My 30 Gallon Community (beginner)

[metal_fish]

First of all i just want to thank everyone for so much help you guys rock!

Anyways, I am Getting a Tank for Xmas and Wanted it to be done right.
There is nothing worse then when something dies in you care.

So It will be a 30 Gallon Tank And i need suggestions on a good filter also.
These are the fish that i would like to go in the tank.

Rainbow Fish ( Or Colorful Fish that would work in a 30 gal)
A pair of Pearl Gourami's ?
1 BristleNose Pleco
3 Ottos

Anways thats what i was thinkin. Also Can i set my tank up with mostly gravel then a beach area so 65% gravel 35% sand kinda thing.

Also i want 2 or 3 live plants Which ones do you suggest?

Thank you

[0morrokh]

Your tank plan sounds great to me. Make sure you get at least 6 Rainbows since they are shoaling fish. Also research the size of the species you want to get. Some Rainbows get quite big and would overstock your tank, so make sure you pick a smaller species. I personally like Threadfins, they are pretty cool looking.

You could do part sand and part gravel if you wanted, but eventually they would become mixed together (it's a lot of work to keep them separated I have heard).

Java fern and java moss are great un-killable blants, Aponogeton bulbs are cheap and grow super fast, I think Anubias are supposed to be pretty hardy to...just a few suggestions, you could check out www.plantgeek.net for plant info.

[metal_fish]

Originally Posted by 0morrokh

Your tank plan sounds great to me. Make sure you get at least 6 Rainbows since they are shoaling fish. Also research the size of the species you want to get. Some Rainbows get quite big and would overstock your tank, so make sure you pick a smaller species. I personally like Threadfins, they are pretty cool looking.

You could do part sand and part gravel if you wanted, but eventually they would become mixed together (it's a lot of work to keep them separated I have heard).

Java fern and java moss are great un-killable blants, Aponogeton bulbs are cheap and grow super fast, I think Anubias are supposed to be pretty hardy to...just a few suggestions, you could check out www.plantgeek.net for plant info.

Thanks well i could see it being hard to seperate gravel and sand hmm, what about those smooth natural stone that or all sand what is the best?
Also instead of 3 ottos i was thinking 3 corys but im still not sure thanks again

[metal_fish]

Well I got my aquarium Its actually a 29 gall and its used and it has some fish already in it. i havent messed with it yet but it was a great deal

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218...lpid=1&cat=371

[jsalemi]

Originally Posted by metal_fish

Also instead of 3 ottos i was thinking 3 corys but im still not sure thanks again

They actually serve different functions, and get along quite well together. Otos are algae eaters, so they're better for an established tank that has some algae growing in it. You can also feed them algae wafers, and they love vegetables like zucchini and cucumber.

Corys are bottom-feeders, and live on the food that makes it to the bottom of the tank that the rest of the fish miss. Like their bigger catfish cousins, they're a great part of the tank's clean-up crew.

[lilsoccakid]

i have both corys and otos, and would deffinetly recommend corys, they are very active and playful. i like my otos but they dont move or anything

[lyndatu]

Excellent details. Everything is good, but be sure to clean the beach sand thoroughly, for anything that comes straight from nature can be bad.

Filter.............The overhead/trickle filter is my favorite! It is excellent for mechanical, chemical and especially biological filteration, because the filter media in this filter isn't completely submerged, allowing oxygen-loving bacteria to live in, thus speeding the nitrogen cycle. It's a little expensive, but definitely worth it.

Plants.............3! More plants, healthier tank!(just make sure you take care of them!)

Enjoy the madness of fishkeeping!

[0morrokh]

Originally Posted by metal_fish

Well I got my aquarium Its actually a 29 gall and its used and it has some fish already in it. i havent messed with it yet but it was a great deal

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218...lpid=1&cat=371

I checked out the link...unfortunately you may have to rehome a few of the fish. The Kissing Gourami (the pink fish in this pic http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=389...lpid,1,cat,371)
can get to a foot long, aggressive, and will need a much bigger tank. The Giant Danios (the 2 long, striped fish in that same pic) will get up to 4 inches and, being danios, prefer to be in a shoal of at least 6 (I believe the person said they had 3 of them). 6 danios x 4 inches is nearly all the bioload the tank can hold, but I'm not even sure if a 29 is big enough for a full grown Giant Danio. The long yellow and black striped fish looks like Leporinus fasciatus, which gets to 12 inches and is active and a bit aggressive and needs a larger tank. They may also eat plants if there is no algae available.

There were 7 fish described but I could only find 5 in the pics. They listed, "one is a cleaner[they may have been referring to the Leporinus or a Pleco or something], a clown[again possibly the Leporinus or more likely a Clown Loach], a kissing fish[Kissing Gourami], a big FAT cat fish thing[this one probably isn't the Leporinus, no clue what it might be], and 3 that are a schooling fish[Giant Danios]" If you could post pics or describe the fish I haven't identified it would help to determine what they are and if they are suitable for the tank you have.

Basically, the fish look compatible but most or all will need a larger tank. That was a great find though, 50 bucks for the tank and all those fish.

[metal_fish]

Oh ya Great find came with a stand and Alot of supplies. I don't know what fish she has in there (i will Be selling or giving away some of the fish)
Also What could i do to improve th tank setup?
thanks