Change in Plans.... 33 gallon stocking and advice?

**Kyee** · 09-19-2012, 04:51 AM

So I'm picking up a 33 gallon aquarium from someone on Thursday. This aquarium already has 1 guppy and 1 neon tetra (neither are my favourite, but they can stay for the remainder of their lives!). Anywho, I went and picked up an Aquaclear 70 filter today for 45$ because the people who owned before me only have a Fluval U2 running on it. I also picked up all my testing kits, prime, Marina Aquavac, background, new heater and thermometer. The store was having a great sale! I'm super excited, but not totally sure on how to go about switching filters. I should have both running for a few weeks to seed, correct? And slowly up the amount of fish until I'm at the stocking I want? I do not know if the tank is properly cycled, so if not, I have no choice but to have a cycle with fish. :(

I need a few newbie start up tips! Also, should I use the carbon in the AC 70? Or just pull it out all together? And! Stocking ideas? I really really want a Bolivian Ram in there, or some sort of Ram, and I also love tetras, though not neons so much. Ideas?

**ameliaaahx** · 09-19-2012, 07:19 AM

Yes, I would run both filters on there until you are sure they are both seeded. What do you plan on doing with the original filter? I would just leave it running on the tank as a spare -- you can never have too much filtration.

I'm not sure how much bioload 2 tiny fish in a 30g will produce. You should do the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate tests as soon as you get the kit and if ammonia and 'trites are 0 and there is some detectable nitrate, you can probably add a few fish right away!

About the stocking -- in a 30g you could easily do a big school of tetras and a pair of Bolivian Rams. About the neon and guppy, is there any way you can rehome them? If not, you're going to have to get a few more guppies and a proper neon school -- it's cruel to keep a single schooling fish on it's own. And guppies aren't schooling fish but they do like to be with others of their own kind. If you really don't like them and don't want to build proper schools/groups for them, the nicest thing to do would really be to rehome them -- I'm sure any LFS would take 1 stray neon and guppy.

Otherwise -- I'm sure around 20 neons, 3-ish Male Guppies and a couple of Bolivian Rams would make an excellent stocking for a 33g. I didn't used to like neons but in big schools they really are lovely.

**Kyee** · 09-19-2012, 02:26 PM

Yea, I was going to keep the U2 running in case quarantine is needed. :) I have an extra 10gallon just sitting around. That what I had wondered, I didn't think two of the smallest fish would really do much.

Can I maybe bring in two more guppies, and 10 neons? and then maybe a smaller schooling fish of my choice with the bolivians? Or maybe a school of cories? Also, question! Can neons school with the other colored neons like black or greens?

**Kyee** · 09-19-2012, 02:56 PM

Also, I just tested the pH of my tap water because I could... it came out as 5.5. Why would it be so low?

**ameliaaahx** · 09-19-2012, 10:40 PM

Not sure about your pH, 5.5 is very low. What does the water in the tank come out as? Some broken sea shells will increase the pH if it's too low. I'll hold my judgement for someone more experienced.

No, neons will not school with other tetras -- except possibly cardinals. They may school with green neons because they look nearly identical but not Blacks. IMO I do not think you have room for more than one school in your tank, and the guppies as well. Is the guppy you have male or female? You could get a couple of male Endler's Guppies? They act like a schooling fish and your lonely guppy would feel right at home. So it would almost be like you had 2 schools.

What is the footprint of your tank? I would probably not recommend cories AND the rams.

**Kyee** · 09-19-2012, 10:43 PM

I'm receiving the tank tomorrow, so I dont have the pH in the tank yet. :) Should I retest my tap water? This was not dechlorinated tap water.

And hmm... alright, the guppy is male. Would there be aggression between male guppies if there are no females around? The tanks dimensions are 36x12x18 (lxdxh).

**ameliaaahx** · 09-19-2012, 11:02 PM

Retest the water once it's in the tank. Sometimes there are variables in the tank, such as in the gravel, which can change the pH.

Not at all -- male guppies get on very well together with no females to argue over. Are you sure you can't rehome the neon and guppy since you really don't like them?

That's a decent footprint. You could go with a school of around 6 cories if you're just getting a single Bolivian Ram, but if you're getting a group or breeding pair of Bolivians I would nix the cories.

**Kyee** · 09-19-2012, 11:10 PM

I don't want to breed just yet, this will be my first tank that's all my own. :) I'm sure I'll eventually get MTS and upgrade, but at the moment, I think I'd be happy with just one Bolivian. Hmm.. I don't know of any LFS's are me that will take fish, though I do know someone with a tank who I *think* has neons, so he may be able to take the single neon to add to his school. I guess I'll have to look around. :) If I do end up having to keep them, it won't be the end of the world, neons aren't that bad, I've just heard that they are so sensitive and die easily!

Really, I'll do what's best for the fish. Of course, I have other schooling fish that I prefer, but that's alright. :P

**ameliaaahx** · 09-19-2012, 11:47 PM

You could always ring up your LFS and ask? The most they can do is say no. You won't get anything for them though.

**Kyee** · 09-20-2012, 04:00 AM

I wouldn't expect that I would. ^^ I'll call them up on Friday and see! :) If I am able to rehome them.. what do you guys think would be a good stocking list?