35 GALLON STOCKING IDEAS!

Geordie Paul · May 5, 2020

Hey everyone! I just setup a 33 gallon long aquarium I’m super excited! I’ll be cycling it for a good month or so, so in that time I was wondering what my best and most unique options are! The tank will be planted with Anubis, Java ferns some crypts and sinking driftwood as well. My substrate is the black clay fluoride. Anyways I was thinking of adding a small group of African Cichlids along with a Bristlenose pleco. Would this be reasonable? Also, what are your thoughts? I'd love to hear some suggestions! (Please note: the filter is fairly strong so the top of the tank is always moving with a small current so I don't want to add any fish that will be bothered by that.)

JuiceBox52 · May 5, 2020

Hi

First we need to know your GH (general hardness) You should be able to find this information on you local water providers website

Geordie Paul · May 5, 2020

JuiceBox52 said:
Hi

First we need to know your GH (general hardness) You should be able to find this information on you local water providers website

Thanks! In my area it's 20-24 (gpg)

Byron · May 5, 2020

Agree, and for African cichlids do you mean rift lake cichlids or the soft water species like kribensis? The rift lake cichlids are hard water fish.

While I was typing, you posted the GH. 20 gpg equates to 342 ppm which is equivalent to 19 dGH. [The units ppm and dGH are the ones used in the hobby.] So this is fairly hard water. Rift lake cichlids are suited, but the tank space is the next issue, which I will leave for one of our rift lake experts to explain. You cannot have a Bristlenose in with these fish, due to water params and also the aggressive nature of the cichlids (usually).

JuiceBox52 · May 5, 2020

If you wanted to lessen the gh so you could have softer water fish you would mix half tap water with half RO (reverse osmosis) water

Geordie Paul · May 5, 2020

Byron said:
Agree, and for African cichlids do you mean rift lake cichlids or the soft water species like kribensis? The rift lake cichlids are hard water fish.

While I was typing, you posted the GH. 20 gpg equates to 342 ppm which is equivalent to 19 dGH. [The units ppm and dGH are the ones used in the hobby.] So this is fairly hard water. Rift lake cichlids are suited, but the tank space is the next issue, which I will leave for one of our rift lake experts to explain. You cannot have a Bristlenose in with these fish, due to water params and also the aggressive nature of the cichlids (usually).

Thanks for the reply. And yes the lake cichlids is what I'm targeting. I was told that over 30 gallons is okay since that species don't typically grow large. Also would there be any type of bottom feeder suitable to live with cichlids?

JuiceBox52 · May 5, 2020

Geordie Paul said:
Thanks for the reply. And yes the lake cichlids is what I'm targeting. I was told that over 30 gallons is okay since that species don't typically grow large. Also would there be any type of bottom feeder suitable to live with cichlids?

Are you wanting a bottom feeder as a clean up crew or because you like bottom feeders?

Geordie Paul · May 5, 2020

JuiceBox52 said:
Are you wanting a bottom feeder as a clean up crew or because you like bottom feeders?

I would like one for both reasons actually! In my other aquarium I've had my corys for almost 3 years now

JuiceBox52 · May 5, 2020

Geordie Paul said:
I would like one for both reasons actually! In my other aquarium I've had my corys for almost 3 years now

I would say you could maybe have a common pleco, but they get very large, create a lot of waste, and only feed on algae when they are young, after that you have to feed them. I could be wrong, your water may be too hard tho

Geordie Paul · May 5, 2020

JuiceBox52 said:
I would say you could maybe have a common pleco, but they get very large, create a lot of waste, and only feed on algae when they are young, after that you have to feed them. I could be wrong, your water may be too hard tho

Yeah a common pleco will out grow my tank unfortunately

Essjay · May 6, 2020

Geordie Paul said:
The tank will be planted with Anubis, Java ferns some crypts and sinking driftwood as well. My substrate is the black clay fluoride.

Rift Lake cichlid keepers will correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always understood that tanks for these fish should have sand or some type of calcareous substrate; that the decor should be rocks rather than driftwood; and that plants other than anubias and java fern (which are grown attached to decor) will be dug up by the fish and/or eaten.

Please tell me if I'm wrong!

Byron · May 6, 2020

Catching up on a couple of things...

There are some rift lake cichlids that would work in a 33g long tank (presumably 36 inch/90 cm tank length) but the members with more knowledge of these beautiful fish willhave to advise you/us. There are certainly some catfish in these lakes, but the common South American species need softer water and there could be other issues as well.

As for plants, Vallisneria is native to some areas in the rift lakes, as it thrives in harder water. Some of these fish are herbivores, some graze algae, so it depends upon species. Crypts are not likely to manage though, they are quite delicate.

utahfish · May 6, 2020

essjay said:
Rift Lake cichlid keepers will correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always understood that tanks for these fish should have sand or some type of calcareous substrate; that the decor should be rocks rather than driftwood; and that plants other than anubias and java fern (which are grown attached to decor) will be dug up by the fish and/or eaten.

Please tell me if I'm wrong!

Ruby red peacocks get around 3 to 4 inches and are really pretty and blue neons get about 4 to 5 inches both are beautiful fish.
You are correct about substrate and plants. They dig so small gravel or sand is ideal i wouldnt try any plants other than what you can tie down to rocks like jave fern or anubius theyll just up root and move them around.
Flavescent cichlids get around 6 inches so a little bigger but not huge. All 3 of these fish can be housed together.
As for cat fish im not sure in that size tank???

Geordie Paul · May 6, 2020

essjay said:
Anubis Java ferns are the top 2 plants listed for Cichlids from multiple online sources...

utahfish said:

Ruby red peacocks get around 3 to 4 inches and are really pretty and blue neons get about 4 to 5 inches both are beautiful fish.
You are correct about substrate and plants. They dig so small gravel or sand is ideal i wouldnt try any plants other than what you can tie down to rocks like jave fern or anubius theyll just up root and move them around.
Flavescent cichlids get around 6 inches so a little bigger but not huge. All 3 of these fish can be housed together.
As for cat fish im not sure in that size tank???

Click to expand...

Rift Lake cichlid keepers will correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always understood that tanks for these fish should have sand or some type of calcareous substrate; that the decor should be rocks rather than driftwood; and that plants other than anubias and java fern (which are grown attached to decor) will be dug up by the fish and/or eaten.

Please tell me if I'm wrong!

Essjay · May 6, 2020

That's sort of what I meant. Anubias and java fern are fine as they are grown attached to decor, but no plants that are rooted in the substrate or they'll be uprooted by the fish. And possibly eaten. Fish tend not to eat anubias and java fern.

Black clay fluorite is a plant substrate which won't be needed if there are no plants rooted in it. And if your water is not quite hard enough, you'll need to use a calcareous substrate for African cichlids (assuming you mean cichlids from one of the Rift Lakes rather than kribs which are soft water fish)

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35 GALLON STOCKING IDEAS!

Geordie Paul

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