First Post. Lots Of Questions...

[Staccat0]

Useless Backstory:
When I was a kid I was obsessed with fish and aquariums. My parents were poor and drug addicts, but through wheeling and dealing with strangers they ended up providing me with two fish tanks. The first was tropical the second marine (I still dont know HOW this happened, but it even came with fish!). things were never steady or ideal, but thanks to lots of reading and luck I never had many casualties.

Over a decade later I'm looking to pick the hobby back up. I long ago lost all my stuff the same way I got it, but my fiance has become obsessed with getting me a tank for Christmas. Today we got a cheap 29 Gallon starter kit and stand.
I've currently got both a power filter (it came with) and an undergravel filter. Its currently just running empty. yommorrow I'm gonna see if I can't get a used filter from a fish shop to help cycle things.

The Beef:
I've read most of the pinned stuff..,
I want a traditional, boring, community tank.
With no more talk here are the Qs:
1. She wants a Khulie Loach. Can this be done humanely? My book says they needa 48 gallon or larger. Is this accurate in your guys' oppinion? I've never messed with them, but thought they were a pretty standard "small tank" fish... Also do they need sand to thrive? If do any of you have any simple solutions having a "sandy patch" in a small tank with a UG filter?
2. I've read a lot of differing oppinions on adding food to speed up the cycle. With frequent water changes (and gravel stirring)I could understand the logic, but it seems a little scary too.
3. how "bubbly" should my UG filters be? When I was a kid I seem to remember them making quite a bit of bubbles, but my current set up looks almost stagnant. I know its getting air, but maybe its not enough? its says "up to 40 Gal" but I've got it running through a splitter with a bubbke wand (her pick )
4. Lastly, the inevitable "how's my stock picks" question.
6x Zebra Danios
1x Dwarf Gourami
1x Bulldog Pleco (rubberlipped? same? I get a lot of different info on these guys and how big they are)
Not sure what should come next. I like Bettas in my communities a lot, but I'm wondering if he'll get nipped by the danios or punch my Gourami in the face.
the Khuli Loach is a very weak maybe right now unless you guys convince me otherwise. I'm considering Hatchets, but I think I'd rather have another single larger fish like the gourami. Any ideas?
I'm trying to follow 1in=1gal so every slot needs to bring something to the table.

Sorry for posting a novel. Any help/ suggestions would be great. Thank you!

 

[paul_219]

ASk a question lol.

 

[Staccat0]

ASk a question lol.

Sorry?

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Hello and welcome to the forums!

1. I am not an expert on loaches but I know khulis need to be kept in groups and I can't imagine how you would stop a patch of sand spreading into the gravel or vice versa. Someone else might be able to help more but my gut feeling would be no.
2. Cycling - you NEED to read the pinned topics on fishless cycling. Getting mature filter media is a great idea. You will then need to add ammonia / food to the tank to keep the bacteria alive. You also need to buy a master test kit (the liquid kind, not the paper strips).
3. I have no experience with undergravel filters.
4 a) Danios might do better in a bigger tank as I hear they can really zip around. Maybe a small shoal of tetras / a group of male guppies would be better?
b ) I don't know much about gouramis.
c) Make sure you get the scientific name of the pleco and check its final size before you buy it. Some of those guys get biiiiigggg very quick, way to big for your tank.
5. I would advise against keeping a betta in a community tank without keeping a very close eye on him and the other fish and having a smaller tank on standby for him in case there are any problems. Although lots of people have made it work, there are also lots of horror stories. I would think that any other surface fish (like a gourami) or nippy fish (like danios) wouldn't be ideal tankmates, nor would anything with long fins.

My final word of advice would be -- trust the forums rather than the fish shop. Although individuals on the forums will disagree you will eventually end up with some sort of consensus, from people who have actual experience of keeping the fish. Often (not always) the person in the fish shop is just interested in making a sale. The more research you do now, the less casualties you will have later.

I hope someone else can help you more with your stocking plans. In the meantime, good luck!

 

[mark.w.jones]

1. She wants a Khulie Loach. Can this be done humanely? My book says they needa 48 gallon or larger. Is this accurate in your guys' oppinion? I've never messed with them, but thought they were a pretty standard "small tank" fish... Also do they need sand to thrive? If do any of you have any simple solutions having a "sandy patch" in a small tank with a UG filter?

Sand and an UGF is a definite no and yes, kuhlis do prefer a sandy substrate. There's you dilemma. Not sure why you would run an UGF on a large tank a canister is far and away the better option. Also bear in mind that Kuhlis are very cautious, tend to hide most of the day and usually only come out to feed at night as they are largely nocturnal.

2. I've read a lot of differing oppinions on adding food to speed up the cycle. With frequent water changes (and gravel stirring)I could understand the logic, but it seems a little scary too.

A proper fishless cycle is far quicker, more clinical and more accurate with pure ammonia solution. There are many posts on where to buy it. Follow the "Add & Wait" method from the link in my sig. before adding any fish as most members on this forum have.

3. how "bubbly" should my UG filters be? When I was a kid I seem to remember them making quite a bit of bubbles, but my current set up looks almost stagnant. I know its getting air, but maybe its not enough? its says "up to 40 Gal" but I've got it running through a splitter with a bubbke wand (her pick )

Aha, now I know why you were asking about the UGF. As this has to run with gravel then, I would say that getting Kuhli loaches would not be a great idea. As I mentioned earlier, hardly anyone uses UGF anymore as canisters are so much more efficient, flexible and easier to use / maintain. Apart from that, I can offer no advice as I have never used one

4. Lastly, the inevitable "how's my stock picks" question.

6x Zebra Danios
1x Dwarf Gourami
1x Bulldog Pleco (rubberlipped? same? I get a lot of different info on these guys and how big they are)
Not sure what should come next. I like Bettas in my communities a lot, but I'm wondering if he'll get nipped by the danios or punch my Gourami in the face.
the Khuli Loach is a very weak maybe right now unless you guys convince me otherwise. I'm considering Hatchets, but I think I'd rather have another single larger fish like the gourami. Any ideas?

That looks like a good starting selection. I wouldn't recommend Dwarf Gouramis though. Many end up dying randomly of internal bacterial diseases at the drop of a hat. Sparkling, Pearl or Honey Gouramis would be a much better option. The Betta is a definite no. They are very poor community fish as they can attack to the death at random, struggle to get any food at feeding time cos theyre crap swimmers and often have their long fins nipped to pieces by smaller fish. I would say that Cories would be a better option instead of the loaches and that a bulldog pleco will be fine as they only reach around 3"



I'm trying to follow 1in=1gal so every slot needs to bring something to the table.

 

[freerunner416]

Khulis do prefer the sand but it depends what gravel you have. The smaller gravel can allow them to bury and they can thrive as well I am sure. I currently have three of them and they are fine. The black khuli loaches do spend more time out in the day than the striped variety. They are great for hoovering up all the crap that is lying about.

Hope that helps

 

[Staccat0]

thanks for the replies.
I had read the pinned stuff about cycling, but was a bit confused about the food thing. Now I see it as a completely different method. Things are more clear. Went out and got a test kit tonight I start the ammonia stuff...
Thanks to everybody who tried.