Restarting My 29gal

So I've just been restarting my old 29gal tank after 3 years. I left it for my dad to take care of when I left for college, and he didn't take the best care of it and all the fish died So I took the tank down to college and I've been working on getting it looking good again!

Right now I have: 6 golden pristella tetras, 1 bristlenose pleco (albino, and he's young and tiny!), and 4 nerite snails. I would eventually like to get more tetras , probably cardinals and/or colombians.

So I'm looking for recommendations on stocking. How many other tetras would I be able to add (accounting for the fact that my BN will grow)?

I'm also looking for recommendations on updating some of my tank equipment. It's all hand-me down stuff and I want to get some higher quality things. I have an undergravel filter, a HOB filter w/ activated charcoal media, and a new 100W heater. I'm considering getting rid of the undergravel filter altogether, but I haven't made a decision on that yet. So any advice that anyone can offer I would appreciate!

 

WELCOME to Fishlore!!!

For a 29, equipment wise, I would do AquaClear 70, 150w Eheim Jager or Aqueon Pro heater, and Finnex Stingray

What model HOB do you have? You don't want to replace the cartridge until it is falling apart since most of the BB is on the cartridge, reason why AC filters are better since they separate biological, chemical, and mechanical filtration. As for the carbon, if it is the one in the cartridge than those don't work after a month , also you don't necessarily need carbon, it's mainly to make your water clear and remove medicines.

As for the fish I would up the pristella to 8. Colombian tetras are best kept in a 40 breeder or 36" tank since they get 2 inches. Do you have a sand substrate?

 

Thanks for your advice! My new heater is an Eheim Jager. My filter is Tetra SecondNature Whisper Power Filter 2 (which I believe is super out-of-date). I only started it about a month ago and haven't changed the cartridge, but I did switch out the carbon not too long ago.

I have a gravel substrate, as undergravel won't work with smaller particle substrates.

 

I think Colombian tetras are fine in a 29 gal - a school of 2-2.5" fish is fine in a tank of this length.

What about this?

8x Pristella tetra
8x Colombian tetra
8-10x Panda cories
1x BN pleco
1x Dwarf gourami

 

Hmm, I do like that! This is what I'm think about now:

6-8x Pristellas
8-10x Rummynose Tetras (or green flame tetras - my LPS keeps trying to sell me on those!)
8x Corycats (Probably Julii, I think pandas need a little colder water and mine's at 76-77ish.
1x Dwarf Gourami (or another peaceful, non-schooling fish - anyone have any other suggestions?)
1x BN pleco

 

For the DG you could replace with 2 honey gouramis

 

Hmm, I do like that! This is what I'm think about now:

6-8x Pristellas
8-10x Rummynose Tetras (or green flame tetras - my LPS keeps trying to sell me on those!)
8x Corycats (Probably Julii, I think pandas need a little colder water and mine's at 76-77ish.
1x Dwarf Gourami (or another peaceful, non-schooling fish - anyone have any other suggestions?)
1x BN pleco

I would go with a species other than the false juliis. 77 F is the upper end of their range, and they don't have much overlap with rummynose (and truthfully, neither does the BN pleco). It would probably be easiest to swap the rummynose out for another species (keeping the false juliis and BN), and lowering the temp to 75 F.

 

I would go with a species other than the false juliis. 77 F is the upper end of their range, and they don't have much overlap with rummynose (and truthfully, neither does the BN pleco). It would probably be easiest to swap the rummynose out for another species (keeping the false juliis and BN), and lowering the temp to 75 F.

Question: where do you get info on temperature ranges for fish? I've done some research and get various answers, but not sure what is the most trustworthy source.

 

I use Fishbase, Planet Catfish, and SeriouslyFish

 

I use Fishbase, Planet Catfish, and SeriouslyFish

Yep these are the most reliable and consistent! There are many websites out there with care pages but some aren't right. In fact sometimes I feel like there copying one another . I had this problem before I came on this forum. There are so many conflicting information especially when it come to temperature. Most literally have them at 70-80 since this is the so call tropical range

 

So, based on research all those species, they should fit comfortably in my 76 degree tank. So I'm sticking with the plan of:

8x Pristella tetras
8x Rummynose Tetras
1x Albino BN Pleco

My last choice is between 6x corycats (maybe pygmy, or one that would be better within temp range than julii/false julii) and 1x dwarf gourami. Not sure if I could keep both, I think that would be a little overstocked. I am planning on replacing my filter with an Aqueon Quietflow (250gph), but I'm more worried about the space.

 

You could add both the DG and corys . But if you feel its enough that is up to you. Personally I have 40 breeder with 12 rasboras, 2 guppies, 6 corys and some inverts. I feel like my tank is full yet I could add a whole school of fish, bit I'm more about giving space to a fish. Some people keep 1 school of fish while others like to fully stock.

 

For a 29, equipment wise, I would do AquaClear 70, 150w Eheim Jager or Aqueon Pro heater, and Finnex Stingray

HI there

I'm brand new to this, but I'm currently cycling a 29gal with an ABNP, too.

I am running the AquaClear 70.
I did carefully smoosh a Fluval prefilter sponge onto the end of my intake, too.

I'm using the eheim 100w (its rated for tanks yo to 30gal).

I'm using very thoroughly "washed" Black Diamond Sand (20/40) as my substrate and it's beautiful!!

I'm about a week and a half into my "fish-in" cycle and all equipment is running great!

Filter has had no hiccups (my old one stopped working every twenty minutes it seems before it finally burned up).

Temp is very steadily maintained!

Sand is friendly to my Plec's chubby little tummy

All in all, I'm very happy with this set up so far!!
Still a work in progress as far as finding the right plants, but it's getting there

 

HI there

I'm brand new to this, but I'm currently cycling a 29gal with an ABNP, too.

I am running the AquaClear 70.
I did carefully smoosh a Fluval prefilter sponge onto the end of my intake, too.

I'm using the eheim 100w (its rated for tanks yo to 30gal).

I'm using very thoroughly "washed" Black Diamond Sand (20/40) as my substrate and it's beautiful!!

I'm about a week and a half into my "fish-in" cycle and all equipment is running great!

Filter has had no hiccups (my old one stopped working every twenty minutes it seems before it finally burned up).

Temp is very steadily maintained!

Sand is friendly to my Plec's chubby little tummy

All in all, I'm very happy with this set up so far!!
Still a work in progress as far as finding the right plants, but it's getting there

Looks like your on the right track!

 

Looks like your on the right track!

Awe, thanks, man!
There's absolutely ZERO way I could have even gotten this far without you all on this forum!!

I have about 4 projects that I'm getting ready to start for this tank, too

One project is a present to the Plec and the future Kuhlis whom will reside within

 

Awe, thanks, man!
There's absolutely ZERO way I could have even gotten this far without you all on this forum!!

I have about 4 projects that I'm getting ready to start for this tank, too

One project is a present to the Plec and the future Kuhlis whom will reside within

That is what we are here for

 

I feel the same way, fishlore has been so helpful! I first had this tank when I was in high school, and I ran it pretty blindly (rarely testing, sparse cleanings, etc.) but I feel so much better about it this time around!

I definitely and leaning towards sand now - it's so much nicer for the bottom feeders and it looks great too!

Also, I definitely get you on the old filter - I think mine is 20+ years old! Time for an update