(kinda) newbie with 2 new tanks (29, 75)

[erk2581]

Okay I've got two new tanks, one is a 29 gallon, with an aqua clear filter. Has been cycling for 2 weeks and is close to being ready (have to test water a few more times). Other is a 75 gallon with a fluval 404. I haven't kept fish in years, not since I was young and had my dad helping me. So this will be my first attempt on my own. The 75 is still sitting without water, I planned on establishing my 29 before I start that one. My questions are pretty much in the "stocking" genre.

In the 29 I was considering African cichlids, but I figured with my newb status I should go with smaller schooling fish, then move those and add to when I get my 75 all cycled. I was considering a couple dwarf blue gourami (as a type of centerpiece) and then a few schools of smaller fish. Neon tetras, maybe some platys, danios, some ghost shrimp and snails, and some cories for the bottom. I have a Pleco coming from my sisters tank (very small, about 3-4 inches). I havent decided if I'll take him or not. I'm thinking no, and just telling her to see if the LFS will take him. So I'm just looking for stocking ideas/quantities. Keep in mind, whatever goes in the 29 will be in the 75 within a month. Then I'd like to try to conver the 29 to African Cichlids. Please help out! Also is that Fluval 404 enough for my 75 or should I add a HOB to help out? Thanks!

[Wycco]

Will the dwarf gourami appreciate the ghost shrimp a little more than you are planning? Most Gourami can be a little aggressive.

One of the experts on here can probably give you a thumbs up or down on that (I'm no expert so don't believe anything I say)- but I suspect your ghost shrimps might become ghosts in a short space of time.

[erk2581]

haha thanks for the advice! I know Gouramis can be a bit nippy but I figured in the 75 with enough hiding places the shrimp might make it...they're pretty cheap and easy to come by, so if they're combination feeder/tank cleaners...and I have to replace them from time to time, I'd be okay with that.

[Wycco]

Yeah... and I really don't know the answer- dwarf gourami may be better than honey, blue spot or one of the others. I don't think they're quite as aggressive as some of the others.


I was actually going to house pearl gourami with my shrimp as I've read they are the most peacefull of all the gourami.

[Rbishop]

I would re-think the 29 for Africans..unless you choose the correct ones. Which africans were you thinking of...lots to chose from.

[katamaran]

Since u have been out of touch with the aquarium keeping hobby, i would recommend you go with easier and hardy community fish types(mollies,barbs,guppies etc).

"Many cichlid species are known for their extreme aggression. The strongest male will become dominant and will constantly chase and fight his competition. Additionally, he will relentlessly chase the females in an attempt to mate. This aggression, however, is one of the more attractive aspects of cichlid keeping as it really brings out the cichlids’ personalities. The negative aspect of the aggression is that it can lead to an entire tank being decimated in a relatively short amount of time" .

As far as your 75 gallon tnak is concerned, adding ghost shrimp maynot be a good idea becoz,potentially most fish are a threat to these guys becoz of the constant nipping(except cory's), also if you plan to breed em, community tank would not be feasable for it(babies would get eaten), but then again as you mentioned with plenty of hiding spots and them being easy to buy this may not be much of a issue,i would rather save up those extra bucks spent on buying ghost shrimp again n again and put it towards tank upgrades,accessories,better food(treats) or more fishies to add to the tank decor :P

[erk2581]

hadn't given much thought to that yet, thats at least 2 months or so down the line, and I was gonna just keep them temporarily in the 29 and then get another 75 or 90...The cichlid tank is quite a ways off, still looking for stocking ideas for the current two tanks. Thanks.

[erk2581]

Since u have been out of touch with the aquarium keeping hobby, i would recommend you go with easier and hardy community fish types(mollies,barbs,guppies etc).

"Many cichlid species are known for their extreme aggression. The strongest male will become dominant and will constantly chase and fight his competition. Additionally, he will relentlessly chase the females in an attempt to mate. This aggression, however, is one of the more attractive aspects of cichlid keeping as it really brings out the cichlids’ personalities. The negative aspect of the aggression is that it can lead to an entire tank being decimated in a relatively short amount of time" .

As far as your 75 gallon tnak is concerned, adding ghost shrimp maynot be a good idea becoz,potentially most fish are a threat to these guys becoz of the constant nipping(except cory's), also if you plan to breed em, community tank would not be feasable for it(babies would get eaten), but then again as you mentioned with plenty of hiding spots and them being easy to buy this may not be much of a issue,i would rather save up those extra bucks spent on buying ghost shrimp again n again and put it towards tank upgrades,accessories,better food(treats) or more fishies to add to the tank decor :P

Thanks! Yeah that was my plan, with my newbie status I figured I'd wait on the cichlids, I know alot about them just have never had any, so I figured I'd get some practice on the smaller community fish, I was just looking for specific species/numbers for the 29 temporary, then 75 gallon permanent home for them.

[katamaran]

This is how i had made the selection for my 30g tank
1)top level fish
2) mid level fish

and maybe
3) bottom level fish

Top and mid level dwelling fish being the most popular becoz u want the aquarium to look active instead of focussing on buying out single level fish.By top, mid and bottom level fish i m refering to the zone in the aquarium where the fish swim out. some fish are surface(top-scizzortail rasborras), mid level = tetras,mollies and bottom level or bottom feeders = cories,plecos,clowns etc.What ever fish you decide on, make sure u research into the temperature and ph level for them.In my 30 galon i have the following

1) Rosy barbs-3
2)Platys assorted -3
3) swordtails-6
4) scizzzortail rasborras-5

hope this gives you a generic idea to start with

[erk2581]

Thanks katamaran, I'll take the leveling idea inter consideration. I guess my situation is unique because I'm planning a stock with an upgraded tank already in the making. Not "well I plan on buying one soon" its in my spare room just waiting for water and fish.

[erk2581]

any more suggestions? I want to go fake planted, I'm not experienced enough to do real plants, even though they're amazing looking. I've been playing with that AquaAdvisor that somebody on here created. I'd love to do a black substrate to contrast the bright colors of the fish, what kind of substrate is good in black? Can I buy black sand?

[erk2581]

still looking for ideas, want to stock the 29 today or tomorrow...

[erk2581]

picked up 4 tiger barbs and 4 giant danios for the 29g...also a couple ghost shrimp...i decided i want semi-aggs in the 75 and peaceful in the 29g...what else should i add for now?

[Wycco]

I don't know that your Giant Danios and Tiger Barbs are what I would classify as peacefull- both those species if you only have four of them can be a bit of a pest to other fish (or at least Tiger Barbs have that reputation... I had a small number of Tiger Barbs as a kid, probably about 4, I didn't know better and they were, mercifully quite peacefully and left my other fish alone).

All Danios are quite playfull- 3 other playmates may not be enough for them they may attempt to "play" with the barbs or the other fish... as long as they're smaller than the other fish that's OK- but they may end up torturing them.

Your giant Danios may be better off in your semi-aggressive tank. (depending on how big and aggressive your semi-aggressives are... LOL)

[erk2581]

i think the giant danios and the barbs will each have 4 or 5 added to their schools and be placed in the 75...what kind of cories would be alright to keep in the 29 for now? ill get some more tetras and smaller danios for the peaceful tank

[Wycco]

i think the giant danios and the barbs will each have 4 or 5 added to their schools and be placed in the 75...

That should be enough to keep them out of trouble!

[erk2581]

so what would be some other semi-aggressive fish to keep with those guys? something that doesnt get too big...i want the 75 to be a bunch of smaller active semi-agg fish...

[erk2581]

the 75 has a fluval 404 and a emperor 400 btw...