Just started no fish yet - (pic)

[nosuperstitions]

I bought this 33 gallon bow front with matching cabinet stand off of craigslist. It came with the plastic plants and castle. It also came with an under gravel filter system that I am not going to use. I bought a Penguin 200 for filtration. I added the gravel (50 lb black, 5 lb white)and decorative blue stones. I also invested in two 100 watt heaters. Going to get some Danios tomorrow to start the cycling process. I plan to eventually add 2 Angelfish, 3 Cory Cats, 1 Clown Pleco, 5 Neon Tetra.

 

[nosuperstitions]

Adding fish tonight

Planning to stop at my LFS on the way home from work today and pick up 6 Danios and some Bio-Spira. I will post progress updates here in the coming days.

 

[CaitxSith]

1) Biospira may not work. Be aware that bad batches exist.

2) I think you're overstocking your tank, but I haven't had much experience outside a 20 gallon tank. I need confirmation on this. What's more important is...

3) Angels and neons. If I recall correctly, these two are incompatible, as angels may eat or harass the neons.

 

[RiVerfishgirl]

In my honest opinion I'd go with black backing, since that backing seems to clash with everything (You have a lot going on with the plastic plants and stuff, makes it look cluttered). But if you and your kids like it, that's what matters .

1) Biospira may not work. Be aware that bad batches exist.

2) I think you're overstocking your tank, but I haven't had much experience outside a 20 gallon tank. I need confirmation on this. What's more important is...

3) Angels and neons. If I recall correctly, these two are incompatible, as angels may eat or harass the neons.

True on the biospira.

The stocking sounds fine IMO, as long as filtration is sufficient. I'd probably run two penguins just for redundancy (if one fails, which it likely will at some point, by either failing to prime, impeller getting stuck, etc., you're left with no filtration. Or the biowheel can get stuck cutting down on your biofiltration). Or at the least run an extra sponge filter.

Angels and neons are variable. A large angel may eat a neon, it may not. Many people choose to go with slightly larger tetras, but others do have success with the smaller ones.
Personally may main problem with neons is getting healthy stock, so I would choose a hardier species.
Or just leave the danios in there if you're happy with them and discard the idea of tetras altogether.

 

[KarlTh]

Ultimately, in the wild, neons are angel food. However, in the aquarium, although predation is a problem, most angels aren't big enough and aren't quite as instinctively predatory IME.

 

[BettaFishMommy]

if you get the angels small and have them grow up with the neons they may not try to eat them, but it does all boil down to the individual angel's personality.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

...and just how hungry it is.

 

[jpappy789]

Get more than 3 corys...IMO 5-6 minimum. It's well worth having a group.

Do you have a liquid test kit? Make sure to test daily and do a water change whenever ammonia and nitrite reach measurable levels (usually .25 ppm). Danios are tough but still shouldn't be subjected to full on cycling IMHO.

 

[user_name]

Get more than 3 corys...IMO 5-6 minimum. It's well worth having a group.

Do you have a liquid test kit? Make sure to test daily and do a water change whenever ammonia and nitrite reach measurable levels (usually .25 ppm). Danios are tough but still shouldn't be subjected to full on cycling IMHO.

I agre on the corys, however I have cycled around 5 tanks with danios. Its best to add 2 or 3 first. I hope you plan on keeping them, as they make great fish!

 

[nosuperstitions]

Ultimately, in the wild, neons are angel food. However, in the aquarium, although predation is a problem, most angels aren't big enough and aren't quite as instinctively predatory IME.

if you get the angels small and have them grow up with the neons they may not try to eat them, but it does all boil down to the individual angel's personality.

Based on this I'm considering changing my mind on the neons. Do you think I would be better off going for swordtail instead? Or maybe a couple dwarf gouramis?