New 36 gallon bowfront

[flatty]

I haven't had an aquarium in 21 years so when my wife surprised me with an Aqueon 36g bowfront kit for Christmas I was quite excited. I am looking for some stocking advice. I know the tank needs to be cycled but I am looking for some ideas as to what will work best in here. My wife really wants colorful fish and I am personally fond of fish that swim around a bit and don't just sit there. I am pretty sure I would just like a community type tank with the possibility of a few peaceful Chichlids. In the past I enjoyed having a few cats (pictus or upside down though i don't really have to have them in tank) and wondered what sort of colorful fish I might be able to add?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[fishybuisness]

I've had a school of 12 or so tiger barbs and they swim back and forth and back and forth all day. Though most will vote against barbs I've never had a problem with aggression issues..so I might suggest this set up to get started. 6-8 Cory's (panda Cory's are my favorite) 8-12 tiger barbs 8-12 assorted tetras a pair of blue gouramis maybe a pair of silver dollars.

 

[flatty]

Thanks for the input. Curious do some of the friendlier Cichlids fare well in community tanks? Would like to get something with a little color

 

[fishybuisness]

You options are very VVERY limited..I believe German blue rams do well..

 

[GeekLikeThat]

I have the same tank and I'm also in the Central Florida area. Here's a few suggestions, based on what I've found locally. I'm not suggesting all of these in your tank, as it would be overstocked, just some ideas on what sizes of schools/shoals to get.

German blue ram - 1 or 2 (1m, 1f) - I have two and they're great in my tank
Bleeding heart or black skirt Tetra - min 6
Longfin leopard or zebra danio - min 6
Cory cat of some kind - min 5
Tiger or cherry barb - min 6
Threadfin rainbow - min 6
Single angelfish

There are lot of others too.

If I may suggest a few things... get black substrate, makes the fish colors pop more. Also, buy a better or second filter. Either an Aquaclear and run both HOB's, or a canister only. I have a Fluval 306 and love it on this aquarium. The filter in the kit is pretty weak.

 

[flatty]

Thanks. Yeah the filter looked a bit wimpy. I have an old breeder 30gal in storage I think it had a pretty hefty filter on it too if it actually functions. Curious..what substrate did you use. I have seen quite a few sand bottom tanks and I just happen to have 10 lbs of pool filter sand here so I was considering that as a cheaper alternative.

 

[twiddlemuffin]

Thanks for the input. Curious do some of the friendlier Cichlids fare well in community tanks? Would like to get something with a little color

Bolivian/electric blue/golden/balloon/German blue rams are all peaceful. Kribs are peaceful, and so are apistos. I recommend them.

 

[GeekLikeThat]

I used Black Diamond blasting sand, was $7 for a 50lb bag at TSC. It was a royal pain to rinse, and gave off oily reside while I was cycling, but looks great. I've noticed the cory's don't dig in it like the ones in my other sand bottom tank do. I think it might be too sharp for them to dig in. The pool filter sand will work just fine.

 

[flatty]

think I will go the poolsand route just because i have it on hand. Those fish prefer planted it seems, does it matter if they are real or fake?

 

[ashleynicole]

Get some rainbowfish and a couple of bolivian rams or german blue rams.

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[flitabout]

Most rainbows need a long tank like 48 inches long and the 36 bf is only 30. The stocking that I have on mine that I just got up and running is 7 platy The fry were already here. In my other tank. One pair marble angels, 10 cardinal tetras and I will be adding a german blue ram once the tank is a bit more developed in about 4-6months. GBR do better in a more established tank.
But kribs, and apisto are both colorful and great fish!

 

[flatty]

Excellent thanks have something to think about now.

 

[ashleynicole]

There are a lot of smaller breeds of rainbows like threadfin that could work.

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[Tommy10]

An electric blue ram is a peaceful chiclid I believe. The ya re stunning!

 

[Tommy10]

They are* sorry about that

 

[flatty]

Great. Live or fake plants work best? Going to go with sand substrate perhaps a few river rocks.

 

[ashleynicole]

Personally I only use live plants but I do low light low tech. I dose a few fertilizers and liquid carbon but thats it

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[flitabout]

Same I am a live plant freak! Here is a pic of mine that I set up at Christmas for my girls. I upgraded the light to quad T5HOs so I can grow basically anything.

 

[flatty]

Nice looking tank

 

[flatty]

how well would the stock lights do? I really dont have another $100 to spend on lighting, would rather spend that on fish