Questions on setting up a 30 gal

[irishspy]

Looks like we have an Aqua Tech 20-40 filter. The light is a GE Aqua Rays and I think it's 20 watt.

:welcome:

That filter should be fine, just start out with only a few fish at first, to let the biological filter adjust. As for lighting, 20 watts over a 30g tank is very low, so I would stick with low light plants.

And good luck! I bet you'll have a lot of fun with this.

 

[mizzie]

Thanks for the plant list, irishspy.

We can get a higher watt bulb if necessary. Do you think I'll have issues with the 20 watt with low light plants?

My husband and I talked it over and I think we are going to go with the dwarf gourami after all. Right now the plan is: 1 Dwarf Gourami, 12 Neon Tetras, 6 Peppered Cories and 6 Ghost Shrimp . Everything I'm finding is telling me that those fish will be compatible and our tank won't be over stocked. But if anyone sees an issue with it, please let me know. The tank is empty at this point, so now is the time to find out.

 

[Michwol42795]

Your stocking sounds good to me, Very low light plants would work-java moss/java ferns. Good luck! If you can afford a better light I recommend it though, it'd be nice to have some selection.

 

[Linda S]

any way you could invest in a double light fixture? that should be about right for that size tank. everything else sounds great. Have fun.

 

[clb2196]

I find that a lot of people that start with low light plants tend to upgrade their lighting and get more at some point. But the nice thing is you can stick with lowlight now, and upgrade when/if you want to.

 

[Taysius]

If you're not sold on the bright blue of a dwarf gourami, there are also honey gouramis and one of my faves right now, the pearl gourami.

 

[clb2196]

If you're not sold on the bright blue of a dwarf gourami, there are also honey gouramis and one of my faves right now, the pearl gourami.

I love love love my pearl. I couldn't keep honeys alive, not sure why. Pearls get pretty big though, I wouldn't have put one in my 29, but then it was a cube with less surface area than a normal 29 or 30 gallon.

 

[Taysius]

If you can put an angel in a 30 I don't see why you couldn't put in a pearl. You're right though, a cube wouldn't work.

 

[mizzie]

Ours isn't a cube, it's a regular tank. I think we'll stick with the dwarf though, I rather like the colors.

I have another question though. We are going to be buying a new air pump (since the one we have is for a 10 gal). My husband thinks we should get one that's rated for a 60 gallon, instead of 40, apparently because he thinks bigger is better. Is there any reason to get one so large for our tank? Is there any reason not to?

 

[Zbbal]

Ours isn't a cube, it's a regular tank. I think we'll stick with the dwarf though, I rather like the colors.

I have another question though. We are going to be buying a new air pump (since the one we have is for a 10 gal). My husband thinks we should get one that's rated for a 60 gallon, instead of 40, apparently because he thinks bigger is better. Is there any reason to get one so large for our tank? Is there any reason not to?

I don't think it would hurt anything. Generally, this hobby follows the "bigger is better" rule.