37 Gallon Tank (Tall). Looking for Unique/Strange stocking ideas!

[Kaitlyn]

Hi everyone!

My boyfriend gifted me with a 37 gallon tank. it is 30 H by 12 W by 22 H. It's tall!

I'm looking for stocking ideas that people don't usually do. I say this because I'm tired of the usual stockings. Angelfish, Gouramis, Tetras, Rasboras.... Some of these are okay, but I don't want the usual stuff!

Any ideas for stocking this kind of tank? It's taller, so I need something for sure to swim near the top.

Some fish I've been eyeing:

-Glass catfish
- Spotted Blue Eyes
- American Flag Fish
- Halfbeaks
- Killifish (in general)

 

[FreshyFresh]

Sounds like you've got some good ideas for starters..

What type of substrate and décor? Plants?

37's are arm soakers for sure when the need to reach bottom arises!

 

[Kaitlyn]

Sounds like you've got some good ideas for starters..

What type of substrate and décor? Plants?

37's are arm soakers for sure when the need to reach bottom arises!

Yeah, the tank is so tall... my whole arm fits inside of it!!

Anyways, im going for black sand for sure, and it will be a fully planted tank, along with some driftwood that im working on curing right now (DIY-ing my driftwood to save sooo much money!)

 

[dougall]

Be careful with wanting a fully planted tank.. being so deep it will be more difficult to light. So having plants that will handle lower light conditions will be a good thing.

Crypt retrospiralis should work, as should bucephelandra species, Java fern, bolbitis, anubias and things like that. Some vals may do ok too.

As for stock, we have wild bettas in ours, they breed and do fairly well.. there may be a nerite or 2, and maybe some ninja shrimp.

 

[ustabefast]

With the ultra tall tank, you may want to just use floating plants assuming you plan on adding plants.
A good filter is particularly important, as there is less surface area for oxygen exchange.
As for stocking, I like your idea of killifish for the upper regions; the others listed would be fine as well.
I'm not a livebearer fan but they do swim all over the tank and would fill it up better than most shoaling fish.

 

[dougall]

Using labyrinth fish will mostly alleviate the relatively small footprint of the tank