Stocking My First Tank

[Rediahs]

Hi guys,

I am not actually stocking my tank yet as I still have to do a fishless cycle on it. But a girl can dream can't she!!! I figure it's never too early to try to figure out what I want in there.

Oops I didn't say at first how big it is.... it's a 29 gallon tank. (30 x 18 x 12)

Right now my wishlist goes as follows:

10 Cardinal tetras
6 Ottos
4 Cherry shrimp
1 African dwarf frog

Does anyone see any problems with that? I am aware of the "inch per gallon" rule and I came up with 29.5 inches.... is this overstocked? I hope not... does anyone have any advice, see any problems with the stocking, suggest any fish I should replace and use?

By the way I am aware that Ottos tend to die. I am planning on only getting them if the fish store has had them at least a week, has been feeding them and I can see their round bellies, I've heard that this should all safeguard against dead ottos... I just LOVE the darn things, they are so cute!!!

Second part to this question: I also have a betta, do you think he'd be okay joining the community, or should he stay in his own tank? I would like to have him join because I don't have anyplace to put him now (the 29 gallon stole his spot!!! He's on the floor now, but doesn't seem to mind).

Oh another thing!!! I will have indian almond leaves to lower the pH, I've heard that both Cardinals and Bettas love this, but what about the other fish? Will they be miffed? Our pH is pretty high - I tested it today and it's 8.0 okay so it should come down, ideally. I ordered the indian almond leaves for my bettas but realized the cardinals will indeed enjoy them too and have considered putting them in the 29.

 

[hollanda88]

Hi guys,

I am not actually stocking my tank yet as I still have to do a fishless cycle on it. But a girl can dream can't she!!! I figure it's never too early to try to figure out what I want in there.

Oops I didn't say at first how big it is.... it's a 29 gallon tank. (30 x 18 x 12)

Right now my wishlist goes as follows:

10 Cardinal tetras
6 Ottos
4 Cherry shrimp
1 African dwarf frog

Does anyone see any problems with that? I am aware of the "inch per gallon" rule and I came up with 29.5 inches.... is this overstocked? I hope not... does anyone have any advice, see any problems with the stocking, suggest any fish I should replace and use?

By the way I am aware that Ottos tend to die. I am planning on only getting them if the fish store has had them at least a week, has been feeding them and I can see their round bellies, I've heard that this should all safeguard against dead ottos... I just LOVE the darn things, they are so cute!!!

Second part to this question: I also have a betta, do you think he'd be okay joining the community, or should he stay in his own tank? I would like to have him join because I don't have anyplace to put him now (the 29 gallon stole his spot!!! He's on the floor now, but doesn't seem to mind).

Oh another thing!!! I will have indian almond leaves to lower the pH, I've heard that both Cardinals and Bettas love this, but what about the other fish? Will they be miffed? Our pH is pretty high - I tested it today and it's 8.0 okay so it should come down, ideally. I ordered the indian almond leaves for my bettas but realized the cardinals will indeed enjoy them too and have considered putting them in the 29.

The cardinals will nip the fins of the betta so thats a no no. You 29G isn't overstocked at that, sounds quite empty lol, if you get the pH doen to 7 that should be ok

Are you looking at having a centre piece fish in the 29G or not?

andrew

 

[tenohfive]

I'd say that list now is a good start. You will be able to add others - as Andrew says, a centre piece fish would be an option but depending on what fish you go for I'd wait till the tanks been established for 3 months or so. Then they should be fine. I'd think about something like a pair of German Blue Rams or Bolivian Rams.

Some Otto's can be short lived - again, I'd add them after a few months once the tanks matured a bit.

As for the pH, I wouldn't worry about it - I take it you'll be getting them from a local fish shop (LFS) ? If so, they'll be used to the high pH. A steady pH and good water quality is much more important than the actual level to most fish - GBR's for example like a low pH, but I've kept a pair in a pH of 8.2 for the better part of a year with no problems at all.

 

[Rediahs]

The cardinals will nip the fins of the betta so thats a no no. You 29G isn't overstocked at that, sounds quite empty lol, if you get the pH doen to 7 that should be ok

Are you looking at having a centre piece fish in the 29G or not?

andrew

I never thought about a centre piece fish. I tend to like little fish and especially if they school, lol, that would be awesome. But now that you say it, maybe it would look better with one or two? What would you recommend?

 

[Rediahs]

Would a pearl gourami be good in the tank? Or would he be too big/pick on others?

 

[Rediahs]

Bump because this has gone quite down the pages.