Starting a 29 Gallon

Just started a 29 gallon tank and I was thinking of eventually having these fish in there:

5 Zebra Danios
5 Harlequin Rasbora, Neon Tetras, or Cardinal Tetras(not sure which one)
1 or 2 Blue Rams (is it better to have 2 or is one fine?)
3 Ottos

Just wondering if all these fish will get along, mainly the Blue Rams with the other fish.
Thanks

 

Yes, I believe the rams it's one male to two females, but you can double check that

 

I would not keep less than 6-8 cardinal tetras in your tank because they are schooling fish and feel very stressed out when there aren't enough of their buddies around. Personal experience here! Mine used to be very very shy and were even afraid to eat I think.... till I got more and now they are really happy!

 

For the rams you could either go 1 male to 2 females or just one of them. But for the size of your tank, having 1 ram would be best. The danios and tetras like to be in groups of 6 or more. That should look like

6 Zebra danios 9"/gallon
6 Harlequins/Neons/Cardinals 9"/gallon
1 Ram 2.5"/gallon
3 Otos 6"/gallon
26.5"/gallon
Hope it helps.
Tom

 

The little shoaling fish especially look great in bigger groups. The Cardinals are a bit bigger (2") so you may not be able to fit more than 6 or 7 of those, but if you got Neons or Harlequins which are smaller (1.5") you could get a big shoal of, say, 10 or so.

Good luck with your tank and let us know what you decide.

 

For the rams you could either go 1 male to 2 females or just one of them. But for the size of your tank, having 1 ram would be best. The danios and tetras like to be in groups of 6 or more. That should look like

6 Zebra danios 9"/gallon
6 Harlequins/Neons/Cardinals 9"/gallon
1 Ram 2.5"/gallon
3 Otos 6"/gallon
26.5"/gallon
Hope it helps.
Tom

Supposedly schooling fish perfer groups of odd numbers but I can't say that is true, but if you get both neons and cardinals good chance they would school together.

 

I doubt the fish would care whether there's an even or odd number. I think the reason for odd numbers being recommended is because things tend to look nicer in odd numbers, for whatever reason.

 

Thanks everyone. I think I'm going to go with the Rasboras. I really like the way they look.

 

For the rams you could either go 1 male to 2 females or just one of them. But for the size of your tank, having 1 ram would be best. The danios and tetras like to be in groups of 6 or more. That should look like

6 Zebra danios 9"/gallon
6 Harlequins/Neons/Cardinals 9"/gallon
1 Ram 2.5"/gallon
3 Otos 6"/gallon
26.5"/gallon
Hope it helps.
Tom

Supposedly schooling fish perfer groups of odd numbers but I can't say that is true, but if you get both neons and cardinals good chance they would school together.

Ya, I have heard that too, but the person who had told me about clown loaches told me that they like to be in groups of 3 or 5 and at $9.99CDN, I am wanting to spend that much on a few fish that I would have to get rid of when it gets too big, I would ratehr spend the money on Galaxy Rasboras instead.
Tom

 

I have another question. I'm looking at having live plants and the pet store convinced me to get this new Aqualight T-5. It has 2 18 watt bulbs, one a colormax full-spectrum T5 lamp and one 6700K Plant T5 lamp. Is this enough light to have basic low light plants?

I was also planning on dropping in Co2 tablets every now and then for the plants?

Here is a link to what I got.

 

Ya that's good, that's the fixture I may get for my tank later on too.

 

Thanks Again!

 

I'm starting a 29 gal aquarium. I already have a RO filter for drinking water so I thought I'll use it for the aquarium as well. I plan to add Tetra SS, Seachem Equlibrium and Dr Timm's Ammonium Chloride to get the cycle going. Does it sound like a good idea? Do I need to use any of those after it cycles? I am very new to the hobby. Decided to get a fish tank for my daughter couple days ago...

 

Welcome to fishlore! CindiL can help you.

 

Welcome to the forum and glad you joined us. Alison

 

The problem with RO water is that it doesn't have the minerals that the fish need. I use my tap water with seachums prime to do water changes . But I use the RO water for cleaning my filters and sponges so as not to kill off the good bacteria that is what cycles your tank. Click on the words Nitrogen Cycle to get you started. Alison

 

The problem with RO water is that it doesn't have the minerals that the fish need. I use my tap water with seachums prime to do water changes . But I use the RO water for cleaning my filters and sponges so as not to kill off the good bacteria that is what cycles your tank. Click on the words Nitrogen Cycle to get you started. Alison

Thank you. I was wondering if I'm on the right track... Most posts suggest Seachum Prime. Does it work well? Should I go that road? I thought that RO might be much cleaner to start, but I'll take the advice... What else should I use?

 

RO is definitely cleaner, but you'll need to get a complete test kit and a baseline on all your parameters before doing any kind of mixing or modifying your water. You'll also need to know what fish you're keeping.

Sent from my VS987 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

 

RO is definitely cleaner, but you'll need to get a complete test kit and a baseline on all your parameters before doing any kind of mixing or modifying your water. You'll also need to know what fish you're keeping.

Sent from my VS987 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

I'm buying the API freshwater master kit. Is that a good one? Will it give me the info on what I need to add? As for fish, I haven't decided yet. I thought maybe some guppies, mollies, ottos, barbs, shrimps and snails. Don't have to have them all, but will probably be some of them. I wonder if I can fit an angelfish or two at some point.

 

If you're going to be modifying water hardness you need to get the API GH and KH test kit it's an additional $6-$10 tops.
Most live bears actually prefer harder water, so you probably don't want to use RO water if you're considering Guppies and mollies.

Sent from my VS987 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

 

If you're going to be modifying water hardness you need to get the API GH and KH test kit it's an additional $6-$10 tops.
Most live bears actually prefer harder water, so you probably don't want to use RO water if you're considering Guppies and mollies.

Sent from my VS987 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

Thank you. I think I'll go with the tap water and prime. After it all cycles, can I just add RO when I do water change, or should I keep doing tap with prime? Is there any bennefit of having RO handy?

 

Thank you. I think I'll go with the tap water and prime. After it all cycles, can I just add RO when I do water change, or should I keep doing tap with prime? Is there any bennefit of having RO handy?

Continue using tap water. Very few fish species need RO water. You'd need to be fairly comfortable with water chemistry is you were to use it. Different fish need different gH and kH. You have to be monitoring TDS levels and adding things like replenish to the RO water until you reached the desired level.

For livebearers and pretty much all other fish (wild discus excluded) treated tap water is preferable.

 

Hi, welcome to fishlore

If your tap water is good then there is no need for RO. For now go with tap and when you get your GH/KH test we can see if your water is hard enough for the livebearers. If not you can add equilibrium to it or Replenish to increase the GH.

You won't want to add RO into your tank if you're already using just tap because the parameters will be so different. Some people mix half RO and half tap if their water is too hard or too high in nitrates.

When you get the API kit I would suggest testing your tap for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, ph, GH and KH Post them back here and we can let you know how things look.

 

Hi, welcome to fishlore

If your tap water is good then there is no need for RO. For now go with tap and when you get your GH/KH test we can see if your water is hard enough for the livebearers. If not you can add equilibrium to it or Replenish to increase the GH.

You won't want to add RO into your tank if you're already using just tap because the parameters will be so different. Some people mix half RO and half tap if their water is too hard or too high in nitrates.

When you get the API kit I would suggest testing your tap for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, ph, GH and KH Post them back here and we can let you know how things look.

Thank you CindiL. Will post the results of tap water in a few days. I'm gonna get the gh and kh test kit as well.

 

I'm waiting on the gh and kh kit to arrive. In the meantime I've changed my mind on a tank. I'm returning the 29 and getting a 55 gal. Petco's sell is too good to miss and I think I want more fish. It will make it a good activity to take my daughter to the pet store many times till it fills up. I will need some ideas on fish and greens. The more color the better.

Should I start a 55 gal thread?

 

I would start a new thread with appropriate info. For small children I like cichlids. Completely unintimidated by small children at the glass and very interactive.

 

welcome to fishlore
Actually, the large tank is easier to maintain for me.

 

What do you guys think of the aquaclear filters? Good choice?

 

I don't know many people who don't like them!

My only advice with filters is its better to have two smaller ones than one large one in the event one fails when you're away then you still have oxygen and nitrification going on. Also, then you're not without one while you find the time to go get another one.

Edit: Also, don't follow their change out schedule for the bio-max and the sponge. They don't need to be changed out until they're falling apart. The companies just do this to make money
Just rinse weekly in old tank or dechlorinated tap.

 

I don't know many people who don't like them!

My only advice with filters is its better to have two smaller ones than one large one in the event one fails when you're away then you still have oxygen and nitrification going on. Also, then you're not without one while you find the time to go get another one.

Edit: Also, don't follow their change out schedule for the bio-max and the sponge. They don't need to be changed out until they're falling apart. The companies just do this to make money
Just rinse weekly in old tank or dechlorinated tap.

Thank you. Can I start the 55 gal aquarium with a 30 gal aquaclear pump and add another one in a month or two?

 

Those won't be enough filtration for a 55 gallon tank. Rule of thumb is 10x tank size in GPH so you would need 550gph or a little more.

You could start with one 70 and buy another one in a month or two, or depending on how your tank looks, just buy another 50.

 

Those won't be enough filtration for a 55 gallon tank. Rule of thumb is 10x tank size in GPH so you would need 550gph or a little more.

You could start with one 70 and buy another one in a month or two, or depending on how your tank looks, just buy another 50.

Got it. Thank you

 

I got the tests. I started a new thread for a 55 gal aquarium here:


Thanks for your help folks!

 

Bihar is better