plans for my 28 gal tank, fish questions

[AnnetteG]

Hey all! Okay, so in a couple weeks, I'll be setting up the 28 gal. tank for my fish and the 29 for my frogs. The 28 is 30" wide and 18.5" tall x 12" deep. I plan on putting ecocomplete on the bottom, then topping that with black sand because it's pretty. Can I combine the 2 like that for a planted tank?

I will put plants in from the start, unless you guys say it's better not to. I'm not putting fish in till I get it cycled. Once it's cycled, I intend to move the 2 mollies, 1 betta, 3 cories and 1 dwarf gourami into it. Oh and 1 small blue mystery snail. After they've been in there for a while, I'd like to add some more fish. Killifish, rainbows and german blue rams have caught my eye. I'll be sticking with the ones that don't get any bigger than 3". I will also add in some more cories.

I just wanted to see what you all think of these fish together. Oh and I'm definitely going to put some more snails in once I get some pretty ones from Dakotagirl. :) Oh and my red cherry shrimp that should arrive today or tomorrow from mgamer!

Any thoughts or advice please?

[jpappy789]

How have the betta and gourami been getting along. Some people have had problems with that combanation but if everything has been good so far I see no need to fix it...

Try a school of like 6 or so harlequin rasboras. Great schoolers and not so bad coloration. The only rainbows I would advise would be dwarf neon (praecox) rainbows. They stay small but are very colorful and active. Though they can be nippy so not sure how the betta would adjust.

GBR's would be fine size wise but with them, the betta, and the gourami that might be too much attitude in one tank come breeding time for the rams...

And definitely a few more corys :)

[Hooked Newbie]

I agree with Pappy. I'd probably avoid the Rams, but Praecox Rainbows and Killis should be fine. Unless the betta decides to go after the Killis, that is.

P.S. LOL at your sig! The hubby and boys listed... :rofl:

[AnnetteG]

I agree with Pappy. I'd probably avoid the Rams, but Praecox Rainbows and Killis should be fine. Unless the betta decides to go after the Killis, that is.

P.S. LOL at your sig! The hubby and boys listed... :rofl:

Well, I do have to take care of them too, so they made the list! :D

What about Boesemani Rainbows?

and any opinions on my ecocomplete with black sand on top idea?

Those GBRs sure are gorgeous. I'll have to do a tank with just them sometime in the future then. Oh and the betta and gourami are fine. They checked each other out when I first put the gourami in there and mr. betta flared up and made a good show of his superiority and they went their separate ways and have been fine since. :lol2: Gotta love those betta personalities. I hate that I can't have half a dozen of them in a tank together. That would be SO pretty.

[Hooked Newbie]

Well, I do have to take care of them too, so they made the list! :D

What about Boesemani Rainbows? Should be ok since they stay pretty small.

and any opinions on my ecocomplete with black sand on top idea? Trouble would be with gravel vacing. Otherwise, it would be fine IMO.

Those GBRs sure are gorgeous. I'll have to do a tank with just them sometime in the future then. Oh and the betta and gourami are fine. They checked each other out when I first put the gourami in there and mr. betta flared up and made a good show of his superiority and they went their separate ways and have been fine since. :lol2: Gotta love those betta personalities. I hate that I can't have half a dozen of them in a tank together. That would be SO pretty.

I agree that the Rams are gorgeous. I saw some (Gold) at an LFS for the first time this weekend and almost brought them home even without a tank for them!

[jpappy789]

I would not get bosemanis for 28 gallons. Get up to 4" long, need a group, and are very very active so they need a lot more space than you would think.

[Hooked Newbie]

I would not get bosemanis for 28 gallons. Get up to 4" long, need a group, and are very very active so they need a lot more space than you would think.

Must agree to disagree on this one. :) A buddy of mine has 12 that are 2+ years old and at best are pushing 2 1/2" in a 55. No difference between them and Praecox IMO.

[jpappy789]

Must agree to disagree on this one. :) A buddy of mine has 12 that are 2+ years old and at best are pushing 2 1/2" in a 55. No difference between them and Praecox IMO.

I have seen some at 3-3 1/2 inches at my LFS. I would have got some for my 30 gal. but they were pretty long and not to mention large bodied...

[AnnetteG]

well, I can hold off on the rainbows. I really like the looks of the killifish and I'm sure I want to get another dwarf gourami. Couple more snails, some cherry shrimp and a few more corys and I'm good!

[Hooked Newbie]

well, I can hold off on the rainbows. I really like the looks of the killifish and I'm sure I want to get another dwarf gourami. Couple more snails, some cherry shrimp and a few more corys and I'm good!

I'd be careful adding another Dwarf Gourami, they don't always get along too well. Snails and Cories would be fine, but shrimp (if too small) would just be Betta treats.

[AnnetteG]

I have a lot of hiding places in the bottom of the tank. I had some ghost shrimp in there for a little while, but I've moved them back in with the frogs so I can put the cherry shrimp in when I get them. The betta didn't even notice the ghost shrimp, there are so many places for them to hide in the bottom. I think (hope) that they'll be alright since they can go into a cave or under some low lying silk plants to hide. My first four RCS will likely be here tomorrow, so I'll find out! I'll be sure to feed mr. betta a big cube of brine before I go get the mail. ;)

[OldMan1947]

The plants can go in right away. They won't hurt the cycle and won't be hurt by the free nitrogen. You won't want to go too high on ammonia. I'm not sure what's safe but there are lots of folks in the plant forum that can help that way. The plants will minimize the size of your ammonia and nitrite spike by using the stuff as fertilizer.
Do you have enough light for a planted tank? Chances are if you use what comes with the aquarium the answer is no.
Sounds like you have a good idea what you like for fish and want the tank to look more natural with the plants. You are on the right path by insisting on a good substrate but need to make sure there is enough light.

[AnnetteG]

Actually, this tank is one I got off Freecycle so I'm pretty much starting from scratch. It's got a hood with a glassed in light fixture, but no bulbs. Can I just buy the right type of bulbs in a size to fit this fixture, or do I need to buy a whole new hood?

I've gotta put some stuff on ebay to fund this growing hobby!:D

[j_chicago]

what kind of fixture is it? does it have the normal screw-in type bulb? If it does, then you can get the spiral type of bulb, but try to get the day light bulbs that run at about 6500-7000K, it will say on the package and you can get them pretty cheap at wal-mart, but most drug stores should have them to, its not the best type of fixture, but I and others have had good luck with them.

As for the substrate, the sand will eventually work its way to the bottom, like the crumbs and dust at the bottom of the ceral box. So unless you seperate them, with sand in one section of the tank, and eco in another section, don't waste your time in layering them.

[Dwarf Puffers]

http://users.kent.net/~lisab/Boesemanmale.jpg

That boesmani is NOT 2.5". More like 4"+. They can get anywhere from 4-6, there's something wrong with your friend's boesmanis, newbie.

You could get a small group (6) of dwarf neon rainbows, get about 2", 2.5" tops.

[Hooked Newbie]

Actually, this tank is one I got off Freecycle so I'm pretty much starting from scratch. It's got a hood with a glassed in light fixture, but no bulbs. Can I just buy the right type of bulbs in a size to fit this fixture, or do I need to buy a whole new hood?

I've gotta put some stuff on ebay to fund this growing hobby!:D

You should be ok with the current hood. I'd stay with Low to Med light plants (Wisteria, Sprites, Java Fern, Moss, etc.). All I've done is to change the bulbs from the standard flourescents to better spectrum lights and have more plants than I planned on. lol

[AnnetteG]

So why does this site, which I thought was pretty reliable, say they get to 3"?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1053


Not trying to be argumentative, just wondering.

[Dwarf Puffers]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1564

Seems they think an agressive 10-12" fish can live happily in a 30g too.

[Hooked Newbie]

http://users.kent.net/~lisab/Boesemanmale.jpg

That boesmani is NOT 2.5". More like 4"+. They can get anywhere from 4-6, there's something wrong with your friend's boesmanis, newbie.

You could get a small group (6) of dwarf neon rainbows, get about 2", 2.5" tops.

The pic is great, but does not show size at all. What reference states up to 6"? everything I've read states a max of 3-4" with a 5-6 year life span. I really don't think there's anything wrong with his. This seems moot considering the OP's direction though.

[Hooked Newbie]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1564

Seems they think an agressive 10-12" fish can live happily in a 30g too.

It could as the only inhabitant. What about the below seems misleading?

A minimum of a 30-gallon aquarium is recommended with plenty of plants, rocks, and driftwood for hiding. It can handle different water conditions but water quality should remain constant to avoid stress. In smaller community tanks the Chinese Algae Eater will defend its territory. This species of algae eater can become aggressive when they become full grown.

[hatcheridiot]

The sand question:

For one, I agree with the above statement that the sand will eventually settle into the eco complete. But more than an aesthetic issue....I think the issue would be cleaning. I don't know how thick you were planning on layering the two but it could be a major pain to clean. Not to mention it might trap gas bubbles something furious. But that's just my opinion and not based on experience with the two substrates together.

[artdale]

About boesemanis...
This site (I believe it's a reliable one as it's an australian site selected by national library of australia; any suggestion on this site will be welcome...), tells boesemani may reach a maximum size of 15 cm (6") but usually are shorter than 10 cm (4").
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Boesemani.htm
Anyway I believe it's not wise to add boesemanis unless you have a 100cm (40") 200 L (50-55 gals) tank.

[Dwarf Puffers]

About boesemanis...
This site (I believe it's a reliable one as it's an australian site selected by national library of australia; any suggestion on this site will be welcome...), tells boesemani may reach a maximum size of 15 cm (6") but usually are shorter than 10 cm (4").
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Boesemani.htm
Anyway I believe it's not wise to add boesemanis unless you have a 100cm (40") 200 L (50-55 gals) tank.

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