Suggestions/advice to fill out top half of 29g tank

[Jleungrx89]

Hey fishlore, I’m looking for advice and/or suggestions to fill out the top half of my tank so that my fish would congregate and swim up there (there’s so much swimming room!)

It’s a 29 gallon tank that’s been running for about 3 months. It is currently stocked with 10 tiger barbs, 1 GBR, 7 panda corys, and 2 mystery snails. 30 gallon top fin sole stream filter. Tank temp kept at 76 degrees. I currently have amazon swords in the background (which doesn’t seem to want to grow any taller—using seachem root tabs), java fern attached to driftwood and S. repens in the foreground. It’s a top fin essential 29 gallon kit and the light is what came with it (assuming it’s low lighting). I am using nilocg thrive complete low tech fertilizer once a week. The light stays on for about 8 hours a day.

Any other suggestions about the tank itself would be greatly appreciated!

 

[The_fishy]

Some jungle val would look really nice in the background!

 

[Lakefish]

Some wood coming down from the top, maybe floating plants, and/or a background would help. Looks nice though.

 

[CoryBoi]

Jungle Val would be nice , but you really need to raise the temp to at least 80. Gbr cannot thrive in colder water.

 

[Algonquin]

You could float some guppy grass in bunches. Maybe some dwarf water lettuce too? Definitely some taller plants along the back

 

[DuaneV]

You could add some Jungle Val as it grows VERY tall and will grow to the surface and lay on its side growing longer. You could add a big piece of driftwood.

Other suggestions: Id rehome your GBR. He will not last long with 10 Tiger Barbs OR at that low of a temp. Id say GBR's need 82 minimum, but 84/86 would be ideal. Your TB's won't appreciate the temp over 78/80 MAX. Those TB's are going to FILL that tank when theyre full grown, so definitely don't add more fish.

 

[Jleungrx89]

You could add some Jungle Val as it grows VERY tall and will grow to the surface and lay on its side growing longer. You could add a big piece of driftwood.

Other suggestions: Id rehome your GBR. He will not last long with 10 Tiger Barbs OR at that low of a temp. Id say GBR's need 82 minimum, but 84/86 would be ideal. Your TB's won't appreciate the temp over 78/80 MAX. Those TB's are going to FILL that tank when theyre full grown, so definitely don't add more fish.

You could add some

A little back story. I had only the GBR in the tank for 2 weeks. Then I added the 7 panda corys and 2 mystery snails, then yesterday I added the TB's. At the present moment, the GBR is the aggressor and is exhibiting behaviors that it is his tank. I will closely monitor the issue but hopefully they'll sort out the pecking order and dominance in the tank and live harmoniously.

 

[saltwater60]

Get a large thin piece of driftwood and put some plants up top.

 

[Jleungrx89]

Get a large thin piece of driftwood and put some plants up top.

Thanks, can you go into more detail? Spider wood to replace the mountain of rock in the middle? Floating plants?

 

[ProudPapa]

... but hopefully they'll sort out the pecking order and dominance in the tank and live harmoniously.

I don't want you to feel like you're being attacked, but pecking order isn't the main issue. Temperature is.

 

[Jleungrx89]

I don't want you to feel like you're being attacked, but pecking order isn't the main issue. Temperature is.

That is quite alright. I take it as constructive criticism. How can I tell that the GBR is not thriving? What are the signs and symptoms?

 

[ProudPapa]

That is quite alright. I take it as constructive criticism. How can I tell that the GBR is not thriving? What are the signs and symptoms?

I haven't kept them, so I can't answer that. I only knew about the temperature thing because I've read a lot about them from people who have kept them, and successfully bred them, for a long time.

 

[DuaneV]

GBR's are one of the few more "common" fish that REALLY require warm water (84-86 is perfect). Theyre a temperamental little fish and really won't do well under 80.

The GBR is currently the aggressor because your TB's are babies. If the cooler water doesn't kill him first, when your TB's get 4 inches theyll rip him apart. Its a bad situation for him.

 

[saltwater60]

Thanks, can you go into more detail? Spider wood to replace the mountain of rock in the middle? Floating plants?

I like some sort of rootball that sweeps upward. Not a huge fan of spider wood.
floating plants aren’t my choice either. I like java ferns since they will attach to the wood and the exposed root structure is cool.

 

[Noroomforshoe]

In my tank I used slate, sanded down all ruff edges. two peices, one on each side of the tank, I balenced them on sturdy, clean glass candlholders. this creates a shelf were I put decorations, but it also creates a hiding area that the fish love. I put the silk plants in front like privacy curtains. my loaches sleep in there, my acaras breed in there.