30 gal stocking plans

[balloon molly]

hi guys
my b-day is next friday so i am going to get a 30 gal aquarium.
now ive done my homework for what i am going to need but i am clueless on what
kinds of fish i am going to put in so if you guys have any suggestions please post(i am hopeing for a community tank )

 

[spAcE mOnkEy]

a shoal of neon tetras or cardnal tetras is nice. maybe some goromis

 

[MrMashashin]

omg get neons and some bleck skirts AKA blackwidow tetras and some black phantoms tetras and to top it off a pair of guarami

 

[bshockstubb]

I wouldn't get Black Skirt tetra unless you are going for a semi-agrresive tank. i bought them only to find out that they are fin-nippers and they have killed 16 of my zebra danios and 8 of my guppies!!! BEWARE!

 

[balloon molly]

im thinkin of goin with
3 balloon mollies
5 gold barbs
6 black neon tetras
6 cories
2 red flame dwarf gourami
possibly 4 oto cats if i can find some(found them in texas)
3 swordtails(green(1m,2f)
is this ok for a 30 gal tank

 

[balloon molly]

ok went to my lfs
and i am thinkin about

4xkuhli loaches
6xrummy nose tetras
6xglowlight tetras
3xballoon mollies
6xcories
2xblue rams
6xcherry barbs
3xgreen swordtails(1m,2f)
1xbetta
3xred wag platy(1m,2f)
1 siamese algae eater(found some true ones )

 

[shrimpster97]

ok went to my lfs
and i am thinkin about

4xkuhli loaches
6xrummy nose tetras
6xglowlight tetras
3xballoon mollies
6xcories
2xblue rams
6xcherry barbs
3xgreen swordtails(1m,2f)
1xbetta
3xred wag platy(1m,2f)
1 siamese algae eater(found some true ones )

That sounds AWSOME!! especially the blue rams! man that is gonna be one nice aqaurium! post pics when you get it set up!

 

[NinjaSmurf]

If I'm not mistaken I think cherry barbs are fin nippers...
Kuhli loaches are great as long as you don't have an underground filter, I heard they have a tendency to get into the pipes and under the gravel, and it's a real pain trying to get them out again...
I think the betta would work, but... it depends on the betta. Mine can't even stand to be in with female guppies, and they don't have long bright tails either.

 

[David]

It sounds good, but take it slow. That seems overstocked for a 30, but you could do it with a powerful filtration system and if you keep up with water changes. I really like your selection of livebearers, they work well together with the cories. What type of cories though? There are so many to choose from. Possible problems you may encounter: cherry barbs can nip fins and wouldn't work well with the betta. Rummy-noses are extremely sensitive and need a mature tank. If your water quality is subpar, they will be the first to show it. Also the rams can get territorial when spawning and may be aggressive towards your cories or kuhlis, and any other bottom-dwellers that approach their area. Other than that it sounds really good, good luck!

 

[jacblades]

im thinking that sounds overstocked too. youve got 39 fish in that list and i know just about all of them are or grow over one inch.
i would forget the betta since they are so often victims of fin nipping in community tanks and definately leave out the sae. those things can suck onto your fish and kill them.

 

[balloon molly]

ok ill take out the betta and cherry barbs and the sae
im thinkin for filtration is a whisper hang on filter.
so
ill guess il go with
4xcoolies
3xbronze,3xalbino cories
6xglowlight tetras
6xneon tetras
2xblue rams
3xballoon mollies
3xgreen swords
3xred wag platys
1xapple snail
is this better?
the rams i saw were in a tank with silver mollies and none of them had any signs of damage so ill go with them
sorry i dont have a digi can but ill see if i can get a camera phone and know how to work it
im thinkin of stocking each group of fish for a period of 3 months each

 

[willywonka099]

Sounds great the live bearers can be added together at once but I'm iffy about the 1m:2f ratio on the sword male sword seem to be more aggresive and need atleast 3 females in my opinion not to harass a female to death while giving birth

 

[balloon molly]

ok ill add 3 females and 1 male swordtail.i cant wait until i have them all in my tank.once if i get a camera phone and i know how to use it ill post pics

 

[canarsie11]

Cories Cories Cories

 

[modernhamlet]

4xcoolies
3xbronze,3xalbino cories
6xglowlight tetras
6xneon tetras
2xblue rams
3xballoon mollies
3xgreen swords
3xred wag platys
1xapple snail

I still think you're going to be a bit overstocked. Even with good filtration, there is only so much space for even peaceful community fish to comfortably share. I'd remove one of the livebearer species and one of your two tetra schools. That would give everyone a little more living space. Believe me, a balanced community tank is far more attractive than one crammed to the proverbial gills with fish.

One last correction as well...

...and definately leave out the sae. those things can suck onto your fish and kill them.

The SAE, Siamese Algae Eater, will not "suck onto your fish and kill them". They are a peaceful fish that I've found very enjoyable in a community tank. And they are great at dealing with numerous types of algae, even types most other fish don't eat. The fish jacblades is referring to is undoubtedly the Chinese Algae Eater (CAE), which does in fact get aggressive as it matures. If you do get an SAE, make certain you're getting a Crossocheilus siamensis, as there are a lot of "lookalikes" sold as the SAE in LFS's.

For more information on the Algae Eating Cyprinids, check out this great page:

http/www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/

Good luck with your new tank, bm!