stocking and aquarium?

Question

i am about to completely re-do my 29gallon freshwater aquarium. i want it to have big bushy plants and i want mostly small fish(1-2.5in), maybe one or two bigger fish(3-4). i will only be able to get fish that u can regularly find ta places like petsmart. I am also interested in some invertabrates and some good types of plants(any ones that are good and pretty easy, i have a full spectrum tube and will consider other needed things)thnx!!

Answer 1

Almost all Cryptocoryne species are perfect in low light tanks and many make good ground covers. For bushy plants, check out Cabomba (it may need close to 2.5-3 watts per gallon though). Other good bushy plants are Anacharis, Java Fern, Java Moss, and for taller, broad leaved plants, look into Radican or Amazon Swords and Anubias Barteri will grow nicely.

As far as fish, small fish like Harlequin Rasboras, Danios, Tetras, and Dwarf Gouramis would be good as well as some Ghost Shrimp and Red Cherry Shrimp. Email me if you have any questions.

Soop Nazi

Answer 2

If you truly want plants to get big and bushy, consider getting/making a CO2 reactor.

Is your lighting a standard fluorescent tube, or a compact fluorescent/T5 system? Full spectrum is good, but what you're able to grow will depend on the output of the lighting as well. If what you have is a standard tube, consider getting a second one - you'll want about 2-3 watts of light per gallon to both increase your growth and your choices of plants.

For smaller fish, you can't go wrong with a school of tetras, danios, or one of the more peaceful barbs. My personal preferences are Congo, emperor, or diamond tetras. If you want more color, you could use neons or cardinal tetras, cherry barbs, or platys.

You could also have a small school of corys or small loaches (kuhlii, yoyo) to help clean around the plant bases. I also like Malaysian trumpet snails because they'll burrow into the substrate and keep the root areas aerated, but they won't eat the plants themselves. These can multiple quickly, but usually are only a problem if they have an overabundant food source. Don't overfeed and keep a clean tank and you'll hardly ever see them (they spend the day in the sunstrate and come out at night).

For larger fish, you could use a male betta, a dwarf gourami, or a trio of rainbowfish (2 male, 1 female).

If you want some non-fish, you might try some of the freshwater shrimp. Just stay away from long-arm shrimp varieties if you want to keep your fish. But ghost, Amano, wood, cherry, and others are fine. Use a cover on the tank because these will jump!

Answer 3

With a 29 gallon tank you have plenty of options when looking at keeping fish in the sizes you specified. Consider Tetras or Rasboras as good choices.

Here are 2 different ideas to consider...

1. 8 Black Phantom Tetras and 8 Black Neon Tetras with a pair of Pearl Gouramis for your larger fish.

2. 10 Harlequin Rasboras and 6 Red Tailed Rasboras with a pair of Pearl Gouramis for your larger fish.

Try Indian Fern or Java Fern for some bushy plants and 3 or 4 Ghost Shrimp for invertebrates.