 2 because its exactly what I am doing! im moving my 10g contents to a 10g and beefing up the school

I'm relatively new at numbers but your numbers make sense to me. Maybe even bigger schools of tetras/corys. You could maybe get a CAE/SAE too (someone trouble shoot that for me)

Nic - there are DG down this way if you're ever in CT

[Jv Torres]

i like the 2nd option better.
give us some pics? :19:

[Neemod]

Alright, well Im going to stick with the numbers I have now, then see later on from my own experience if I can add more

And ill get pics when I can get all of the fished homed in therethumbs2: