Old / New Re-set up.

Originally posted on FB group, but a member pointed me here. I have copied / pasted my post below.
I have been told that my stocking numbers need to be altered, to 10 each so ignore numbers in the post, but it probably means I will be over stocked. Am now thinking 10 each cardinals and 10 undecided Cherry barbs or Ember tetras - but am a little way off that - anyway - post is below.

Hello everybody by the way!!

----Kept fish for years, but little while back had bad advice and its thrown me (was for High Tech Set up ..... I have now seen the light!!)
Tank I have is 110L / 24.2 UK Gallons / 29 US Gallons.
Dimensions are Length/Width/Height 80cm / 35cm / 50.3 cm

Currently has volcanic rock topped with aqua soil as substrate. (Cant recall brands - been set up a while, but purchased from Maidenhead)
I have currently have various crypts.... I am wanting a carpeting plant, and then maybe Camomba or sessiflora, Pogostemon erectus and Ludviga Glandulosa.
My current lights are fitted / compatible with the tank - two times twin LED lights (so 4 total) I am pretty sure these are 24*0.3W LED (7.2W total) for each unit - so 14.4W total) - I know spectrum might be required, but struggling to find the info.

Currently has no filter as I didn't like the HOB, so either looking at a sponge or small internal (which needs to be near silent)
Once set up and running, looking at maybe:
6 Cardinals, 6 Cherry Barbs and 6 Ember Tetras and probably 5 pygmy cories? (not sure on stock levels - thats a little way off)

Question is - is what I want going to be possible?
Thanks for any advice.------

 

Originally posted on FB group, but a member pointed me here. I have copied / pasted my post below.
I have been told that my stocking numbers need to be altered, to 10 each so ignore numbers in the post, but it probably means I will be over stocked. Am now thinking 10 each cardinals and 10 undecided Cherry barbs or Ember tetras - but am a little way off that - anyway - post is below.

Hello everybody by the way!!

----Kept fish for years, but little while back had bad advice and its thrown me (was for High Tech Set up ..... I have now seen the light!!)
Tank I have is 110L / 24.2 UK Gallons / 29 US Gallons.
Dimensions are Length/Width/Height 80cm / 35cm / 50.3 cm

Currently has volcanic rock topped with aqua soil as substrate. (Cant recall brands - been set up a while, but purchased from Maidenhead)
I have currently have various crypts.... I am wanting a carpeting plant, and then maybe Camomba or sessiflora, Pogostemon erectus and Ludviga Glandulosa.
My current lights are fitted / compatible with the tank - two times twin LED lights (so 4 total) I am pretty sure these are 24*0.3W LED (7.2W total) for each unit - so 14.4W total) - I know spectrum might be required, but struggling to find the info.

Currently has no filter as I didn't like the HOB, so either looking at a sponge or small internal (which needs to be near silent)
Once set up and running, looking at maybe:
6 Cardinals, 6 Cherry Barbs and 6 Ember Tetras and probably 5 pygmy cories? (not sure on stock levels - thats a little way off)

Question is - is what I want going to be possible?
Thanks for any advice.------

3 schools sound small, I think 1 big school would work out, or just 2 decently sized schools. I would bump the number of cories up to 7-8. I don't know many quiet filters, but I would suggest a 40 gallon breeder sponge filter. Good Luck!

 

3 schools sound small, I think 1 big school would work out, or just 2 decently sized schools. I would bump the number of cories up to 7-8. I don't know many quiet filters, but I would suggest a 40 gallon breeder sponge filter. Good Luck!

Thanks

8 (or more) Cories was suggested rather than 6. I went for the smaller schools originally as didnt want to overload the tank. But just wanted to get the plants established before thinking of fish ..... plus tank will probably need to re-cycle given its been stood for a while (with water)

 

I'd work on cycling the tank, go through some types of fish you want, personally, I'd go with a pair for a center piece fish and build around those. Make sure they can both thrive in same temps. Bolivian Rams are cool fish that don't get the respect GBR's do and don't need the higher temp to thrive. Which opens a wide window on compatible fish.

 

I’ve wanted to reset my 29 g up for a while now and have always envisioned a larger school/shoal of fish plus a shoal of Pygmy corys.
I’m quite fond of two species tanks. Although my choice would be harlequin rasboras.
But you have a little while to decide while you get the tank cycled. Do some research and maybe take a trip to a LFS to look at the fish to decide.

 

When choosing fish I try to find out what part of the tank the fish prefer. Right now I have a dozen Blood Fin tetras that spend most of their time at the top of the tank. 5 black skirt tetras and 1 columbian tetra (had them them for going on 5 years so lost some of each) that spend their time swimming mid level. 17 neon tetras that stay closer to the bottom swimming in the low plants, way too many corys living on the bottom and Elbert, that handsome fellow over there in my avatar that goes where ever he wants at any given time. BTW: This is a 55 gallon tank.

By having fish that prefer different levels there is always activity in the tank. If I had a 29 gallon tank I would only have 2 large schools (maybe 10 of each) or one really big school of some type of small tetra along with the corys.

 

I have a school of Ember Tetras (11) that use the top space and a school of Cardinal Tetras (15) That cover bottom space. I have a GBR, BN and 2 SAE that pretty much stay low also.

It kind of depends on how much movement you want too. I just traded in some Danios because they stressed out the other schools. Im planning on upping my 2 schools in a bit. If you want peace skip the cherry barbs up the Ember and Cards.

 

I'll be honest. At the moment, I am more concerned if the plants above will work in a Low Tech set up. Cycling the tank is easy (relatively) .... getting plants to grow, not so much!! Not entirely sure my lights are good enough - standard to the tank (Maidenhead Aquatics - Aquatropic 110)

 

Your Crypts should cover the bottom of the tank if they are like mine (C. wendetii).




For easy plants to grow they merely need sufficient light (nothing special).

Fishwise I'd have a colourful single species shoal and something compatible but with character.

In my Low tech 40 gallon cube I have Neon Tetra and Bristlenose Catfish. The plant in the photo is Hygrophila polysperma.

 

Your Crypts should cover the bottom of the tank if they are like mine (C. wendetii).

For easy plants to grow they merely need sufficient light (nothing special).

Fishwise I'd have a colourful single species shoal and something compatible but with character.

In my Low tech 40 gallon cube I have Neon Tetra and Bristlenose Catfish. The plant in the photo is Hygrophila polysperma.

Thanks.
Crypts I have no issue with - if you cant grow them, probably shouldn't have a planted tank !

Not sure on all the crypts, I know wendetii is there, as is parva ...... was hoping to have monte carlo, but dont think the lighting is good enough ..... wanted a bit of red / colour there too, so will try L. glandulosa.

Lovely tank by the way