29 Gallon Tank First tank update. Ready for fish!

[wjc387]

Hi, I’m just here to happily share an update on my 29 gallon tank :}

After removing my DIY root tabs (thanks for those who helped on my first post!) and adding some more plants, I’ve noticed big changes in my tank. Tons of algae growth, snails, as well as water parameters suitable for fish! No more ammonia or nitrites and low nitrates. Some plants really didn’t make it, but I’m noticing the remaining plants are growing! Some are melting old leaves and growing new ones at the same time.

Once I have the money, I’m going to get fish and medication for them to put into my small quarantine tank.

I plan to get platy fish and maybe a molly because they apparently help with algae. I was also interested in getting some oto catfish but I don’t think they would appreciate the sharp BDBS. Wish I used traditional sand instead.

Anywho… I’m just so excited that I can finally keep fish!!

 

[SinisterCichlids]

Best of luck with the tank. I think it looks great !! Hope you continue to enjoy this hobby as well.

I also just did my first planted tank, as I mostly always kept cichlids/mbuna so never got a chance before, but I’m really enjoying the process.

 

[wjc387]

Best of luck with the tank. I think it looks great !! Hope you continue to enjoy this hobby as well.

I also just did my first planted tank, as I mostly always kept cichlids/mbuna so never got a chance before, but I’m really enjoying the process.

Cool, good luck with your tank as well! Are cichlids hard to keep for you? Recently I discovered German blue rams and I’d like to keep them one day when I’m more experienced.

 

[bgarthe]

Welcome wjc387 to FL.

A couple of things……
You are wise to have a QT, but the first fish into tank usually don’t need QT unless you’re putting them into a huge tank. If they go into a huge tank and have, for example, Ich, then one would have to treat the whole big tank.
Next, I like platies too, but plz check out your water parameters (pH, GH, KH) so you can either match the fish you get to your particular water source or mix water to the liking of the fish you’re wanting to keep. I just don’t want you to go to all your troubles and set up only to put, for example, platies into real soft water.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[wjc387]

Welcome wjc387 to FL.

A couple of things……
You are wise to have a QT, but the first fish into tank usually don’t need QT unless you’re putting them into a huge tank. If they go into a huge tank and have, for example, Ich, then one would have to treat the whole big tank.
Next, I like platies too, but plz check out your water parameters (pH, GH, KH) so you can either match the fish you get to your particular water source or mix water to the liking of the fish you’re wanting to keep. I just don’t want you to go to all your troubles and set up only to put, for example, platies into real soft water.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks for the kind words! My only concern with new fish is treating them in my main tank. I'm not sure how it could affect the snails in there, and I wouldn't want something like parasites reproducing in the substrate. I've also learned that some medications can negatively impact plants. Do you have any opinions on this?

As for my pH, I have around a 7, which seems suitable according to a bunch of online sources. I'm not sure about my water hardness though, I'll have to buy a separate test kit for that to see what it is. Thanks for reminding me about that part.

 

[SinisterCichlids]

Cool, good luck with your tank as well! Are cichlids hard to keep for you? Recently I discovered German blue rams and I’d like to keep them one day when I’m more experienced.

Cichlids can be tough. Some are more peaceful than others such as keyhole cichlids, mbuna labs, Rusty’s, acei. Peacocks are fairly decent too.

I’ve never kept German blue rams together. I’ve only used them as centerpiece fish in community aquariums and they do great in my experience with tetras and similar community style fish if you have the right size tank and setup/parameters.

Attaching a photo of my current solo ram in my community tank with a loach, oto’s, and neon tetra.

 

[wjc387]

Cichlids can be tough. Some are more peaceful than others such as keyhole cichlids, mbuna labs, Rusty’s, acei. Peacocks are fairly decent too.

I’ve never kept German blue rams together. I’ve only used them as centerpiece fish in community aquariums and they do great in my experience with tetras and similar community style fish if you have the right size tank and setup/parameters.

Attaching a photo of my current solo ram in my community tank with a loach, oto’s, and neon tetra. View attachment 914964

What a pretty fish! Thanks for sharing your experience.