New Tank

[Gerdie]

I've kept fish for a little over a year. Had a 10gal tank keeping fish that you would consider to be "Beginner Fish", 3 Dwarf Gourami's and 2 platies. I've recently purchased a 29 gal tank with all the necessary equipment. Planned on planted tank (my first obviously), have the onyx sand, hopefully sufficient lighting (~2.8w/gal) and the necessary filteration, heaters, and various fertilizers from Big Al's. Have a couple simple questions before I get started today and tomorrow (no work!!!). Here we go...

1. I'm doing a fishless cycle (I've learned something from this forum). If I do this, should I introduce the plants before, during or after I have done the cycle?

2. 2 parter... Was planning on starting with a couple Rams, and Kribs. With maybe some Cories for the bottom. But after some thinking, I was interested in maybe doing a small Cichlid tank, what suggestions does anyone have about fish that would be comforatable in a 29gal (I don't always trust what the species profile says) and would small cichlids work in a planted tank, or would they tear the plants apart?

3. I really like Blue Rams, would the Rams be able to live with other small cichlids.

Any other advice is also welcome...

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Mmmm. It's hard to say. Cichlids tend to be kinda nasty to each other. I have a 20 gal with an angel and ram and kribs. They bicker but no damage is ever done. However i am now moving the kribs to thier own tank, so it will be just one bolivian ram and one angel.
I think kribs are fantastic fish and i would reccommend them. A pair of rams would ok too, but not ain addition to the kribs. You have to remember tho that rams and kribs are kind of bottom dwelling fish. Residing in the lower half of the tank. If you had 2 pairs they would get in each other's way.

I would stick to one type of cichlid, and add some cories for the bottom like you said. Then get some rasboras or danios or other type of active fish for the top layer. Spread the fish load out over the different levels of the tank, and it will look awesome.

[Gerdie]

I was thinking about just the Rams. I had already picked out the Rasboras for the top too. Apperently we think alike. What about something like a pair of Angels? From what I've read, some think that they would outgrow a 29gal, but I wasn't sure if different kinds would grow to different sizes. I also saw a Flag Cichlid on the species profile that sounded like it might work too. I also thought about a rainbow shark, but I wasn't sure if they would bother the Rams, Cories, Rasboras or Angels. (I wasn't planning on adding all of these, just a combination and trying to figure out what will go with what)...

[PumaWard]

I agree wtih LuvMyKribs, I would pick one specie and have a m/f pair. The kribs would most likely end up killing your rams.

I think kribs will be better in the beginning as they are less picky about water conditions compared to most LFS bought rams. If you really like rams though, a different specie is the bolivian ram, not quite as pretty but hardier. If you would like more than two cichlids in your tank, another good beginner dwarf cichlid is Apistogramma cacatuoides (sp?), or the Cockatoo dwarf cichlid. These guys are a polygamous specie, so you could have 1m/2f or 1m/3f.

All the species above are perfect for planted tanks. For dithers (which help in pair bonding) you could have a small shoal of 6-8 neon/glowlight/cardinal tetras, or any other small tetra specie like red phantoms. For bottom feeders, I like kuhli loaches more as my kribs are rough on the cories but leave the loaches along. However, I do think the cories will still be okay if you prefer them.

Also, make sure there are some caves for any of the species, upturned flower pots with doorways cut into them work well. The pairs will need at least one flower pot or cave, for the A. cacatuoides you will need a flower pot or cave for each female.

HTH

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Oooo yes the dwarf cockatoo cichlid is very pretty. It would be nice to have a group of those, say 3 or 4. So many choices! :)

[TKOS]

There is only one species of Angel and they all get pretty big. They might do okay in a 29 gallon but they get very tall so you will have to keep an eye on them if they start to get too big. You might need a new tank in the future for them.

Unfortunatly angels can get good at eating small fish and the rasboras might be in danger. Hard to say but could happen so be prepared.

If it were my tank I would get the school, the rams and cories and then plant heavily. If it looks good later on introduce the angels. But don't forget that in that size tank you will need to plant a lot lighter to give them swimming room.

And I would wait until after the cycle to add the plants. They use ammonia and nitrites so it will slow the cycle down, IMO.