New fish keeper with stocking questions for first tank

[scoutscout]

Hello , I’ve never kept fish before so this is all new to me. I currently have a 29 gallon freshwater tank beginning the cycling process and I would like either white cloud mountain minnows or zebra danios to start off with, so the temperature will be at maximum 72 degrees Fahrenheit. I know both of these species have a reputation for being very hardy which is why I’ve picked them.

I’ve also researched about hillstream loaches, freshwater gobys, gold and checker barbs, paradise fish, mystery snails, and/or corydoras as possible tank mates in the future.
Wondering what people here think of these options? Most important is that none of them will eat neither the minnows or the danios. And both minnows and danios need to be in groups of at least 8 so I need to take that in consideration for the bioload and overall space in the tank.

 

[orandaman]

Fishless cycle is your best bet. Less worry and less dead fish. Hardy or not stress shortens there already short lives. I highly recommend getting the cycle done first then adding fish. You want 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrates are negotiable if you have plants, but as a whole 5 to 10 ppm will be fine. And I don't say this to shame you but I have made many mistakes.

 

[scoutscout]

Fishless cycle is your best bet. Less worry and less dead fish. Hardy or not stress shortens there already short lives. I highly recommend getting the cycle done first then adding fish. You want 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrates are negotiable if you have plants, but as a whole 5 to 10 ppm will be fine. And I don't say this to shame you but I have made many mistakes.

Right I’m doing a fishless cycle. Im just planning for what to stock it with

 

[Noroomforshoe]

Its great that you started of with a good size tank, good fish choises, and fishless cycling!

You said either white clouds or danios to start, I think that is a great idea. get either or, and get 11 or 12. Maybe not all the same day though, maybey 4 every few days if the cycle and water chemistry is good.

I wanted to add that it would be best to wait until you have a LOT of algae before adding hillstreams, You are likly to have new tank algae soon, in the form of brown algae/diatomes but I would wait for that to settle down, because it will settle down and leave the hillstreamers in the learch. I suggest you wait a few months for new algae and biofilm to develope before adding any fish that is so dependant on it.
But loaches are worth the wait!

 

[KiwiWillow]

Another option if you don’t want to wait too long for the hillstreams (but definitely wait until the initial residents and cycling have stabilised) is to grow algae covered rocks elsewhere, to add to the tank. Also keep in mind, hillstreams do eat other food. They are not as picky as Otos.

 

[Mudminnow]

I would like either white cloud mountain minnows or zebra danios to start off with...

Both are excellent choices. Personally, I'd go with the white clouds, because they're a bit calmer. Zebra danios will seem to bounce off the walls in a 29 gallon.

hillstream loaches

Another excellent choice. These are fascinating and hardier than people give them credit. I feed mine Rapashy's Soilent Green, so I don't have to rely on algae/biofilms in my tank.

freshwater gobys

There's so many to choose from. Some of the stiphodon gobies like rainbows or neons could work well. I have some stiphodon gobies with my hillsteam loaches. They all eat the Soilent Green.

paradise fish

Awesome, super hardy fish, but they're a bit feisty. I think keeping just one with some of the other fish you're considering might work. I've kept paradise fish with white clouds before. It worked out fine, but my tank was 150 gallons.

corydoras

Cory's get along with everyone, but they might get bullied by a paradise fish. Mine get a little picked on by my keyhole cichlids, and keyholes generally aren't as aggressive as paradise fish.

 

[scoutscout]

Thanks for the suggestions