Help choosing species for first tank please!

[PilotGav]

I'm currently cycling my 29 gallon tank (no live plants) and visited our LFS to see what species I like! If I list them, would anyone be kind enough to give me advice on which ones I should be careful of?

I only want 3 or maximum 4 species total, and like the idea of at least a couple of shoaling groups!

Thanks for any advice!

Fish I think I really want:

• Zebra Danios
• Cardinal Tetras
• Turquoise Guppy
• High Fin Rosey Barb

Fish I like:

• Black Platy
• Harlaquin rasbora
• Giant Danios
• Black Ruby Barbs
• Tiger Barbs
• Clown Loach
• Tequila Tuxedo Guppies
• Chocolate Sailfin Mollys

Note: I am taking this "hobby" very seriously, and will be paying attention to the tank. Testing water twice a week, regular water changes, and studying/playing with the fish daily!

Our water here is on the hard side. I don't know the exact PH yet because it's fluctuating with the fish-less cycle. We do get hard water stains easily.

Thanks again for any warnings, thoughts or anything else as I narrow down the list

Gavin

 

[tarpon]

Clown loaches can get to around a foot. So that would be a no go in a 30 gallon. also in order to get a really nice feel and look from your tank try to mix bottom feeders with middle and top level swimmers so you have movement in each.
I can suggest Cory catfish as a nice schooling bottom feeder. They school better the more you have. I recommend 4 minimum.

Also IME zebra danios are a bit too energetic for my liking.

I'd also think about adding shrimp and snails. They have a low bioload and add more life to the aquarium. (And are very interesting )

 

[barterking85]

Hey Gavin I would do this

6- rummynose tetra
6- cardinal tetra
6- glowlight tetra or glowlight danio
2- German Blue Ram

I would love that tank I have all those fish among others in a happy community

 

[Cichlid Kid]

Just a word of caution. Only consider the rams after your aquarium is well established and stable. All the other sugestions were great imo.

 

[barterking85]

Just a word of caution. Only consider the rams after your aquarium is well established and stable. All the other sugestions were great imo.

I have to respectively disagree if they are coming from a fish farm or poor breeder then yes but I breed 3 species of rams gold, German blue, and Bolivian and mine are very hardy I would ship them to you and guarentee their health as long as they are in a cycled aquarium. I have often had to quickly set up a grow out tank for my fry throw a seeded filter on it and they have done fine. I am willing to ship within Canada but the only batch I have ready to go right now are goldens and golden blues (GBR Golden ram mix)

 

[josh7]

I would get 6 cardinal tetras, 2 male turquoise guppys, 4 females and a school of 6 panda corys.