Newbie needs help with stock list

B

bradleyp

AC Members
Feb 8, 2011
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Hi all.
After much research, I think I am starting to suffer from information overload. It almost seems there are as many opinions on compatible species as there are books on the topic. Therefore, I have decided to again seek the expertise and input of my fellow forum members in settling on my list of potential inhabitants.

I have a 29 gallon tank early in a fishless cycle. I plan on live plants (not a jungle, just a few smaller plants scattered around sort of randomly). I have a gravel (pea size or slightly larger) substrate. Filtration is an Aqueon QuietFlow 20 supposedly rated at 125 GPH.

So far, pH is measuring app 6.8 and hardness around 25. Temp is 75.

So, here is what I'm thinking about. Please offer suggestions, corrections, etc. based on what may or may not have worked for you.

Dwarf Gourami (Colisa lalia) 1m 2f (or just a pair)
Three stripe Cory (Corydoras trilineatus) 5
Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) 6-8
Checkerboard Barb (Barb Puntius oligolepis) 3-5

Would this be overcrowding?
Would all these be compatible?
Should I consider other alternatives to some I have listed?
I'm intrigued by some inverts...could I possibly add any to my list or possibly swap for something from my list.

Sorry so many questions all at once but I want to make sure I get started on the right foot.

Any and all suggestions and critiques will be warmly welcomed and greatly appreciated.

Thank you all in advance for your help.
 
You will find as time goes on there are opnions that differ on almost everything within the hobby. It's actually part of the fun. You just learn to use common sense.

Bring the temp up a bit to the 78-80 range. The filter you have is a bit underpowered for a 29. You'll want at least a 10x turnover rate. So a filter rated for 280-300gph or more is best. Other than that it sounds like a nice stocking scheme you've decided upon. However, introduce each species every other week to keep parameters in check. First add tetras, then barbs, then cories, etc.
 
I would go with either tetras (neons and lemons or neons and glowlight, ect) or barbs (tigers and checkerboard) or rasboras (het or scissortail and CPD, ect). The barbs are fairly fast swimming and rowdy where tetras and rasboras are more flighty and like to just hang out. The barbs with tetras might keep the tetras nervous. 2 different kinds of 6 each would work well in that sized tank. The gouramis will hang towards the top of the tank if you have cover there with the tetras or barbs staying in the lower to mid part of the tank.
Personally in a 29 I would go with smaller cories, pygmys, pandas, ect work well in a school.

By inverts do you mean shrimp? If your LFS gets ghost shrimp you can get a few to test out but I think you'll find that at least the gouramis and barbs will relentlessly chase shrimp even in a heavily planted tank. At the least wait until you are heavily planted before adding them. I've had cherry shrimp survive and breed in large planted tanks with fish but the tank was full of plants and the shrimp never really overpopulated. I raise my shrimp alone or with fry and use extras to populate other tanks.
 
Be cautious with the male Dwarf Gourami and females, and have a back up plan as to what you'll do with the females (or male) if it doesn't work out. I've had it work out just fine, and I've also had the male harass females to death. Dwarf Gouramis can be surprisingly fierce. I would suggest 1m 2f over just a pair.
 
i agree with the comments above. whatever your filter capacity is for in gallons, multiply that by two. If you have a 10 gallon tank, you need a filter for 20 gallons and so on. From research, the pearl gouramis are really peaceful fish but i would personally prefer to have german blue rams. You might want to look into these they are beautiful and fun fish which are great for community tanks. I have 7 black neon tetras and i love these little fellas =) . Good luck
 
Hello there and welcome!!!

bradleyp said:
Dwarf Gourami (Colisa lalia) 1m 2f (or just a pair)
Three stripe Cory (Corydoras trilineatus) 5
Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) 6-8
Checkerboard Barb (Barb Puntius oligolepis) 3-5
Click to expand...

I'd go with one schooling fish for a 29g. My stock would look a bit like this:
1 dwarf gourami or female betta
5-6 three stripe corys
8-10 neon tetras

Good luck!!!
 
Any particular reason you want that many gourami's? They are very good center fish too so you don't HAVE to have more than one.
 
Thanks to all for your input. It is most welcome. Since I posted my original question, I have done much more studying and have changed my list quite a bit. I have also doubled my filtration by adding a second filter identical to the one I already had. I also got my first look at a German Blue Ram and it now resides on my "gotta have me one of them little fellers" list. LOL

I'm still having trouble making up my mind, but I definitely want the dwarf Gourami and the German blue Ram...the others remain to be decided.

Currently, I'm considering the following:
1 Dwarf Gourami
1 German Blue Ram
6 Corys (either Pygmy or Panda)
6 to 8 Tetras (Leaning toward Lemons, but considering others such as black skirt, etc.)

If I settle on this scheme, I will start with the tetras, followed by barbs, gourami and the Ram going in last.

As usual, I welcome input, suggestions, critiques, etc.
Thanks again for the input so far.
 
bradleyp said:
Thanks to all for your input. It is most welcome. Since I posted my original question, I have done much more studying and have changed my list quite a bit. I have also doubled my filtration by adding a second filter identical to the one I already had. I also got my first look at a German Blue Ram and it now resides on my "gotta have me one of them little fellers" list. LOL

I'm still having trouble making up my mind, but I definitely want the dwarf Gourami and the German blue Ram...the others remain to be decided.

Currently, I'm considering the following:
1 Dwarf Gourami
1 German Blue Ram
6 Corys (either Pygmy or Panda)
6 to 8 Tetras (Leaning toward Lemons, but considering others such as black skirt, etc.)

If I settle on this scheme, I will start with the tetras, followed by barbs, gourami and the Ram going in last.

As usual, I welcome input, suggestions, critiques, etc.
Thanks again for the input so far.
Click to expand...

german blue rams usaully arent as hardy as the bolivian rams which arent as colorful as the german blue rams!!!!!

if this is your 1st tank then i would recommend what you had above except switch in a bolivian ram for the german blue ram!!!!!
 
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