Setting up a new 29g, need stocking advices!

[angc84]

Hi guys,
I will be setting up a new 29g tank. I currently have a 12g that has 4 glowlight neons, 3 black neons, 3 sunburst platies, and 1 CAE.

I am planning to do a fishless cycle for three weeks. I will be attempting my first "planted" aquarium, as well as silica sand substrate. I'd like to move my tetras to the 29g once it's done cycling, and complete their schools.

So I will have

6 glowlight neons
6 black neons
1 CAE

What else can I have in my 29g? I know it's all too early to say, but I am excited!!

[Red]

1-2 dwarf gouramis? And maybe up the schools 1-2 more. And instead of a CAE something like a bristlenose pleco for algae?

[angc84]

1-2 dwarf gouramis? And maybe up the schools 1-2 more. And instead of a CAE something like a bristlenose pleco for algae?

Thank you,

I already bought the CAE a few days ago and I've decided to keep him...I guess I get too attached to my fish too quickly. He's still a cute little baby and has been behaving in my little community tank. I am well aware of their "aggressive as they mature" reputation, but I'd like to give it a shot. He also cleaned my tank inside out!

Upping the school is a great idea. =) I initially mixed the glowlights and black neons because my LFS people have told me that they school just fine. However, over the course of the months I noticed that they school during tank cleaning time, but the rest of the time they still like to stay with their own species. I feel terrible for keeping them at such small school.

As of the dwarf gouramis, I've heard that CAE and dwarf gouramis would not be compatible tank mates? I love the look of dwarf gouramis, but I guess my CAE really limits the type of fish I can put in my new tank...

So my stock so far will likely be...

8 glowlight tetras
8 black neon tetras
1 CAE



Also, would I be able to add all the fish in my 29g once it's cycled? I am planning on using ammonia solution to cycle my tank. Will my bacteria colony be large enough to support the addition of 17 fish at once?

[Red]

I would add 1-2 fish every week, and it will build up the bacteria colony.
Also I think your CAE will get along with all fish, or no fish at all. (if that makes sense). I think this could be your final stocking
8 neons
8 glolights
2 dwarf gouramis
1 CAE
I would add the gouramis last, about 2 months after the tank parameters stay stable.
EDIT: The only time fish usually school, is when there unsafe about the surrounding area, like when you stick your hands in the tank and clean, so when there not schooling, it means they feel safe, which sometimes is due to the low numbers, but not in your case.

[PostalPenguin]

29g tank is a good tank for a pair of angels. Im not sure if they'll get along with the neons though since they may view them as lunch.

[angc84]

I would add 1-2 fish every week, and it will build up the bacteria colony.

I've read that I can add a larger number of fish once the cycle is completed if I am using the fishless cycle method. I mean, the excessive bacteria will die off without enough nutrient? However, I suppose it's always better to be safe than sorry. =)

Also I think your CAE will get along with all fish, or no fish at all. (if that makes sense).

Exactly! I can only hope that my CAE will continue to behave. I will try my best at keeping him fed. =)

I would add the gouramis last, about 2 months after the tank parameters stay stable.

Thanks for this advice!

EDIT: The only time fish usually school, is when there unsafe about the surrounding area, like when you stick your hands in the tank and clean, so when there not schooling, it means they feel safe, which sometimes is due to the low numbers, but not in your case.

I understand that. I just felt that they would be happier to have a larger group of their own to swim around with. =)

By the way, what about some female betta instead of dwarf gouramis? How many can I add? I have so much trouble suppressing the temptation of rescuing those female betta whenever I see them sitting in those tiny containers forever...they are beautiful fish even without the large fin of male betta...

Also, if I am making this tank a tetra tank, should I be using dark substrate instead of silica sand, which is light-colored? I'd love to get those Tahitian Moon Sand but it's too pricy. What is a good alternative to Tahitian Moon Sand? It would be nice to get the tetra's color to shine. =)

[angc84]

29g tank is a good tank for a pair of angels. Im not sure if they'll get along with the neons though since they may view them as lunch.


Aww. I wish! I've read that Angel fish and CAE together spell disaster. =(

Angel fish are definitely beautiful!

Thank you =)

[PostalPenguin]

I think 3M's color quartz sand comes in a black. If you can find it I believe it is quite cheap.

[Red]

Female bettas would be great, make sure to add them 3-4 at the same time, for they can establish there terriotoies at the same time, and I would also add these last :)

[angc84]

Female bettas would be great, make sure to add them 3-4 at the same time, for they can establish there terriotoies at the same time, and I would also add these last :)


Hehe. Thanks!

BTW...are the female betta somewhat of a fast swimmer? male betta swim so slowly! I hope the female betta would be able to swim away fast enough, in case the CAE chase them...

[angc84]

I think 3M's color quartz sand comes in a black. If you can find it I believe it is quite cheap.

M's color quartz sand?! Where can I find those besides online? Hardware store or fish store? xD

Thank you!

[Red]

Yeah, I know what you mean, when I watch my males swim around my 75, they are like in slow motion. Females swim a little faster.

[angc84]

Yeah, I know what you mean, when I watch my males swim around my 75, they are like in slow motion. Females swim a little faster.


That's the charm, though! Plus their little dances. =D

[Kaz]

I reccomend only one Dwarf gourami.

[pandalize]

I'm a HUGE fan of German Blue Rams (Gold rams are okay, too, just not as pretty :P) and neon blue dwarf gouramis. They both have sooo much personality, and are great community fish.

[Fraoch]

I am planning to do a fishless cycle for three weeks.

...or whenever the cycle decides it's finished. It's taken a lot longer for some on this forum.

[jaysee]

Hi guys,
I will be setting up a new 29g tank. I currently have a 12g that has 4 glowlight neons, 3 black neons, 3 sunburst platies, and 1 CAE.

I am planning to do a fishless cycle for three weeks.

If you already have an established tank, why are you going to go through the cycle process with the new one? Practice? Just take media from the existing tank and put it in the new filter and add a few fish.

[angc84]

I am going to do fishless cycle because I'd like to establish a larger colony before transferring my fish. I AM using my existing media to seed my new tank and I cannot see how it would take much longer than three weeks. High temp, high oxygen, and lots of lighting should also help too. Three weeks is only an approximation...you don't need to take that too seriously. =p Well, at least it's an optimistic approximation.

[angc84]

I'm a HUGE fan of German Blue Rams (Gold rams are okay, too, just not as pretty :P) and neon blue dwarf gouramis. They both have sooo much personality, and are great community fish.


GBRs are beautiful! Too bad I will not be able to consider them until my new tank is somewhat more established. =( and that would be at least 3 months later! I saw your thread, though! Your new tank is beautiful. =)

[angc84]

I reccomend only one Dwarf gourami.


Thanks for the advice. =)

[Fraoch]

I AM using my existing media to seed my new tank and I cannot see how it would take much longer than three weeks. High temp, high oxygen, and lots of lighting should also help too. Three weeks is only an approximation...you don't need to take that too seriously. =p Well, at least it's an optimistic approximation.

Ahh - well if you're using old media then yes, three weeks is a generous timescale.

I just thought you were trying to "schedule" a biological process.:ssmile: Kind of reminds me of my nephew - my sister-in-law wondered why his development didn't follow all the books she was reading.

[jaysee]

There's nothing wrong with building up your colony. However, if your just going to transfer your fish to the new tank, I think you're safe to do half immediately and the rest in a couple weeks. If they were my fish I would put them all in immediately. They aren't high waste producers and the concentration of ammonia in the water will be much less because of the larger volume.

IMO and IME it is unneccessary to "cycle" a tank when using seeded media.

[angc84]

Ahh - well if you're using old media then yes, three weeks is a generous timescale.

I just thought you were trying to "schedule" a biological process.:ssmile: Kind of reminds me of my nephew - my sister-in-law wondered why his development didn't follow all the books she was reading.


Thanks for the concern, anyhow!

I just got the tank today...I will be posting my progress. I am not going to start until July, since I am waiting for my TMS to arrive in the mail. =)

[angc84]

There's nothing wrong with building up your colony. However, if your just going to transfer your fish to the new tank, I think you're safe to do half immediately and the rest in a couple weeks. If they were my fish I would put them all in immediately. They aren't high waste producers and the concentration of ammonia in the water will be much less because of the larger volume.

IMO and IME it is unneccessary to "cycle" a tank when using seeded media.



My platies definitely poop quite a bit! Anyways, I will take your advice into serious consideration. =) Not like I don't spend half of my day thinking about how I am going to set up my tank already...

I will not start the new tank until July. I will be posting about it!

[jaysee]

I spend half the day thinking about how I am going to update my tanks, so it never ends :hmm3grin2orange: