just bought a 29 gallon tank... help me choose what to buy

[l burke l]

Ok well recently I was able to pick up a 29 gallon tank with stand off craigslist for pretty cheap. I plan on having a planted freshwater setup. I have been reading up for the past week now and I understand for the most part how to cycle and how important it is, and I already have a master test kit. Im now ready to start setting up the tank. The problem is that it is just the tank and stand. So I have been looking around and have chosen a couple items and would like to know your opinions on my choices.



AquaClear Powerfilters 30

Versa-Tops 30" glass top

Eco-Complete Plant Substrate

large smooth stone substrate to put over the plant substrate to help anchor plants

Theo Heater 200 watt (including a emergency spare)

Satellite Compact Fluorescent Fixtures Dual 30" light fixture (2-65 watt bulbs)

Digital Thermometer


One of my main questions to ask was if i should go with that light fixture. It is really nice and comes with lunar lights and is 130 watts. From my understanding the 29 gallon tank is on the deeper side so the extra bright lights would help the plants grow. I did realize though that there were actually bulbs for plant growing which started to get confusing since they were such low wattage. I'm also not sure exactly which plants I want and understand that different plants like different wattage. The only thing that I know that I want in the tank so far is a center piece of a piece of driftwood.

Now onto the hard part... the fishys

I have been doing as much research as I could and have seen the charts of compatibility and such and have a rough idea of what I want. I know that I will probably use a solo angel fish as a center piece fish. From there I was thinking of adding a school of tetras (ornate?), 3 or 4 kuhli loaches, a couple hatchets, a couple barbs, a small school of corys, and maybe some ghost shrimp or red cherry shrimp.

I'm not sure if that is overstocking or not. I just want to have a lot of activity with top, mid, and bottom level swimmers. I picked the loaches shrimp and corys because I thought that might help with the cleaning process as well. Would a sucker cat be more efficient?

One more question. My girlfriend was looking at a tropical aquarium book of fish and saw one that she liked and would like to know if we could get one. It was called a red lyretail. The description said it was for a community tank but it looks crazy so also dont know where I would ever find it lol.

Thank you in advance for reading this and putting up with my lack of knowledge.

-l burke l-

[emc7]

a red lyre-tail what? Red lyre-tail swordtails are awesome but you can't usually find them at pet stores. But there are other fish with similar common names, see if you can get the scientific name. Plecos are better at algae control (if you get one, make sure it is a little one, not a 2 foot monster species), but cories do a better job of eating sunken fish food.

I think your stocking is a bit ambitious. Choose loaches or corys, barbs or tetras, not both. Go easy at first, you can alway add more later.

[l burke l]

yeah I wasnt planning on doing all of the species at once. I just wanted to let you guys know what my goal of a final product was so that you could give as much help as possible.

Oh and the scientific name is Aphyosemion bivittatum (I would hate to have to ask for that at the local fish store lol)

[emc7]

Aphyosemion bivittatum

Thats a killiefish. Generally not for beginners and not kept in community tanks. Save it for tank #2. Look in the back of a fish magazine for a list of aquarium societies. You might need a killiefish club to get this fish.

I suggest going up a size to the Aquaclear 50.

One school of tetra (small ones not serpae (fin nippers) and not neons (angelfood)), one angel, and shoal of cories are enough for that tank. Shrimp might be fish food, too.

[COM]

I agree with emc. I just set up a 29 myself and while shopping for filters I immediately ruled out the AquaClear 30. Too small, too little filtration power for a 29 tank. If you like AquaClear, go up to a 50 or 70. Personally, I bought an Emperor 400 for my tank.

I adore angels. I have one (left of a pair) in my other tank. He killed the other angel and has also nipped a female guppy to death and eaten two Otos. IME angels will eat pretty much anything that will fit in their mouths so your shrimp might be at risk.

[JustOneMore20]

Originally Posted by l burke l

AquaClear Powerfilters 30

Versa-Tops 30" glass top

Eco-Complete Plant Substrate

large smooth stone substrate to put over the plant substrate to help anchor plants

Theo Heater 200 watt (including a emergency spare)

Satellite Compact Fluorescent Fixtures Dual 30" light fixture (2-65 watt bulbs)

Digital Thermometer

I would go with an Aquaclear 50 instead of the 30. The extra filtration can't hurt.

I would skip the stones. You'll most likely get debri and waste stuck in them that you can't get out with a gravel vac. Eco Complete has different size grains. It holds plants well. I would suggest getting some big planting tweezers like these: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...8&pcatid=12038. Makes it alot easier to put plants into the substrate.

Originally Posted by l burke l

One of my main questions to ask was if i should go with that light fixture. It is really nice and comes with lunar lights and is 130 watts. From my understanding the 29 gallon tank is on the deeper side so the extra bright lights would help the plants grow. I did realize though that there were actually bulbs for plant growing which started to get confusing since they were such low wattage. I'm also not sure exactly which plants I want and understand that different plants like different wattage.

If you get that light fixture you need co2 injection (preferably pressurized, as diy wont be able to keep up with that much light). 65 watts will be fine for most medium and low light plants. If you can add pressurized co2 to your list (plan on about $200-300) then go with the 130w fixture. Otherwise, you'll be constantly fighting algae and won't grow much more than algae and stunted plants.

Originally Posted by l burke l

I have been doing as much research as I could and have seen the charts of compatibility and such and have a rough idea of what I want. I know that I will probably use a solo angel fish as a center piece fish. From there I was thinking of adding a school of tetras (ornate?), 3 or 4 kuhli loaches, a couple hatchets, a couple barbs, a small school of corys, and maybe some ghost shrimp or red cherry shrimp.

You need more than a couple hatchets. They are schooling fish, as are the barbs. Since you are going with an Angelfish, I suggest you choose 1 school of fish and have 8 of them. You really won't have room for 2 schools and a full grown Angel. A shoal of Cories or the Loaches would work...I wouldn't do both, since the both need groups. Choose either and have 6 of them. Shrimp will be eaten by the Angel.

Originally Posted by l burke l

I'm not sure if that is overstocking or not. I just want to have a lot of activity with top, mid, and bottom level swimmers. I picked the loaches shrimp and corys because I thought that might help with the cleaning process as well. Would a sucker cat be more efficient?

Not sure what kind of sucker cat you are referring to. Keep in mind that you shouldn't leave it up to fish to clean the tank for you. Any additional fish add waste to the tank. Water changes are the only way to get rid of nitrates (besides the plants). A group of Otocinclus might be ok. I've heard of Angels eating them, but I personally haven't had that problem...my Angel is in a 55g though and not a 29g. A single Bristlenose Pleco might be a better choice.

Originally Posted by l burke l

One more question. My girlfriend was looking at a tropical aquarium book of fish and saw one that she liked and would like to know if we could get one. It was called a red lyretail. The description said it was for a community tank but it looks crazy so also dont know where I would ever find it lol.

I just saw the other post on the full name. I agree with emc7, it is not a good choice. Killies are usually best kept in a species tank.

[l burke l]

Thanks for the detailed post Kristen. Do you have any recommendations for low to mid light plants? Any recommendations for a fixture. I cant wait to get this all set up but I want to make sure I do it right the first time around

[JustOneMore20]

You're welcome.

A single 65w fixture would be fine for medium light. You will want to put in alot of stem plants like Rotala rotundifolia, Bacopa caroliniana, Anacharis, Hornwort, and Ludwigia repens to name a few.

Plantgeek.net has a pretty good listing of plants by light requirement. Here is the medium low list: http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_...=1&filter_by=3 and the medium list: http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_...=1&filter_by=4. The low light list would be fine as well, but are probably included in those 2 categories.

As far as brand of fixture goes....Coralife is pretty good, same with Orbit. Satellite fixtures are ok as well. Just make sure the bulb is for a planted tank and between 6000K and 10000K.

[l burke l]

https://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...tid=9871&rel=1 Would that be ok to get? It doesn't specifically say that its for plants but I think it would work. Also is it an issue that i would have to get the 24" fixture even though I have a 30" tank? I see that they recommend getting the legs for it but if I have a 30" tank I don't see how that would work. Could I just rest it on my glass canopy? Sorry for all the rookie questions, I just never realized how technically it could get to take care of these little fish the correct way. lol

[JustOneMore20]

That would work, just make sure you get the freshwater one. It has the bulb for plants in it already (6700K).

The bulb is the same length in the 24 and 30" fixtures, so its not like it would cover any more length over the tank. I'm not sure if the legs would stretch that far, if you got the 24" fixture. My suggestion would be to get the 30" fixture. Doesn't look like the Drs carry it, but Hellolights.com does and its cheaper than the 24" at Drs F&S.

link: http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...ROD&ProdID=213

I've had excellent results buying from them, just FYI.

The legs will fit with the 30" fixture on the 30" tank....I have a 30" fixture on my 29g. I wouldn't lay it on a glass top....the heat produced by the fixture and not being vented (lying flat on the glass) could crack it. I've heard of that happening too much to tell you to try it.

[l burke l]

thanks again for the great advice Kristen. now I just have to save up some money for this stuff.

[l burke l]

my girlfriend just bought all of my stuff including the light fixture you suggested. now its the waiting game

[JustOneMore20]

Awesome! You have a fabulous girlfriend.

[Good Wolf]

It sounds like your stocking is going to be very similar to mine except I have Glass Cats in instead of Tetra in that tank. Everyone gets along fine. I was a bit worried about the Gourami and the Angel togather but they don't bother each other at all.

If your set on Tetra the Diamonds are cool looking and will get along with your Angel.

Here is a great compatability chart that I use.

http://www.timstropicals.com/Compati...ameResults.asp

There are always exceptions to the rules but it is best to go with the norm and the monitor the fish for aggression once they are in the tank togather.

[l burke l]

Thanks for the advice fish. Does anyone recommend picking up one of those separate 1 watt moonlights. I am going to be setting my fixture on a timer so I thought it might be nice to have a moon light on at night.

[Obsidian]

They are by no means necessary but some people really like them. So I would say it is up to you and your personal preferences.

[Good Wolf]

I've thought about getting a black light. I think the Tetra and Glass cats would look awesome under one.

[trashion]

I heard somewhere that UV lights (blacklights) stress fish.

[l burke l]

Is that all those 1 watt "moonlights" are... blacklights?

[Obsidian]

No, they are much more than that and usually pretty expensive. If it is not very expensive I would wonder why and start looking at specs.