New Hobby UH OH!

[xxlindaxx05]

Hi everybody! I decided to start a freshwater aquarium and now I feel like I’m drowning (no pun intended)!

I bought a 29 gallon tank, small smooth gravel substrate, decorations with some hiding places, Aqueon filter, a heater, some plants (I have no idea what they are. I got them from Petco), a hood with a 30 watt florescent light, a net and an algae cleaner. I’ll get food once I get the fish. I really don’t want to spend anymore money! Do I have everything I need?

The tank is running with all this stuff in it. I put some of the gravel and a fake plant from my Betta bowl in the tank to help "cycle" it. When can I start putting fish in the tank?

I wasn't planning on putting my Betta in the new tank but now I feel guilty about it. If I put him in this tank what other fish can I put with him. I want some fish with personality but also wont start trouble with my Betta... he is an old man! I can leave him in his 2 gallon bowl if the transition would be too stressful.

Any stocking ideas at all would be great!!! I’m not at all familiar with freshwater fish. Thank you so much!!!
Linda

 

[Big-j]

Moving your betta would be great he'll love the extra room, alot more fish than most people think will work with a betta, neon and cardinal tetras are small colorful and fast enough the betta won't bother them, Cory cats hang out and play at the bottom but you need 5+ for them to be comfortable, plus they eat leftover food , sounds like you have a good plan, just get a liquid test kit to determine if your cycled or not and when you are add your fish slowly

 

[xxlindaxx05]

THANK YOU!! When I get the cory cats I should still only put them in the tank 2 at a time even though they like to be in larger schools?

 

[Big-j]

You can probably get away with adding 4+ corys at once they don't have a crazy high bioload like some fish