29 Gallon Stocking Schooling Fish and Bottom Feeders

[kampmanfan4life]

I have 29 gallon tank (maybe 30). I'm thinking of adding live plants and doing either one big school or 2 little schools of fish. I really like Zebra Dianos as they are very very hardy and have lots of energy. Also of course would consider cardinal or neon tetras.

How many of these could I fit into the tank. Would you do one or more schools? I don't plan on adding a big fish or centerpiece fish.

I plan on adding another HOB filter in addition to the one I already have. I think they are both rated for 30 gallons.

Also I'm thinking either a albino BN Placo or trying to get a colony of some sort of shrimp for the bottom of the tank. Would this work okay? Could I do both. Anything else that is a bottom feeder I'd consider too.

I'd also probably get one or 2 Assassin snails to help limit those pesky little black snails if I could.

Also for plants is it okay if I just have gravel and no dirt or anything. I just plan on letting the light on during the day so no plants that require much care.

Thanks for the help guys. Any ideas welcome

[Stlouisfish]

I have 29 gallon tank (maybe 30). I'm thinking of adding live plants and doing either one big school or 2 little schools of fish. - personally, if you are going to do schools, I wouldn't put a group of danios into a tank that size - they get quite large and really use the length of a tank Also of course would consider cardinal or neon tetras - You could do a large group of either of these and then a group of cory catfish on the bottom.

How many of these could I fit into the tank. Would you do one or more schools? As stated above, one large group for the mid/top of tank and one group on the bottom - the larger a group of fish, the nicer it looks and the more secure the fish feel although some might prefer to have 2 smaller groups - but I personally wouldn't for that tank size. I don't plan on adding a big fish or centerpiece fish.

I plan on adding another HOB filter in addition to the one I already have. I think they are both rated for 30 gallons. -good idea - it's smart to have enough filtration for double the size of the tank

Also I'm thinking either a albino BN Placo or trying to get a colony of some sort of shrimp for the bottom of the tank. Would this work okay? Could I do both. Anything else that is a bottom feeder I'd consider too. - smaller shrimp might become meals depending upon the fish - larger shrimp are nice - I have a few amanos and some people have bamboo

I'd also probably get one or 2 Assassin snails to help limit those pesky little black snails if I could. - To limit pest snails, it helps to soak new plants in Alum to kill eggs - but if you don't overfeed the fish, pest snails don't overpopulate that much.Also for plants is it okay if I just have gravel and no dirt or anything. I just plan on letting the light on during the day so no plants that require much care. - Many of us use gravel substrate with plants - it's a personal choice - I dont' use special lights either - I have java ferns, moss, swordplants.

Thanks for the help guys. Any ideas welcome

Please see my comments above.

[gronlaura]

I agree with imma24 regarding the zebra danios. My school of 8 in my 75 gal use the entire 48 inch tank length and would be very unhappy in a tank less than 36 inches long.

I will be setting up a 29 gal with Glowlight Danios (Danio Choprae, not the danio glofish). They only reach 1-1/4 inches and a school of 16 can go in a 29 gal with a BN pleco.

Here are some photos -





And a video -

[Byron]

I too agree with previous posts. When deciding on community fish, the level of activity of the fish species is an important consideration. Active fish (like all danio, and most barbs) obviously require more length to swim, but also the activity can bother less active or sedate fish. And cardinal and neon tetra fall into this less-active category.

Another point is that with the sedate fish, you can have more of them in the given space. Especially when live plants are included, and lots of plants and/or decor like branches and chunks of wood is another thing that sedate fish require. They will be "happier" and thus healthier in such surroundings.

Substrate of fine gravel is fine; if you intend substrate fish like corys or perhaps the dwarf species of loach, sand would be better. Common play sand is very inexpensive and works very well, I now have it in 5 of 6 tanks.

Byron.

[steeler58]

+ 1 to Gronlaura's suggestion of Glowlight danio's, they are a great little fish that have become easier to find and have come down in price.

A school of 10 of these with 15 Cardinals and 6 Corys would look great, IMO.

[mommy1]

I was planning a 29g for micro fish for a while. My stock list was 12 each of these species Danio erythromicron, Boraras brigittae, Danio margaritatus, and Yunnanilus cruciatus. I couldn't find an acceptable source for the loaches so I went a different route completely with my 29, but you might find some inspiration for yours.

[steeler58]

I was planning a 29g for micro fish for a while. My stock list was 12 each of these species Danio erythromicron, Boraras brigittae, Danio margaritatus, and Yunnanilus cruciatus. I couldn't find an acceptable source for the loaches so I went a different route completely with my 29, but you might find some inspiration for yours.

I would have liked to have seen that tank .

[Strider199]

I like Steeler1 stocking suggestion. As far as shrimp go, my son has cherry shrimp in his tetra tank. The shrimp are comfortable enough to be out in the open during the day. They are reproducing in the tank. I'm sure a few little ones get eaten but the colony is growing. I attribute their well being to the large amount of java moss he has in that tank. There is a bulldog rubber lipped pleco in there as well who doesn't care about the cherry shrimp at all. Watching the shrimp and pleco share a piece of cucumber is really neat.

[mommy1]

I would have liked to have seen that tank .

You and me both, lol. Maybe I will continue my search for the loaches. Talking about it here has made me want to set it up again.

[Byron]

You and me both, lol. Maybe I will continue my search for the loaches. Talking about it here has made me want to set it up again.

I have that loach species Micronemacheilus cruciatus and they are indeed nice fish. I acquired six of them about 3+ years ago, and since then have lost two (12-15 months ago, no idea why, presumably just happened) but the four are getting along fine, and they have a group of five Ambastaia sidthimunki in with them (and have from day one). I have never seen any sort of interaction between the two species; each "plays" within the species. Two of the M. cruciatus do periodically pair up and go through all sorts of actions, nudging and chasing around the tank side by side, but I've no idea if this is male/male or male/female, though one is a bit plumper.

In the same tank are Boraras maculatus. I had my wild Nannostomus mortenthaleri in this tank, and they spawned several times with a couple fry surviving for a few weeks, but after 4 years they have all disappeared. I suspect the original fish were just old. I have now added a group of Trigonstigma hengeli and Brevibora dorsiocellata. Photo below [not a very good one, can't even see the fish] of the current tank, a 33g (3 feet in length).

33g Oct 17-13.jpg