30 gallon socking ideas

[gotpaper1981]

I have both a 30 gallon and an 85 gallon tank right now. I'm cycling the 30 first. It's almost ready and I need some suggestions for fish and what order to add them in. We are moving over Christmas and I feel it will be easier to move 30 gallons of water than 85. I'm dying to get one going though, so starting with it. It's been running for about 4 weeks and is stabling out now, so it's time to move onto the next step. I have some driftwood as well as some low light beginner plants. They include anubis and java fern. It has a HOB filter and an airstone at the opposite end. The substrate is black sand. Love the contrast it gives. Considering painting the back of the larger tank black as well before I get it started. We aren't going to move these fish to the 85, so they need to be able to stay in the 30. Don't want to overdo it.

What I like:

Cory cats (my youngest son loved wathing these at the store.)
rasboras
Angel
Rainbowfish

Pretty much just want a community tank, with some fun brightly colored fishies. The cories are a must, since they are so entertaining to watch. Not sure what else and how many of each. Also which ones should I start with?

Thanks for helping out.

[VoidParadigm]

I have a Golden (3-Spot) Gourami in with a school of cories.
With thirty gallons you could do 2 or 3 schools of fish.

For example:
1x3-Spot Gourami
6xCory Species #1
6xCory Species #2
6xOther schooling species such as tetra or danio (Maybe rasboras? I don't know anything about them, to be honest.)

All in my opinion and based on my experience.
:shrug:

[gotpaper1981]

What order should they be added into the tank? I know the gourami last, but not sure about the others. What about 3 different schools?

So:

1 Gourami
6 Cories
6 Tetras
6 Rasboras

Could I add the cories first, then the tetras, rasboras, and the gourami last?

One other thing, could I do an angel and leave out the gourami?

[VoidParadigm]

I think you could add 3-5 fish at a time until your schools are up to par, and then the centerpiece fish.

As for angels, once they get bigger some people report their angel eating all the smaller fish in the tank. =\

[gotpaper1981]

I could move it to the 85 if that becomes a problem. I will have enough room in there for them to get away and hide. I would just love to have an angelfish somewhere. They are so beautiful with their flowing fins.

Would the rest work though?

[VoidParadigm]

Are you planning on having both tanks running at the same time once you move? If so, you could get an angel (or even a pair... imo up to two pairs if they all got along properly) for the 85, then have all the small schoolers you want (cories, rasboras) in the 30 without risk of anybody getting ate.

[gotpaper1981]

I am planning to have them both running after I move, but want them both to be community tanks. I was already planning an angel in the 85, so if it doesn't work in the 30, can move it and get a different centerpiece fish for the 30.

I would like to have some fast movers as well as some slow fish to keep the tank interesting. I think we are going to have corries in both tanks. I would like to have some loaches somewhere.

Could I do just some loaches and a pair of angels in the 30 and save the rest for the 85? Maybe one other small school of something. Have to research if they are campatible tankmates.

[Little Embers]

I think 10 navy ankle socks and 10 yellow sport socks, just for added colour!

I'm so sorry, but I couldn't resist....the thread title made me do it.:hmm3grin2orange:

[VoidParadigm]

One angel would be fine in the 30, probably. Depends on the dimensions of the tank. Could you measure it and post them? Some tanks just aren't the right shape for angels (they're tall, you see.)

If you want a pair in any tank, though, you'll have to be careful. If they spawn they could go on a massacre.

Also; Rofl at Little Embers

[gotpaper1981]

I just realized I need to proof read!!

LOL

[gotpaper1981]

the tank is 30"Wx18.5"Hx12"D.

Does that help?

[VoidParadigm]

Angels full-grown can be anywhere from 12-18'' tall. It's up to you to decide whether you think one would be alright there.

[gotpaper1981]

I would hate to get something I wasn't able to keep apropriately housed. I'm thinking I should wait to get a tall tank to just put angels in eventually. Put it on my wish list!!

So then could I put some loaches in the 30 with something else? What else is compatible with them? I'm leaning towards those for sure. I'd love some weather loaches. Help me out with our crazy, unpredictible, west Texas weather! :)

[William]

How about just getting some corydoras and rainbows for that tank and then but angels and some other schooling species in the 85 when that gets ready.

[VoidParadigm]

Glad to see you're caring about what the fish could become in the future, and therefore deciding to not put an angel in the 30. Really nice to see. :22:

William makes an interesting suggestion. Rainbows are worth a look. Some people like them immensely, others don't. Might as well check them out! =]

As for Weather loaches - sorry, all I know about loaches is that you need to block any opening in the tank they could fit through as many species like to jump out.

[gotpaper1981]

That's a good idea with the rainbows and cories. Simple, fun, and colorful!

I'm glad I'm checking on the loaches before I decide on them. I really didn't know that about them.

How many of each would you suggest, and which should go in first on the rainbows and cories?

So glad to have more experienced people to help out on this site. I would have already made a ton of mistakes if I hadn't found it!!

[VoidParadigm]

Is there a species of cory and rainbow that you have your eye on?

[gotpaper1981]

Maybe the Boesemani, Praecox, or Pseudomugil Rainbows. Then on the corries, Agassizi, Peppered, or Panda.

[VoidParadigm]

Any of the rainbows should be kept in a group of at least five. It will help them feel more secure and it'll be more interesting to watch them together.

For the Boese. I think you could do 5 or 6 and then a school of 6-8 cories of your choice.
I believe the Praecox are the Dwarf Rainbows, could be wrong, but if so you could do a school of 5 or 6, then have 1 big school of cories or 2 small schools.

If it was me I'd do 6xPraecox, 6xPeppered, 6xPanda.

Sorry that I don't know anything about the Pseudomugils you mentioned.
And I've never actually kept rainbows myself, this is all gathered up from research and other threads I've seen on them, so hopefully someone else will come by to give a poke at my stocking idea. For all I know I could be way understocked, or way over.

IMO when stocking add the smaller fish first in 3-5 fish intervals. Bigger fish are less prone to poking at the smaller ones if the small ones were there first.

[gotpaper1981]

Thanks for helping I think I will go with this plan. The Praecox, Peppered, and Pandas sound like a great idea. Lots of movement with the cories, and color with the rainbows. Now to do even more research on these guys, so I can have everything in order for them.

[rich311k]

Boesmans will be too big for a 30 gallon. The paecoxs would look great.

[VoidParadigm]

Good luck with your tank, then! Be sure to post pictures when it's all set up. ;)

Also, a hint for the cories. Many sinking pellets designed for cories I find washes out their black markings. I only feed mine sinking koi pellets designed for pond use.

[gotpaper1981]

Thanks I'll look for some koi food instead and try to post some pics.

[martiemcg]

I was wondering if I was doing wrong feeding my Bronze Cories Koi pellets. They aren't crazy about the sinking shrimp pellets, and act very disapponted when I give them one. They waste alot of it. Not so with the Koi pellets. They eat them all gone :-)

I also noticed they're much more colorful since I started giving them the Koi food.

[robflanker]

For corys - try the hikari sinking wafers; ive had great success with them

One of the contributing reasons for fading colour is a lack of variety in diet - corys love worms, so you should be including worms in their diet. Also, they will eat flake food that lands on the bottom, as well as any of the sinking wafers. They will also eat the algae wafers.

Just keep it varied, and as I said - they go wild for the Hikari sinking wafers (orange packet with a cory on the front i think)

[Garrett]

I have sinking pellets for my african dwarf frogs that the corys absolutely demolish when they get them, so I've started sprinkling some more down at feeding time.

[Rocky06fx4]

Personally I would get a bunch of neon tetras and something that eats algae... But it seems to me you want an Angel. Be careful they are awesome but fragile.

[VoidParadigm]

A fair number of Neon Tetra strains are just as fragile, if not more-so. :shrug:

[Rocky06fx4]

I agree completely about the Neon's being fragile if not more fragile than an angel. I just forgot to mention that. Never ment to give the feeling that neons were solid fish.. If you want a solid fish get mollies.

[VoidParadigm]

Psht. If you want truly indesctructible fish... just buy plastic. =P