Severum Tank Size

[Wills]

I think I would do

1 Firemouth or Ellioti
1 Blue acara or similar Aequidens species
6 Black Ruby Barbs? - some kind of dithers for them
3 upside down catfish
2 bns
1 banjo catfish

In a 30g I would stick to just 2 medium cichlids TBH

Wills

 

[kizno1]

would this work? ( sorry if im being a bit of a pain its just theres quite a few diffrent once i like and i only have a small tank so can only keep a few)
1 Firemouth or Blue acara
1 angle fish
6 rainbow fish
3 upside down catfish
2 bns
1 banjo catfish
do you think because in only having a single cichlid on the bottom i might be able to keep my apisto aswell?

 

[Wills]

Not sure how angels mix with firemouths or acaras but they should be okay with the apistos. When you say rainbows do you mean the dwarf neons? That would be good I think, the other rainbows are just a bit too bit IMO for a school in that tank.

Wills

 

[GShorty1981]

I wouldn't risk the Firemouth with a Angel or a dwarf in a tank that small, You may get away with the Acara with the Apisto...but probably not, the Angel would be fine.

I would do this if i was you...

1 Angel
1 Blue Acara
1 BN
8 medium sized tetras (black widows, serpae, rosys, bleeding hearts, colombians etc)

Rainbows will be to big eventually to keep in a decent sized shoal in a 30g, to many catfish.

Always best to understock imo because tanks that are over require stupid amounts of maintenance.

 

[kizno1]

yh i was thinking of dwarf neons or threadfins but i thought the threadfins fins might get nipped a bit to much.

 

[GShorty1981]

bare in mind BA's and FM's have the potential to hit 8", so any shoaling fish you get will need to be around 3".

Again i seriously wouldn't go for that many Catfish, Plecs and Synos tend to be big time poop machines also.

 

[kizno1]

the bns are quite messy but the upside down catfish only get 2 inches and them and the banjo dont really seem to make much mess.

 

[Bebobb]

Hey Kizno! I like to see that you are considering redoing your 30 gallon! I, myself plan on buying a tank that size on Craigslist in the near future, and seeing what we can do with it! But lets throw my opinion in on what you should do with YOUR tank.

There are many things that you could put in this tank. You could have a pair of mating convicts, or even a pair of firemouths, but the tanksmates would be VERY limited, and I think that you have already decided against a pair. Here is what I would reccomend:
1 keyhole, or other Acara
1 pair or harem of Dwarf cichlids (Maybe move the pair you have now into this tank?)
10 Neon Tetras
1 Bristlenose Pleco
1 other school of 8 or so fish (like maybe Rasaboras, or have some platties)

This might not appeal to you, as it seems like you are looking at bigger fish? Sorry, but that is what I would LOVE to do with this tank that I am planning on in the near future.

 

[kizno1]

thats a ok stock but i would prefer to keep my catfish evan if it means i cant keep as many fish. and i dont really want small tetras and rasboras.

 

[Bebobb]

thats a ok stock but i would prefer to keep my catfish evan if it means i cant keep as many fish. and i dont really want small tetras and rasboras.

I think that you could manipulate your catfish in there some way...

And you could go with rainbow fish? Or larger tetras...

 

[kizno1]

yh i was thinking about rainbowfish. im not sure what i want so im guna think about it and deside on what cichlids i want

 

[Bebobb]

Okay, that sounds great!

 

[indigoj]

Upsidedown Catfish reach 4" not including tail so about 6" total length.

 

[kizno1]

would a pair on angels work if i just kept them and the catfish and maby a few dithers?

 

[Bebobb]

How tall is the tank? I'm sure you know this, but angels need a tank that is 18" high. A 20 gallon is the BARE minimum for an adult angel pair, so I would say that a 30 gallon should do. I have no expirence with angels though. I just base this information on readings.