29gal Stocking Options?

[Byron]

Alright, I tested my already existing aquarium and here were the results:
pH: 7
gH: 30
kH: 40

Is the unit of measure for the GH and KH in degrees or ppm (parts per million)?

 

[bluboy]

Is the unit of measure for the GH and KH in degrees or ppm (parts per million)?

ppm

 

[WhistlingBadger]

How sure are you about those measurements? 30 ppm is very soft water. 30 degrees is very hard.

 

[Byron]

I'll assume it is ppm then and just say that hard water fish like all livebearers are out. But you have a huge choice among the soft water species, which from the initial post seems to be what you are interested in. The pH at 7 makes sense with soft water, and it will lower in the aquarium once fish are introduced but that is not a problem, let it do what it wants.

 

[bluboy]

How sure are you about those measurements? 30 ppm is very soft water. 30 degrees is very hard.

I'm fairly certain that those measurements are accurate.

 

[bluboy]

I'll assume it is ppm then and just say that hard water fish like all livebearers are out. But you have a huge choice among the soft water species, which from the initial post seems to be what you are interested in. The pH at 7 makes sense with soft water, and it will lower in the aquarium once fish are introduced but that is not a problem, let it do what it wants.

So a gourami would still be an option then?

 

[Byron]

So a gourami would still be an option then?

"Gourami" yes, but only the small species. I do not consider a 29g to be sufficient space for a group which is really best with this beauty.

Smaller gourami include the pygmy sparkling gourami which I believe is more commonly available than some of the others.

Then there are the rasboras, many of them in a group of 10-12. Many of the tetras are small enough, also in a group of 10-12. If you have sand, you could have a group of the kuhli loaches, or a group of corydoras catfish.

Edit. I forgot about the Honey Gourami, that's an option in a trio (1 male, 2 female).

 

[sharkweek178]

So a gourami would still be an option then?

My honey gourami is the centerpiece fish for my 29 gallon. One thing about gouramis is they don't like a lot of water flow. They come from swampy waters so they aren't built for it. So you want filtration to be gentle.

 

[Acorno]

So a gourami would still be an option then?

Most certainly you can add a gourami. Just make sure you’re ready for a little aggression.

 

[Genxredhead]

A few issues here. First, I would leave out the otos for the beginning of the tank and get them after the tank is established and matured, by which time there should be natural algae. Common green algae and diatoms will be eaten by otos, but not "problem" algae. But the issue is that they are imported and nearly starved, and frequently they die in a new aquarium because there is no algae, and they usually have not yet discovered that veggie/algae/kelp/spirulina sinking foods are food. Also, five is a lot for a 29g. This is a shoaling/schooling species, but the numbers are less of an issue because of its behaviours. I had five in a 90g tank and never witnessed them together at all. Two of them spawned, but that was the only interaction I was aware of. Course, at night they may really "go to town" for all I know! If you like this fish as a fish (and are not getting it solely to deal with algae) I would wait.

Kuhli do need a larger group. And they must have soft sand because they like to burrow. In some tanks they are never seen.

Gourami. There are several small species that would do very well in this sized tank. I would keep Pearls in nothing under 3 feet length, and in a small group of one male and two or three females. One on his/her own doesn't sound too good. This is a lovely gourtami, and in a group it will really display itself.

Can you give us the GH and pH of your source water (tao)? We are considering some fish that need it soft, and if it happens to be very hard, it will impact options.

Alright, I tested my already existing aquarium and here were the results:
pH: 7
gH: 30
kH: 40

A few issues here. First, I would leave out the otos for the beginning of the tank and get them after the tank is established and matured, by which time there should be natural algae. Common green algae and diatoms will be eaten by otos, but not "problem" algae. But the issue is that they are imported and nearly starved, and frequently they die in a new aquarium because there is no algae, and they usually have not yet discovered that veggie/algae/kelp/spirulina sinking foods are food. Also, five is a lot for a 29g. This is a shoaling/schooling species, but the numbers are less of an issue because of its behaviours. I had five in a 90g tank and never witnessed them together at all. Two of them spawned, but that was the only interaction I was aware of. Course, at night they may really "go to town" for all I know! If you like this fish as a fish (and are not getting it solely to deal with algae) I would wait.

Kuhli do need a larger group. And they must have soft sand because they like to burrow. In some tanks they are never seen.

Gourami. There are several small species that would do very well in this sized tank. I would keep Pearls in nothing under 3 feet length, and in a small group of one male and two or three females. One on his/her own doesn't sound too good. This is a lovely gourtami, and in a group it will really display itself.

Can you give us the GH and pH of your source water (tao)? We are considering some fish that need it soft, and if it happens to be very hard, it will impact options.

So I have one Kuhli in my 29 gallon tank with 6 corydoras, 4 black phantom tetras and a Japanese guppy pair. Is this a bad set-up for the Kuhli?

 

[Essjay]

Yes it is. They need to be in a group, and with just one it is likely to be stressed and hide all the time.

The tetras also need a group of at least 10. And the cories also need a bigger shoal.



Research has now shown that shoaling fish do better in a group of 10+.

 

[Genxredhead]

Yes it is. They need to be in a group, and with just one it is likely to be stressed and hide all the time.

The tetras also need a group of at least 10. And the cories also need a bigger shoal.



Research has now shown that shoaling fish do better in a group of 10+.

I had more tetras but lost some and I don’t want to get more. Should I just take them back to my local shop?

I’ll return the Kuhli and get a few more Corys. Thanks for the help!!

 

[Essjay]

If the tetras are the remains of a shoal you can leave them to live out their lives as they are.

 

[Byron]

I was in the middle of commenting on the issues @Essjay raised earlier in post #26, but now that you are on a very different track no need to mention those.

The kuhlii would be best returned, agreed. And more Corydoras, definitely. BUT...Do you have soft sand as the substrate? I mentioned twice before but it has not been confirmed (or not). This is very important for cories.

Re the tetras, the Black Phantom are peaceful but would need a group of 10-12, which is OK here in this 29g which I assume is 30 inches/75 cm in length. But if you want another species or two or three, OK. How long have you had the four that are left? Might be best to return them if you really do not want the species. I have always been very fond of the Black and the Red Phantoms, but they are not to everyone's likes.

Be careful with other species, if any of the smaller gourami are still in the cards.

 

[Genxredhead]

I was in the middle of commenting on the issues @Essjay raised earlier in post #26, but now that you are on a very different track no need to mention those.

The kuhlii would be best returned, agreed. And more Corydoras, definitely. BUT...Do you have soft sand as the substrate? I mentioned twice before but it has not been confirmed (or not). This is very important for cories.

Re the tetras, the Black Phantom are peaceful but would need a group of 10-12, which is OK here in this 29g which I assume is 30 inches/75 cm in length. But if you want another species or two or three, OK. How long have you had the four that are left? Might be best to return them if you really do not want the species. I have always been very fond of the Black and the Red Phantoms, but they are not to everyone's likes.

Be careful with other species, if any of the smaller gourami are still in the cards.

Thanks for the input - much appreciated! I don’t mean this rudely but I just find the tetras to be kinda boring.

Yes, I have sand as the substrate.