Kat's 29g Adventure!

**Fishin Phil** · 02-07-2012, 11:56 AM

Actually, adding plants during the cycle is perfectly fine. You can add one now or wait until later. It's completely up to you.

**kattiq** · 02-07-2012, 02:14 PM

Good to know. Thanks Phil!
I know I just read not to fiddle with anything, and knowing myself I'll find something else that needs fixing so I better just keep my hands out until everything is over. Haha

After doing some more research, I think the german rams are going to have to wait because they are $$. Especially if I wanted to get them shipped to my house, because I doubt my LFS has them :\. Looks like guppies will have to suffice for now and I won't fully stock my tank just yet.

**kattiq** · 02-08-2012, 09:31 PM

Okay so I'm thinking about getting some more live plants. What are some easy ones I could do that will be relatively easy to care for?

I have one java fern right now, but I'm not sure if I need different lighting! I am just using the light that came with the tank.

And hopefully, the ammonia levels will be coming down any day now. I think I finally got a stock researched and ready to buy! I'm trying not to get too impatient.

How does this look?

Should I add anymore fish in there?

**Fishin Phil** · 02-08-2012, 09:39 PM

Here you go: http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ead.php?t=4074

My favorites so far are Java Fern & Anubias. I figure, if I can't kill them, they must be tough plants.

**kattiq** · 02-08-2012, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by Fishin Phil

Here you go: http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ead.php?t=4074

My favorites so far are Java Fern & Anubias. I figure, if I can't kill them, they must be tough plants.

This is fantastic!! Thanks for this, exactly what I needed

**ldoerr** · 02-08-2012, 11:16 PM

Some other easy to grow plants that do good on stock lighting are Cabomba, and water wisteria. The cabomba grows supper fast and looks really great.

**Strider199** · 02-08-2012, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by kattiq

Okay so I'm thinking about getting some more live plants. What are some easy ones I could do that will be relatively easy to care for?

I have one java fern right now, but I'm not sure if I need different lighting! I am just using the light that came with the tank.

And hopefully, the ammonia levels will be coming down any day now. I think I finally got a stock researched and ready to buy! I'm trying not to get too impatient.

How does this look?
http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/...ckImagephp.png
Should I add anymore fish in there?

Beware of the Bleeding Heart Tetras, they have been known to nip the fins of other passive fish like the Dwarf Rainbow fish you have planned.
It may work out ok but just saying, I had some Bleeding hearts once and they ended up being bullies in a community tank.
Also when your ready to start introducing fish to your tank, dont over do it all at once. Get a few at a time. Like a school of one type first, wait a week or so and then a school of another, etc. This way the bacteria can grow and keep up with your stocking. This is also the time to monitor your water parameters. Every second day is what I did. This way as your nitrates go up you can get that water change done before your new buddies are stressed out.

Very nice looking tank kattiq.

**Goes to 11!** · 02-08-2012, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by kattiq

So, I bought a TopFin 29 gallon tank about two weeks ago. It's running a TopFin 3000 Filter
Thanks for reading! And any tips would be very appreciated!

This could be WAY off as I am not especially familiar with top fin products but I have a question about your filter.

Can you post some details [Rated tank size/GPH] about it because the only model I am aware of that is called the '3000' is an air pump. Is it possible it is a different brand [Whisper/Tetra etc..] as many of those look similar.

Just a heads up also that the general minimally accepted standard is to have a filter rated for twice your tanks volume. This is because they often determine the stated rating by testing with no media and obviously this does not improve as the media clogs.

**kattiq** · 02-08-2012, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by ldoerr

Some other easy to grow plants that do good on stock lighting are Cabomba, and water wisteria. The cabomba grows supper fast and looks really great.

I like the way both of those look. I do want something that grows fast, so cabomba might be great addition!

Beware of the Bleeding Heart Tetras, they have been known to nip the fins of other passive fish like the Dwarf Rainbow fish you have planned.
It may work out ok but just saying, I had some Bleeding hearts once and they ended up being bullies in a community tank.
Also when your ready to start introducing fish to your tank, dont over do it all at once. Get a few at a time. Like a school of one type first, wait a week or so and then a school of another, etc. This way the bacteria can grow and keep up with your stocking. This is also the time to monitor your water parameters. Every second day is what I did. This way as your nitrates go up you can get that water change done before your new buddies are stressed out.

Very nice looking tank kattiq.

Good to know about the Tetras. I'm pretty sure my LFS has a 14 day return policy on fish so maybe I should try to get a few of the tetras and a few of something else and see how that works out? Would that be okay to do or is there another idea?
I was planning on adding a few at a time as I had read somewhere you can't overload your tank all at once. Thanks for that tip. :)
So do I need to do a water change every time I add in new fish? I know I'll need to do at least a 20% each week right? Water changes is something I have yet to research extensively.

This could be WAY off as I am not especially familiar with top fin products but I have a question about your filter.

Can you post some details [Rated tank size/GPH] about it because the only model I am aware of that is called the '3000' is an [Only Registered Users Can See Links.Click Here to Register]]. Is it possible it is a different brand as many of those look similar.

Just a heads up also that the general minimally accepted standard is to have a filter rated for twice your tanks volume. This is because they often determine the stated rating by testing with no media and obviously this does not improve as the media clogs.

Okay, my bad it's actually a Top Fin 30-- I did have a Top Fin 3000 air pump, I must have gotten the numbers confused.
Rated Tank Size: up to 30g
GPH: 150
So I guess I need a new filter?

**Strider199** · 02-09-2012, 12:10 AM

"So do I need to do a water change every time I add in new fish? I know I'll need to do at least a 20% each week right? Water changes is something I have yet to research extensively".

You do not have to do a water change very time you add new fish kattiq.

What I meant was that when you add new stock it adds more waste and your BB might need some time to catch up so checking your water parameters every other day will let you know if you need to do a water change because a reading is going up.

And doing a 20% water change weekly is the best preventative maintenance program one can do for their fish! Great strategy.