Re-Doing My 29 Gallon Tank

hamfist · Apr 4, 2010

ozzkilledtoto said:
Ok so If I wanted say, a breeding pair of the german blue rams (they are quite beautiful), one or two of the smaller pleco species (L134 or something similar, also have always been a fan of the pleco that has really long fins and tail, just dont know much about them) and maybe like 3-4 kuhli loaches.. what else would I be able to get to get some action going on in the top and avoid overstocking? any ideas will be greatly appreciated. you all have been very helpful thus far.

I always like Red eye tetras or hatchetfish for the top layer of my large community tanks. For either, a shoal of at least 6 would be needed.

ozzkilledtoto · Apr 4, 2010

Ok, so i've been thinking of the set ups. Would I be able to pull this off or would this be overstocking :

1 - L134 Pleco
4 - Kuhli Loaches
2 - Blue Rams
10 - neon tetras

If I have any more space I'd like a pearl gourami or angel or something.. but chances are i'm closer to overstocking than not.

hamfist · Apr 4, 2010

ozzkilledtoto said:
Ok, so i've been thinking of the set ups. Would I be able to pull this off or would this be overstocking :

1 - L134 Pleco
4 - Kuhli Loaches
2 - Blue Rams
10 - neon tetras

If I have any more space I'd like a pearl gourami or angel or something.. but chances are i'm closer to overstocking than not.

That sounds very reasonable for a 29 Gallon, although all the fish are either bottom feeders or tend to inhabit the bottom half of the tank, even the rams and neons (even though do venture upwards at times).
An angel simply grows too big for a 29 gall (IMO). A pearl gourami, however, would probably be a reasonable addition to your main list, and also tends to live in the top half of the water column. I think that would all be fine in the tank, so long as your filtration and water change schedule is up to scratch.

ozzkilledtoto · Apr 4, 2010

i thought neon tetras mainly shoaled torwards the top. I am open to alternatives to the 10 tetras if anyone has em.

hamfist · Apr 5, 2010

ozzkilledtoto said:
i thought neon tetras mainly shoaled torwards the top. I am open to alternatives to the 10 tetras if anyone has em.

Nope, neons which are nicely settled in, will definately tend towards the midwater levels of the tank, usually about 1/2 of the way up from the bottom. Also, bear in mind, that they usually do not shoal tightly, unless frightened. Are you looking for a tight, shoaling species, or not bothered ?
In my experience cardinal tetras tend to hang out slightly higher in the water column than neons, but would still not be considered a surface dweller, or even an upper water level fish.

I have already given my suggestions for my favoured upper level shoalers.

Have alook around your LFS, you will soon see the species which tend towards the surface layers, although beware the tank which is so full of fish, that they have to fill all layer of the water just to find some space !