New 30G, What Fish?

NolanCL

Hello all!

I am getting a 30g tank soon and would like to plan out what kind of fish I want in the tank and was wondering if anyone has some suggestions?
I know the following --

I like the African Cichlids (The Pseudotropheus sp and the Sciaenochromis Fryeri aka the electric blue)

I like the Blue Ram

I like the Angel fish

I would like a good mix of fish with some top, middle, and bottom (prob cory's)

What would you all suggest for stocking the tank?!

Thank you for all your help!

kritas

Definitely a few corys or otocinclus(5-6 meaning a few, no less than 5)

Maybe 5 Kuhli Loaches(no less than 5)
8 or more Serpae Tetras(or any other type of tetra)
1 German Blue Ram(male) / or a Crowntail Betta(as a centrepiece fish)
Maybe a few Danios...

I wouldn't go with the African Cichlids or the Angel fish... IMO Angel fish just don't go in small tanks. I prefer to have them in something 60 inch tall(they are vertical swimmers too) and at least a 4 foot long, so they have space to swim.

NolanCL

Thank you for the quick reply!

I think on reading more about the Angel, I would have to agree!

Is there any reason for not getting African Cichlids? Are they too big or something of that nature?

Cody

Do not mix African Cichlids with any other fish (unless they are Kribs), but maybe Plecos and Synos, because of their aggresive nature. Most need a high pH and certain territories also. You also cannot mix South American cics with African Cics.

I would go for a South American setup. Do
-1 Single ram, or a pair
-12 Cardinal Tetras/10 Lemon Tetras/10 Serpae Tetras
-6-8 Hatchets
-6 Cories
-1 Bristlenose/Clown Pleco

Thats what I would do. It covers every tank area as well.

iamntbatman

A community tank like the one Cody suggested would work great. You can use that stocking list as a template and make modifications to it, if you want. For example, the tetras he listed could be replaced with just about any tetra in that size range. You could also get rasboras instead of the tetras, or cut the school size in half and get a group of platies or swordtails (1 male 2 female). The ram could be replaced with any other community-safe dwarf cichlid like a krib, apistogramma, nannacara, egyptian mouthbrooder, etc.

If you don't want a community tank, you could also do some other options. A dwarf pike, a pair of convicts, salvinis, or jewel cichlids, a colony of shelldwellers, etc etc.

NolanCL

Thanks everyone! I just found out that the tank is not empty as we originally had assumed. From what i know now, there is a tank of just a few "Small-ish Fish", per the owner, that get along in the tank. The feeling I get is that they have let the tank go and it is rather dirty/ poorly cared for. So I guess I am going to wait and see what condition the tank is in and how much cleaning it needs and then try to identify the fish and go from there. But now that I'm hooked I'm going to build my community fish tank around the existing survivors.

NolanCL

Ok, Got the tank.... they had broken the whole tank down and left me with just a zip-lock bag of water with 1 male Swordtail and 2 zebra danos in it. I rehoused the fish in a new Tupperware I had with conditioned water. I then as quickly as possible scrubbed out the amazing amount of alge and mold, cleaned the landscaping and got everything cleaned and up and running again. Ugh what a stress for the little fish. I felt so sorry for the little guys moving with very little of their own water (no matter how dirty) and then being thrown in to what equals out to a new tank.

Anyway --- my question:

Swordtails - do they need to be in a community? Or can the male stay alone, he's hiding right now but I imagine he's rather stressed.

Zebra Danos - is 2 a good number?

How long should I wait to see if these fish are sick or if the tank readjusted, before adding more fish?

James

I plan on getting a 36 gallon soon and I think im going to a put an electric blue Jack Dempsey in it,

idk I just think thats a really really cool fish

NolanCL

How are the Jack Dempsey's with other fish?

willow

hello. :)
may i ask you,have you cleaned the filter ?