Starting a community tank

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stellar2187

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Jan 21, 2003
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Hi, I've always raised cichlids and want to start a community tank w/ neons, gouramis, etc. So here are my questions.

Is there a 35 gallon tank or something around that size?
-how much will it cost

Should I put gravel or sand?
-which is easier to maintain

What fish can I raise in this tank?
- hardy
-peaceful
-attractive
- able to withstand summer temperatures

I don't know many community fish so please enlighten me. I'm a big fan of bottom feeders and cichlids but want to raise different kinds of fish. I currently am raising 4 flowerhorn, a pair of managuense, and a common pleco in a 500 gallon tank. I plan on adding more tankmates such as a frontosa, a siamese tigerfish, a giant gourami (singapore), and other fish I find interesting. But I might have to get rid of one of my flowerhorn b/c it paired up w/ one of the males and they are controling the tank. As much as I don't want to split up a pair I'm going to have to for the sake of the other fish. I used to raise the flowerhorn and the pleco in a 75 gallon tank in my room, then they got bigger and got moved to a 500 gallon tank in my basement. I can't put the 75 gallon tank back in my room b/c it's too heavy for a room on the 2nd floor. Hence me wanting to start a small community tank around 25 - 40 gallons.

Thanks in advance fr the help
 
There are tanks in the 30-45 gallon range--cost will depend on where you are, as that varies substantially across the nation.

Do you want plants, or no? I like sand, but planted tanks need substrate that provides some nutrients, so a layered substrate works well. Sand is much easier to clean, IMO.

There are many community fish that would work in this tank. Most tetras, bristlenose, barbs, etc...Check out what's at your LFS next time you're in, and write down the names of the fish that catch your eye. We can then help you build a tank from there.
 
I have a 55 gallon "community" tank with several types of tetras, platies, mollies, etc. A 37 gallon 1/4 cylinder "semi aggressive" tank with barbs, serpae tetras, giant danio's and a large gourami. A 29 gallon, angel, congo tetras, celebese rainbows, dwarf neon rainbows, rainbow panchax and cories. I have to admit, the "semi aggressive" tank is much more fun to watch. I personally would find a nice 30-40 gallon tank you like and add a bunch of barbs, large danio's, etc. I have 5 tiger barbs, 2 albino tiger barbs, 3 green tiger barbs, 3 black ruby barbs and 4 serpae tetras that all prettymuch swarm the tank like a group of bees. They don't bother much, just play "follow-the-leader" a bunch. I also have 3 giant danio's that remind me of a striped bass. They are large, slender and fast and don't show aggression but have a "bull in a china-closet" mentality when swimming. They regularly bump up against fish their size and scare them but never do any damage. My problem-child is a single gold gourami I saved from wal-mart where a lady was returning it and they were just going to flush it. He thinks he owns the tank and harasses anyone that is new. Barbs and large danio's seem to do allright with him but more timid fish end up hiding all the time so I move them to another tank. I agree with the "go-look" idea and see what really looks interesting. Inevitably, everything people recommend, you can't find locally. At least it's that way in my case usually. Kyle
 
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