Have 55g, and 20g. Should i add 29g tank or replace 20g with 29g.

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vanpudin

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Mar 17, 2007
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I have a 55g that has semi-agressive fish along with some cichlids. I have added some cichlids recently. Right now the tank contains an unhealthy mix. The fish are: 1 firemouth 2'', 1 Krib 3'', 2 paradise Gouramies 3'', 1 redtail shark 3'', 1 med size angelfish, 2 tigerbarbs, 1 rosy barb 2.5'', 1 dal. molly 3'' , 1 lamp eye tetra 3'' 1 pleco 3.5'' and 3 young kenyi cichlids 1.5''.
I know about the bad mix of fish, but want to talk about the my tank issue first.
My 20g includes 1 male beta, 1 female betta, 1 bolivian ram, 1 molly, 1 glass fish, and about 6 small assorted tetras.
My friend wants to sell a 29g with nice wood stand, 40g whisper unit, 200w heater, air pump and light which has a wood grain look to match stand. He want to sell it for $100.
I really dont want 3 fish tanks as i live in a townhome. Also in a couple of years i though about relocating out of state.
I have someone who wants to by my 20g kit for $60 including undergravel filter and air pump.
If i get 29g, i thought of moving out of the 55g the redtail shark, rosy barb, red eye tetra, and molly and put them with the other fish from 20g into the 29g.
Would the 29g then be overstocked? Should i add undergravel filter into 29g?
Even then i know there are still issues with the fish mix in the 55g.
Should i suck it up and keep the 20g which would allow me to seperate more fish into diff. tanks more evenly.
Either way most or all the Kenyi cichlids i may find a home for as they grow bigger. Got them free. Want to keep alittle more peaceful or smaller cichlids such as rainbow cichlid, etc.
I just dont see me having 3 fish tanks. I can always find a fish a home that causes the most problems because of the mix..Or i could put 20g in my kids room... But i was going to use some of the money from the sale of 20g to help with cost of 29g.
What to do, i'm torn.
Thanks to all that reply...
 
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Oh, and if i change my mind, i dont want to affend or hurt this guys feeling who wants to but my 20g. My wife also thinks right now that i'm selling it for sure. I feel guilty because she bought it for me for christmas. She says it don't bother her though. It's the best gift she ever got me because it got me interested in keeping fish again. I even told her that. But i really dont need 3 tanks in this little 3 bedroom townhome.
Also as far as the the cichlids go, I do not plan on breeding or having pairs or more of the same. I guess this will help with agression some.
 
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This doesn't answer you're question, but why not give away the boring fishes that you have in the 20 gallon, and use that tank for splitting up the inhabitants of the 55 gallon. that would go a long way in alleviating the odd mixture of fish you have there.
 
I see ur point, but alot of those fish were my kid's choices. I'm just now wising up somewhat and choosing more for myself. Even if i wanted to do something with them for example 5 of the small tetras , i'm cheap and don't want to just give away fish that i bought for my kids. Also even a mom and pop petstore will probaly not give me anything for them.
 
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keep both tanks, but even moving the fish over from one tank to another isnt going to solve the problems.

angelfish and tiger bars should never be kept together. ever. tiger barbs should be in schools of at least 6 if they are by themselves and 12 if you want to keep them with other fish. otherwise, you will run into many aggression and fin niping issues with them

dont mix african cichlids and SA/CA cichlids.

red tailed black sharks get aggressive when they age. that isnt a good mix with other bottom dwellers or more peacful fish.\

tetras need to be in schools of at least six, and they need to comprise of individuals of the same species

male mollies cna be nippy if there are not enough females in the tank to distract him.

male and female bettas should also never be put together unless they are breeding. they will fight. alot.

glassfish also need to be in schools, and are brackish.

can you try to talk your kids into getting tankmates that will be better for the fish?
 
I do understand somewhat about general rules about keeping a certain kind of fish in with other fish they are compatable with, or in the school of fish they belong with. And i do understand that the current mix of fish i have needs to be sorted out. But i also think in my opinion some of what jm1212 has stated about the differnt fish may be a best case senario for keeping ur fish happy and alive.
I do understand that i probably should not keep africans with sa/ca cichlids. I plan on doing something about it. I got my young Kenyis for free.
But i have had my tiger barbs with the angelfish and redtail shark together for several months with very few problems. My angel fish is'nt bothered hardly at all with the tigerbarbs. Sometimes my redtail shark will chase the larger tiger barb when entering the sharks territory. The molly chases fish bigger and more agressive than the molly is suposed to be. Amazingly my lamp eye tetra is fine. It will be moved soon along with the molly. But i will make changes.
Thanks jm1212 for ur input. I may add and keep 3 tanks. Having 3 will help me sort them better than just 2 tanks. I'm still learning myself about diff fish compitabilitys.
 
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you should involve your kids in making the fish compatibility decisions. get them to learn what fish are and are not good together... by doing this, they'll make better decisions (and learn to be responsible for the lives and well being of other creatures) but also they'll avoid putting you in a position where you're full of fish, and no where to put any of them healthfully.

read up on each fish you have, and if you have any questions, come back here and ask. getting your kids involved is really great, but make sure they learn the do's and don't too.. it can instill in them a long term appreciation for pet care quality.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. It's nice to be in a forum where people can give their opinions with out getting ofensive about peoples different opinions or ideas. I've also had other threads i've started in the past, with mostly good opinions.
Thanks
 
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