Help Stocking New 29 Gallon Freshwater Tank!

[NewTankGuy]

[SIZE=9pt]OK I need some help! I am starting a 29 Gal, moderate-to-heavily planted freshwater tank.  It is cycled now, and all that is in there are all the plants (around 10-12 small ones), and my baby Bristle Nosed Pelco.  I am looking for some good stocking suggestions.[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=9pt]What I put in here I want to be able to stay in here, meaning that I don’t want to have to move the fish once it matures and becomes full sized.[/SIZE]
 
 
 
[SIZE=9pt]I want 1, or 1 group of larger “show fish” to be the focal point.  Then I want a bunch (relevant to the size of the tank) smaller fish, but I would really like to have around 3-5 different species of fish in there, not counting the pelco. [/SIZE]
 
 
 
[SIZE=9pt]I love color, so I want things that are BRIGHT and fun to watch, as this tank sits next to my desk at work, so I will spend all day, every day staring at it, so I want it to keep my attention when I am taking a lil daydreaming break at work lol.[/SIZE]
 
 
[SIZE=9pt]So let me know what you think!![/SIZE]

 

[Wills]

Sounds like a nice plan
 
If it were me something like
 
3-4 Apistos or Latacaras
4 Spotted Headstanders
10 Cardinal Tetras (or any of the torpedo shaped Tetras really)
10 Pygmy Cories
1 Bristlenose Plec
 
If you chose the Apistos keep them in a trio of 1 male 2 females - Apistogramma Panduro are my favorite because of how attractive the females are but there are loads of other nice ones Honsloi, Fire Red Agazzi etc. Or if you went for the Laetacaras your looking at Laetacara Dorsiger or Laetacara Curviceps a group of 4 will be nice in the tank dont worry about genders too much as they are so placid if two pair off the others wont notice and the pair wont pay much attention to the other fish.
 
The headstanders will make a nice group with interesting swimming behavior and in a group they look great I put Cardinal Tetras but any of that kind of Tetra will work, Platinum, Glowlight, Head and Tail Light, Rummy Nose etc.
 
Pygmy Cories for the bottom in a 30g your fine with this kind of tank with the cichlids, plenty of room for them to all co-exist You could also look at Panda Cories as they stay quite small also but have a bit more girth to them.
 
Wills

 

[NewTankGuy]

Great thanks! Those Apistos look so sweet!!! and I like the idea of the Cories, I have 7  of the Green ones in my 75 gal and there so fun to watch, and do a awesome job keeping things tidy in there!

 

[Byron]

My suggestion would be to perhaps consider some upper-water fish.  Most of the species suggested so far are mid-to-lower range fish, that generally prefer to remain in the lower half of the tank.  This can vary a bit, depending upon the plantings, other decor like wood, and the other fish species; I have had largish groups of cardinals remain in the lower 1/4 of the tank except when feeding, while in another tank the group of 12 remains mid-tank perpetually.  But they are basically lower-water column fish, as are the cichlids and corys obviously.
 
Pencilfish usually remain in the upper third/half, most species anyway.  Hatchetfish of the genus Carnegiella (which are the smallest hatchets) are surface dwellers; the Marble hatchetfish or the Black-winged Hatchetfish (Carnegiella strigata and C. marthae respectively) in a group of 8-12.  Obviously not all these together, but they are some options to fill the space.
 
No mention is made of your water parameters (GH primarily, but also pH) and some of these have fairly specific ranges as they may be wild caught.
 
Byron.

 

[NewTankGuy]

Thanks for the suggestions Byron! I dont have a GH test kit (yet), but the pH in this tank is about 6.8 to 7.0.  

 

[Byron]

Thanks for the suggestions Byron! I dont have a GH test kit (yet), but the pH in this tank is about 6.8 to 7.0.  

 
Just so you don't waste money, you can ascertain the GH and KH of your tap water from the municipality (water supply, probably they have a website).  Once you know this, it is unlikely to change in the tank unless you specifically target it somehow, such as by using clacareous substrate which will raise the GH (and pH of course).  B.