35 Gallon Planning

andyjs said:
Pool filter sand is a nice substrate. I actually didn't wash mine at all when I added it to my tank, but I'd still recommend rinsing it a little. PLAY sand on the other hand you can wash for hours and it will still probably cloud your water.

-For some easy low-light plants, I would stick with the 40w fixture if you can get it working. I did a pretty densely planted low-light 20 gallon with a 20w fixture. The plants did great.

-As far as the driftwood and plants for the cycle-the driftwood will be fine during the cycle. Sensitive plants might not take the cycle very well, so you might want to hold off on the plants until after the cycle.

-It would be a good idea to wait 2-3 weeks after you get your new tetras (and whatever other fish you get, you might as well just get them all at once and just quarantine them together) to introduce your current fish.

-For stocking, since you already plan on 8 red-eyes, I would just add a little group of bottom dwellers and then maybe a couple centerpiece fish. I really like cories as bottom dwellers and you could have about 6 of them in the tank. For some centerpiece fish, you could do a couple dwarf cichlids like rams or apistos or a pair of smaller gouramis (I really like pearls, they get around 4" and are pretty peaceful)
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That all sounds good. Thanks.

For the stocking, those are great suggestions. Cories seem to be winning for the bottom dweller group.
 
Zbbal said:
Oh, wow! When you compare their size, the Kuhlis are so tiny. I thought they were bigger. I think I'm in love with the little cuties. :hearts:
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Heh, they win you over! I had the hardest time finding some, now all of a sudden every LFS I've gone to has plenty. I've heard people say they hid a lot, mine don't at all, there's always at least 1 in the water column, and usually at least 2 visible.
 
corrieberry said:
I don't know what your thoughts are on plants, but I have really low light and have anubias and java ferns in my tanks. They do great. I also got some plastic plants which I don't love, but they are a good low maintenance space filler. Just make sure you take them out and rinse them every so often cos they catch dirt like anything! I'm using mine to fill in the spaces where I can't afford to get real plants yet. Also, the sooner you get them in the more time they will have to grow into the tank and the more established it will look.

If you want to skip on substrate, you can make tanks look really good without. If you check out this thread, page 10, a post by goldies88, he has decorated his tank amazingly without substrate. I know lots of people are starting to do this now - I'm giving it a go myself using some spare old mugs that were at the back of the cupboard. It will also make maintenance a ton easier - you know exactly where the dirt is, and can easily take plants out to clean them. I suppose this is all down to your personal taste, though!

I can't say much on the stocking cos I'm not really into tropical, but I've only heard good things about bettas - lots of personality etc. I know they can complicate what else you can get though, so ask someone who knows!
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That's all good to know.

About the fake plants, thank for telling me to take them out every so often. The ones in my 10 gallon look really bad. I knew they needed to be cleaned up, but I was afraid to take them out.
 
clb2196 said:
Heh, they win you over! I had the hardest time finding some, now all of a sudden every LFS I've gone to has plenty. I've heard people say they hid a lot, mine don't at all, there's always at least 1 in the water column, and usually at least 2 visible.
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They sound wonderful. I'm fairly sure the LFS I went to didn't have them, though maybe the other stores would have them.
 
Zbbal said:
They sound wonderful. I'm fairly sure the LFS I went to didn't have them, though maybe the other stores would have them.
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Make sure you ask, generally if there's any cover in the tanks you won't seem them. When I *did* get them, I had almost given up because I didn't see any.
 
clb2196 said:
Ok, good, gotcha. :)

And I love my betta, and he's quite happy in the community tank. He even gets food with the smaller fast fish in there, which was my main concern. But then you're limited to one, whereas with something like rams I think you could do a pair (or 1m 2f, can never remember what's better with rams).
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Yeah, I used to have a Betta years ago. It's sad I didn't know they need a real tank. If I had, I would have gotten him one.

I'm thinking a Betta would be better suited to my 10 gallon, but I'm not making any decisions yet. I've been running everything past my mom, who is amazed by how much aquarium-ism has changed.
 
clb2196 said:
Make sure you ask, generally if there's any cover in the tanks you won't seem them. When I *did* get them, I had almost given up because I didn't see any.
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Oh yeah, that's true. I'm still need to get my new test kit from my LFS, so while I'm there I'll ask.
 
lateinningmagic said:
Bettas are really restricting because of their long fin and aggressiveness, but I love mine in my 20g community tank. I always get his attention (usually opening the hood suffices) and then he follows my finger into his feeding corner. I drop his Betta flake in there with my right hand and drop the Tropical flakes for the Neons and Zebras with my left on the opposite side of the tank. No problems yet. He never flared at any of his tank mates and has never been nipped at. YMMV.

For a bigger tank like your 35gal (and my 37g, see siggy), I'd do Rams as a Centerpiece. They are compatible with Dwarf Gouramis, so you can have 2 of the 3. Part of my Stocklist for my37g is: 2 German Blue Rams, Dwarf Gourami, Kuhli Loaches, Bristlenose Pleco, and Black Neon Tetras.

If you still want a Betta then you can do a Betta tank in your 10g once its available. Betta + 6 Harlies + Pygmy Cories or Juli Cories would work nicely for a 10g tank.
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Ah, my Red Eye does that, too. The moment I turn the light on and open the hood in the morning, he's right there. And he loves to nibble on my finger.

Your stocking suggestions are wonderful, both for the 35 gallon, and the 10 gallon.

Good luck with your 37 gallon tank, by the way. It has a wonderful stocking list.
 
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