need help setting up tank
- Thread starter Gretchen
- Start date
A 29 gallon will not be suitable for Africans long term. A trio of yellow labs may work for a year or two, but they really should have a larger tank.
I would suggest doing dwarf cichlids like a blue rams, kribs, or apistos. An angel or two may also work. These could be combined with other community fish such as tetras and catfish.
-Diana
I would suggest doing dwarf cichlids like a blue rams, kribs, or apistos. An angel or two may also work. These could be combined with other community fish such as tetras and catfish.
-Diana
I have a 29 that has 1 bonded pair of german blue rams, 2 koi/marble angelfish, 5 prestella tetras and 2 otocinclus. It's a very bright colorful tank and I like it very much !
For plants I have:
water sprite
wysteria
java fern
amazon sword
red lily plants (VERY pretty)
assorted apponogetons
red weydth (however you spell that)
and another I fogot the name of (??)
Lighting:
1-65watt compact flourescent fixture
Filter:
170 bio-wheel
Substrate:
echo-complete for planted tanks
CO2:
flourish excel daily
The lilys and the bright green water sprite really add to the color in this tank. I also have a small piece of driftwood which adds nicely to the whole effect.
Putting together an eye pleasing tank isn't just planning the fish, but also the gravel color/type....plants and decorations. Put the right fish with the right "stuff" can make all the difference !
Good luck and have fun planning this all out ! That can be the most fun in this whole hobby, besides just gazing at and enjoying what you've put together.
For plants I have:
water sprite
wysteria
java fern
amazon sword
red lily plants (VERY pretty)
assorted apponogetons
red weydth (however you spell that)
and another I fogot the name of (??)
Lighting:
1-65watt compact flourescent fixture
Filter:
170 bio-wheel
Substrate:
echo-complete for planted tanks
CO2:
flourish excel daily
The lilys and the bright green water sprite really add to the color in this tank. I also have a small piece of driftwood which adds nicely to the whole effect.
Putting together an eye pleasing tank isn't just planning the fish, but also the gravel color/type....plants and decorations. Put the right fish with the right "stuff" can make all the difference !
Good luck and have fun planning this all out ! That can be the most fun in this whole hobby, besides just gazing at and enjoying what you've put together.
I would say Kribensus would be a good choice. Of the others mentioned unless your parents plan on keeping a regular maitenence schedule I wouldn't suggest Blue Rams as they are sensitive to poor water conditions. Not to say that your parents won't be great fish keepers, but there's fish that are more forgiving of the occasional missed water change. If you like the rams the only ones I would suggest would be Bolivian Rams, they're a little more hardy than the germans. I would agree with all that a 29g tank is not big enough for Maliwi cichlids. I'd say 55g to be a minimum for Maliwi's. It' not the size because some stay smaller, it's the aggresion. I will say when I met my wife she had a 10g with about 6 Maliwi's in it, and they were all in perfect health and bred like roaches, despite the fact that she never did water changes or any of the (required husbandry practices)... I never tested the nitrates on that tank, I was too afraid to know :dive: .