Sford13

Ok I am getting ready to make my first aquarium purchase and start keeping tropical fish. I have gotten some conflicting advice from different places and figured I would pose the question here. Right now I am thinking I am going to go 20 or 29 gallon tank. Leaning towards the 29 gallon since larger is suppose to be more beginner friendly.

My questions come on what all can fit in that size tank. I understand that Tetras would be ideal. Would like to have several different colors of them (bloodfin, cardinal, neon, etc). Will they school as tetras or do the species make a difference?

Here is what I was thinking of eventually stocking into my tank.
4 - Tetras mixed
3 - GloFish danios
1 - red tail shark
1 - Bristle Nose Pleco (for algae control)
1 - Corydoras cat (garbage cleaner for bottom)
2 - Tiger Barbs
3 - Platies (2 female, 1 male)

Would that be too many fish for a 29 gal tank. I am looking for lots of different color. Any other suggestions if that is too many.

Also I have thought about possibly going with a freshwater crab. Can those survive being in water all the time?

bolivianbaby

Hello. Welcome to Fishlore!

To answer your stocking questions:
The tetras would depend on the specific species. Also, all tetras are schooling fish and do best in schools of at least 5.
The red-tailed shark would need at least a 55 gallon aquarium, as these guys are very active.
Corydoras like to be in groups of at least 3, as they are schooling fish as well.
Tiger barbs are semi-aggressive and might pose a problem, but I've never kept them myself so let's see what another member has to say about them in the tank.
Platys breed quickly and easily, so unless you want to take care of fry which would quickly overstock your tank, you might want to consider all males.

What about :
choosing one species of tetra-increasing the numbers to 5,
the glofish danios are fine IMO,
removing the red-tailed shark
BN pleco is fine
increasing the corys to 3
no tiger barbs
all male platys

Just a few suggestions.

Hope this helps!

Beth1965

HEY! Welcome to fishlore!
How about the nitrogen cycle? Check that out yet?
Beth

Lucy

Welcome to Fish Lore

Good advice from above. I will add to foget the crab, there's a good chance he'd eat your fish.
Please consider cycling your tank with out fish.
Here's a link to our Beginner articles.

Have fune and good luck

Robin4

Sford13

Yes definitely going to cycle the tank before getting the fish. But from looking at articles on here it seems best to determine just what I want and make sure that I get a tank big enough. The fish are a ways off but trying to do the best research I can before buying. Also has anybody had luck with using snails for algae control?

jwokmuba2

,you shouldnt rush about chosing your fish, you will have plent of time to do that while you are cycling you tank.(you will probly change your mind alot to, i did). alot of keepers use the 1 inch of fish/per 1 gallon rule (adult fish). here is a link to fishlore fish info page. here you can look at individual fish, and what there needs will be.
http://www.fishlore.com/freshwaterfish.htm

jdhef

I think you might want to consider a larger tank. You seem to want a lot of fish and with a general guideline of 1" of adult size fish per gallon of water, a tank can fill up pretty fast! I was going to get a 29, but instead got a 36 and wish I had gotten a larger tank. When I bought my tank I was under the impression that you could put 1 fish per gallon of water! Luckily I found FishLore before stocking my tank.

Shawnie

+2 and welcome to fishlore!!!

Sford13

Ok and I guess going with sand would be okay with all the fish listed. So many sizes, options, fish, colors, how can one ever settle on what to do?

aquarist48

Welcome to Fish Lore Sford. Congrats on doing some research before starting the hobby. Some good information above. I like BolivianBaby's stocking list too. If you have any more questions just let us know.
Enjoy the site
Ken

bolivianbaby

I don't have sand in any of my tanks, so I don't feel comfortable advising you on that. Hopefully another member that has sand will see this thread and can tell you.

We've all been there on the stocking options I find which fish I want the most and go from there. Of course, I'm always ready, willing, and "enabled" to add another tank if I see something else I want, but that's another story

Shawnie

gmen4life

hmm i think petsmart sells a 55 gal combo for 150 bucks wich isnt bad and if you have a bigger tank the water wont fluctuate as much so for a beginer so bigger is better heheheh

Sford13

Really??!! I just priced a 55 gal with the hood was going to be almost $200 at my LPS. And it is not a big change but not a small one store place either. Then still would have to get a heater and hood. Many I am headed over to a bigger city tomorrow with a Petsmart. If they have a 55 G combo for 150 guess I will have a bigger tank.

bolivianbaby

Check out Craigslist if it's available in your area. A lot of members have gotten some really good deals there. Wal-Mart is also a possibility.

gmen4life

yeah are you handy you could build your stand or do you have one its everything but the stand lol i would invest in a second filter for it also and crigslist for 200 if you are patient you can get a sweet setup for that!!!!this hobby is addicting beware hehehe

MizRamzi

zowie717

sford13 Hi!!! when i started out with an almost 30 gallon.....and now i have MST= multiple tank syndrome....... i have quite a few and still want more.....but everyone gave you good advice just some to add IMO....

1. i would start with gravel..... sand is a little more difficult to start with, you have to worry about the anaerobic gases and it is more difficult to clean. plus, everyone eventually goes through there first substraste change!!! LOL..

i added sand after about 6 months and ended up taking it out of my 30gallon cause it was getting to many pockets of the gas. i even had sand stirring fish that like it but it was too much of a problem. You could go with a sand type like argonatie sand. it is little bigger than the play sand, or what they sell in the stores. but that does effect your pH in your tank so i wouldnt recommend that. i ended up using htat after my 3 substraste change for my 60 gallon tank.....LOL......

i have tetras, bloodfin and neons and sometimes they school together but most of time they dont. i imagine in a 55 gallon with more they would be together more. IDK. craigslist has amazing stuff for fish and i think keeps contributing to my MTS........LOL

you will end up changing your midn a couple times like i did. but some pretty fish for a community tank.. i am partial to HiFin swordtails....and dwarf gouarmis....

good luck and have fun!!! its so addicting!!! please post pictures.... ; )

jwokmuba2

i would definaltly look and craigs list, i found three 55 gallon setups with everthing for under 100 bucks in my area, this inculded stand, lights, heater, filter, gravel, plants, etc. my neighbor has a 55 gallon corner bow for sale for 100 bucks to. with everything!