29 Gallon Tank Fish for hard water

[TheAnglerAquarist]

Besides livebearers. Needs to fit in a 29. my water is hard and I have 8.2 ph

 

[Patman0519]

Besides livebearers. Needs to fit in a 29. my water is hard and I have 8.2 ph

Rainbow shark

 

[AverageAquarist22]

Do you already have fish in there?

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

Do you already have fish in there?

No

Rainbow shark

Don’t they get too big?

 

[AverageAquarist22]

The first thing I think of are Lake Tanganyika cichlids, specifically either shell dwellers or some julidochromis (rock dwellers). I don’t think you can keep other fish with them, pretty sure it would have to be species only, but I think they would be really fun to keep!

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

The first thing I think of are Lake Tanganyika cichlids, specifically either shell dwellers or some julidochromis (rock dwellers). I don’t think you can keep other fish with them, pretty sure it would have to be species only, but I think they would be really fun to keep!

Yeah but I have my mind set on corydoras and White Cloud Mountain minnows
Oh yeah the fish needs to enjoy room temp

 

[AverageAquarist22]

Yeah but I have my mind set on corydoras and White Cloud Mountain minnows
Oh yeah the fish needs to enjoy room temp

I just looked it up, the maximum for corydoras is 8.0 pH and it’s probably not good to keep fish at their maximum or minimum pH requirements

 

[MacZ]

Don’t they get too big?

They do. The tank would be too small for a fully grown.

If your mind is set on Cories, you can ignore the water parameters, as Cories actually need it softer and more acidic.

What could work is Apistogramma borellii, A. cacatuoides or A. trifasciata. All are Clear- to Whitewater species. But I wouldn't combine any dwarf cichlids with Cories or other bottomdwellers. At least neither a pair nor a female. A single male MIGHT work, but no guarantees.

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

They do. The tank would be too small for a fully grown.

If your mind is set on Cories, you can ignore the water parameters, as Cories actually need it softer and more acidic.

What could work is Apistogramma borellii, A. cacatuoides or A. trifasciata. All are Clear- to Whitewater species. But I wouldn't combine any dwarf cichlids with Cories or other bottomdwellers. At least neither a pair nor a female. A single male MIGHT work, but no guarantees.

Ok so I shouldn’t have cories?

I just looked it up, the maximum for corydoras is 8.0 pH and it’s probably not good to keep fish at their maximum or minimum pH requirements

Ok I won’t have cories then MacZ

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

So, since I can’t have cories, (water is too hard) I don’t know what to do. I really like wcmm but I only want 10 of them. What else should I do. Not livebearers. Can live at room temp or below.

 

[BruinAquatics]

Celestial Pearl Danios, WCMM, Hillstream Loaches, Bloodfin Tetras, Buenos Aires Tetras, Rosy Barb, Japenese Rice Fish, and Clown Kilifish
. Honestly hard water isn't bad for cories I have them with pretty hard water (not that much but still) and they are breeding in there. What's your kh gh and ph?

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

Celestial Pearl Danios, WCMM, Hillstream Loaches, Bloodfin Tetras, Buenos Aires Tetras, Rosy Barb, Japenese Rice Fish, and Clown Kilifish
. Honestly hard water isn't bad for cories I have them with pretty hard water (not that much but still) and they are breeding in there. What's your kh gh and ph?

Ph is 8.2 I have to get a gh and kh kit

 

[BruinAquatics]

Oh wow yeah PH is pretty high, but those fish that I listed should work.

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

Oh wow yeah PH is pretty high, but those fish that I listed should work.

Okay

 

[Fisch]

My pH is 8.2, the water is pretty hard.
I have Peppered Cories in the tank at 72°, and they are doing good. The hobby breeder I got them from uses the local tab water as well, and it does not seem ro be detrimental.
I am considering getting some Panda Cories as they are comfortable in a bit lower Temp range (70°) than the peppered.

 

[Ouse]

As long as the cories you want aren’t wild caught they should be ok. My tanks (some have cories) have a dKH of 11 and my tap water has a dKH of 13. Thick calcium buildups occur wherever there is water in my part of the world.

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

HOORAY! I want pandas or albino aeneus.

 

[ProudPapa]

My pH is also 8.2. I don't remember how hard it is, but when I tested it with the drops it took more to get the water change than showed on the chart. Corydoras panda, Corydoras trilineatus, and Corydoras pygmaeus are all doing just fine in my tanks, with un-alterted water.

 

[Ouse]

HOORAY! I want pandas or albino aeneus.

The chances of those species being wild caught is low, so I say go for it. Be careful with albino aeneus cories because you might pick the wrong species.

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

Are there any fish that would be a good personable pet for a 29 goldies are social and too big so that’s a no no

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

The chances of those species being wild caught is low, so I say go for it. Be careful with albino aeneus cories because you might pick the wrong species.

Right

My pH is also 8.2. I don't remember how hard it is, but when I tested it with the drops it took more to get the water change than showed on the chart. Corydoras panda, Corydoras trilineatus, and Corydoras pygmaeus are all doing just fine in my tanks, with un-alterted water.

Nice

 

[BruinAquatics]

HOORAY! I want pandas or albino aeneus.

The Aeneus cory's IMO are so hardy so if you were to do anything I would go with them. These guys literally survived huge ammonia spikes in my tank (due to an "incident" a long while ago lol)

 

[NotSoAggressiveAquatics]

You can do a fancy goldfish in a 29 gallons by itself but not a comet or the other big versions

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

You can do a fancy goldfish in a 29 gallons by itself but not a comet or the other big versions

Won’t they get depressed by themselves?

 

[Ghostly]

not really a fish but Axolotls are super cute! bettas have BIG personalities but are smaller.
and I agree with AggressiveAquatics you could have a single fancy goldfish.

 

[MacZ]

Let's put it this way: Farmbred cories of standard species like C. aeneus or C. panda can deal with high pH. As do domestic strains of the named Apistos. The choice isn't great, when you want to avoid to accidently buy wild caught fish, that would likely find their early end in those water parameters. And sometimes even those can live with it. It's just less than optimal and can lead to early deaths and more frequent diseases in the beginning, but those that make it through the rough will be pretty indestructible. Just as a warning that losses can be expected.

 

[TClare]

Would a rainbow cichlid work In that tank size?

 

[St3v3]

You can do a fancy goldfish in a 29 gallons by itself but not a comet or the other big versions

But then again the breeding of fancy goldfish is considered inhumane
Sorry can't think of any good ones though this morning I'm kinda brain dead.Which sometimes happens after CP biology

 

[Idkitsathrowaway]

You can have a angel with some schooling fish( angels are fine on their own, and a schooling fish will add action because angels are not that actie) or you could do a dwarf cichlid. if you want one fish in all i still say angel, they are too pretty! they also appreciate heavy planting as well.

 

[St3v3]

You can have a angel with some schooling fish( angels are fine on their own, and a schooling fish will add action because angels are not that actie) or you could do a dwarf cichlid. if you want one fish in all i still say angel, they are too pretty! they also appreciate heavy planting as well.

Although angels are predatory so small schooling fish not really best bet.Another thing about angelfish is that they have very fast growth rates. Meaning it will grow large fast.Dwarf cichlid might be ok which one you recommend

 

[Idkitsathrowaway]

no no no not a school of small fish, a small school of fish. like 6 or so large tetras

and dwarf cichlids, its all about preference there's too many to count down on. just not a lot of dwarf cichlids like to be alone, and work best as a pair. but they are usually small.

 

[St3v3]

no no no not a school of small fish, a small school of fish. like 6 or so large tetras

All tetras are very active though and most need to be in schools of five or more

 

[Fishnturtleguy933]

Although angels are predatory so small schooling fish not really best bet.Another thing about angelfish is that they have very fast growth rates. Meaning it will grow large fast.Dwarf cichlid might be ok which one you recommend

Apistograma or bolivian rams. You could do a pair or solo if you want.

 

[Idkitsathrowaway]

ya thats why i said 6, you can do more imma put 7(rummynose tetras) with my angels. they are very active, and will add motion too a tank. angels are not very active fish. and tend to stay put. so i say add tetras as a way to add movement.

and yes, apistogrammas are sooooooo colorful and pretty!

 

[St3v3]

Apistograma or bolivian rams. You could do a pair or solo if you want.

Maybe apistograma might be a good idea.Rams in my experience are very hard to keep alive.Where there very water sensitive

 

[Idkitsathrowaway]

i would say rams and apistos are both intermediate fish, with rams being a little harder. Apistos are not too picky, they are not exactly beginner fish

 

[St3v3]

By any chance would you be cool with an invertebrate as I in my experience do think just about any crayfish would be fine in 29 gallons.Another thing about crayfish is there highly personable.Where crayfish do have alot of personality and can be trained to handfeed

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

Would a rainbow cichlid work In that tank size?

Maybe it seems big

 

[TClare]

Seriously fish say they can be kept in 100 litres (about 26 gallons). Just realised though you said room temperature, depending how warm that is it might be too cool for rainbow cichlids.

 

[TheAnglerAquarist]

Seriously fish say they can be kept in 100 litres (about 26 gallons). Just realised though you said room temperature, depending how warm that is it might be too cool for rainbow cichlids.

68-72

 

[NotSoAggressiveAquatics]

An axolotl is a great idea like betta06 said if your into that type of thing

 

[Patman0519]

No

Don’t they get too big?

6 inches

 

[wishuponafish]

A pearl or dwarf gourami or paradise fish can also be a good wet pet, they are pretty personable like cichlids. As for cichlids, 29 gallons is too small for angelfish but apistos or kribs will work.

 

[Leeman75]

6 inches

Would a rainbow cichlid work In that tank size?

I could see doing a Rainbow Cichlid in a 29 gallon. Information on the internet is somewhat conflicting, I believe. Some places say they can get 5-6 inches and need a minimum of a 50 gallon tank, however, I think that is more along the lines of the wild-caught, which have a propensity to be larger in the 6-7" range. I think the tank-bred stay much smaller in the 3-4" range.

I have 5 in a 55 gallon and they have plenty of space even with sharing it with other similar sized Cichlids. They are probably near a year old and likely won't grow a huge amount more. My largest is about 3.5".

I love the Rainbow Cichlids and almost feel like I'm a bit of an ambassador for them as I don't think they get as much love as they deserve. They have such a cool, lively, peaceful (for a cichlid of that size) demeanor and are just a fantastic fish!

The one thing that I will mention is that when you look at pictures of RCs online, all the pictures that you will see show a very vibrant yellow on them. But they are a fish that wears their moods on their sleeves, so you won't always see that vibrant of a yellow...particularly if you have a dark substrate. Mine pop vibrant color often enough that I enjoy it greatly when it happens. It's almost a given that they will do so after a WC.

 

[Patman0519]

I could see doing a Rainbow Cichlid in a 29 gallon. Information on the internet is somewhat conflicting, I believe. Some places say they can get 5-6 inches and need a minimum of a 50 gallon tank, however, I think that is more along the lines of the wild-caught, which have a propensity to be larger in the 6-7" range. I think the tank-bred stay much smaller in the 3-4" range.

I have 5 in a 55 gallon and they have plenty of space even with sharing it with other similar sized Cichlids. They are probably near a year old and likely won't grow a huge amount more. My largest is about 3.5".

I love the Rainbow Cichlids and almost feel like I'm a bit of an ambassador for them as I don't think they get as much love as they deserve. They have such a cool, lively, peaceful (for a cichlid of that size) demeanor and are just a fantastic fish!

The one thing that I will mention is that when you look at pictures of RCs online, all the pictures that you will see show a very vibrant yellow on them. But they are a fish that wears their moods on their sleeves, so you won't always see that vibrant of a yellow...particularly if you have a dark substrate. Mine pop vibrant color often enough that I enjoy it greatly when it happens. It's almost a given that they will do so after a WC.

I meant a rainbow shark.

 

[Leeman75]

I meant a rainbow shark.

My bad...I was responding to TClare's suggestion of a Rainbow Cichlid. I'm not sure how your quote about 6" got looped in. Can be confusing having some talk about Rainbow Sharks and others Rainbow Cichlids.

 

[SouthAmericanCichlids]

Yeah but I have my mind set on corydoras and White Cloud Mountain minnows
Oh yeah the fish needs to enjoy room temp

Cold water centerpeice in a 29 gallon. Well almost all fish can handle almost all ph, but there are some hardwater killis. But most killis can go in hard water. That is all I can really think of off the top of my head.

I meant a rainbow shark.

I wouldn't suggest a rainbow in a 29 as they get to 6 inches I believe, also they are not coldwater.

 

[Patman0519]

Cold water centerpeice in a 29 gallon. Well almost all fish can handle almost all ph, but there are some hardwater killis. But most killis can go in hard water. That is all I can really think of off the top of my head.


I wouldn't suggest a rainbow in a 29 as they get to 6 inches I believe, also they are not coldwater.

Didnt see where he stated water temp on the initial thread.

 

[SouthAmericanCichlids]

Oh yeah the fish needs to enjoy room temp

68-72

Didnt see where he stated water temp on the initial thread.

He stated it in the above 2 posts. And anyways, they get too big.

 

[Patman0519]

He stated it in the above 2 posts. And anyways, they get too big.

If he is the only one no they do not