Stocking Questions

[timbruun]

i have a 29 gal tank up and running and was curious about stocking it. it is cycled and i used mature media so that's not a problem. but i am prepared to do water changes if the need arises. so i picked up today
2 angel fish, 2 dwarf frogs, 10 white clouds, 2 albino bristlenose, 2 blue ram, 5 neon tetra and 5 glowlight tetras.

only problem is i'm not if i like it that way. wondering if i should return them and getting less of somethign bigger? or could i add more? am i stocked as is?
i'm leaning more towards the different fish. and in that case what would be my best bet? i want something active at all levels of the tank and i realized now that i'm home that it needs to handle some current. i have a aquaclear 110 on this tank so it's quite a bit. and since i have enough filtration i don't mind overstocking a bit. i wouldn't mind having a nice colorfull community tank with a few schooling fish. but less of a single type if they are active would be really cool too. something even with a personality.
any help is great
thanks

 

[glolite]

I would return the angel fish as they can get quite large, around 10 inches in depth and may become quite aggressive especially as a pair.

In stocking terms the rest are fine but bristlenoses really are sensitive fish and don't do well in a newly set up tank, the lfs should have told you this. They need to be added after the tank is established after 6 months or so.

Rams can also be quite delicate but if your natural tap water is naturally soft around pH 6 to 6.5 they may be ok. If they're not happy they will go very pale, lose their colouration and lurk around in the corner of the tank.

Hope this helps

 

[arobinson1984]

Agree with glolite,

The angels will get too big for the tank UNLESS its a 29 gal tall tank. What are the dimensions of the tank? Angels need a minimum of 18" tall tank.

The neons are also very sensitive and shouldnt really be added to tanks younger than 6 months old as they tend to drop like flies, also I'd only put 1 bristlenose in that size tank, as they grow you will have alot of trouble keeping the water clean with the amount of waste they produce.

Andy

 

[timbruun]

the tank is 30x12.5x18 inches. and some of my neons got sucked into the filter tube last night. kinda what i was worried about. so i'll have to see about adding a cover to the intake. and what else can i add to the tank then? or are there any suggestions to changing it completely?

 

[arobinson1984]

If the 18" you mentioned is the height then you MIGHT be ok with the angels but the tank is still a bit small. If you wanted an angel, you would be much better with 1 because if the 2 dont pair off then they will become aggressive.

Also not sure if you're aware but angels will eat neons when the angels get bigger because neons are a natural food for angel fish in the wild.

Personally, I would rehome:

1 Angel, leaving you with just one in the tank
1 BN plec as the waste created as they grow will be huge.
The neons if you want to keep the angel(s)

My preference is just a few different types of fish in a tank rather than a mish mash of lots of different fish, I think it looks a lot better. I would do the following:

A centrepiece fish or pair of centrepeice fish such as gouramis, rams, 1 angel if you decide to keep one of the two
2 different types of shoaling fish such as tetras (not neons or cardinals with angels) harlequins, rasboras, roughly 8/10 of each dependant on which you choose.
Bottom feeders such as 6 x corys (I personally like sterbai corys)
1 x BN plec

To stop fish getting stuck in the filter, fix a pair of stockings over the filter intake.

Andy

 

[timbruun]

how many of the small tetras could i get? i assume they aren't much bioload. and are the cory's shoaling fish too? and you mean to pick one of the centrepiece you mean, not one/some of each.

 

[arobinson1984]

That's what I would do personally.

Yes pick one type of centrepiece fish and plan your tank around that choice.

You have to be careful with tetras if you choose to keep the angels. Black neons are ok as they are a bit bigger than normal neons, I believe glowlights will be ok too.

Harlequins and rasboras would both be ok as they have a different body shape.

Corys tend to stick together in packs and should be kept in a minimum group of 4-6 as they are alot more active and confident in larger groups

Andy

 

[timbruun]

Great. I'll go have a look at my lfs and see what they have. Thanks for the quick replies.

 

[marksayer10@tiscali.co.uk]

i have a 29 gal tank up and running and was curious about stocking it. it is cycled and i used mature media so that's not a problem. but i am prepared to do water changes if the need arises. so i picked up today
2 angel fish, 2 dwarf frogs, 10 white clouds, 2 albino bristlenose, 2 blue ram, 5 neon tetra and 5 glowlight tetras.

only problem is i'm not if i like it that way. wondering if i should return them and getting less of somethign bigger? or could i add more? am i stocked as is?
i'm leaning more towards the different fish. and in that case what would be my best bet? i want something active at all levels of the tank and i realized now that i'm home that it needs to handle some current. i have a aquaclear 110 on this tank so it's quite a bit. and since i have enough filtration i don't mind overstocking a bit. i wouldn't mind having a nice colorfull community tank with a few schooling fish. but less of a single type if they are active would be really cool too. something even with a personality.
any help is great
thanks

I Agree with glolite