opinions??

[Tipton34]

I am starting my second aquarium build. This tank will be around 30 gallons but the tank is 4ft long. What would y'all stock it with? I plan on having a few live plants.

 

[Tipton34]

Anybody?

 

[FishFanatic88]

loaches apreciate a longer foot print. how tall and deep would it be aprox? it would make it easier to suggest stock knowing those dimensions.

 

[Tipton34]

It's around 15 inches tall, 10 inches wide, 48 inches long

 

[vanimal]

10 Neon or Cardinal Tetras
10 Cories
2 Rams
1 Bristlenose Pleco
10 Rummy Nose Tetras
And maybe something else...

 

[FishFanatic88]

It's around 15 inches tall, 10 inches wide, 48 inches long

That would be great for a school of loaches. Stay with smaller ones however. take a look at loaches.com they have a list of loaches and loach care that would be great in helping to pick the right ones for you.

You could even make it a tank focused on loaches and have a sand substrate with some driftwood and rocks. you could add some tiger barbs for top swimming dither fish too.

 

[Tipton34]

I like the idea of multiple schools! Especially something like neons, and loaches. So far this tank is by far a better design than a shorter more compact tank

 

[Samzter]

I think vanimals suggestions are great! That will give you a bright fun tank!

 

[Tipton34]

I agree. I just have to get to work on building it now!

 

[bud29]

The only problem that there could be IMO is that the large school of the active cories steal the food of the not-as-active pleco. Some people have had issues with their cories eating all of the food. (They are pigs!)

EDIT: OK, I thought the tank was much bigger than it actually is. This makes Vanimal's idea overstocked. I recommend two schools of 8 fish such as zebra danios, cherry barbs, or tetras, with a centerpiece like a dwarf gourami or a pair of rams. Then some bottom feeders such as a BN pleco, a school of cories, or a school of small loaches,

 

[Samzter]

The only problem that there could be IMO is that the large school of the active cories steal the food of the not-as-active pleco. Some people have had issues with their cories eating all of the food. (They are pigs!)

EDIT: OK, I thought the tank was much bigger than it actually is. This makes Vanimal's idea overstocked. I recommend two schools of 8 fish such as zebra danios, cherry barbs, or tetras, with a centerpiece like a dwarf gourami or a pair of rams. Then some bottom feeders such as a BN pleco, a school of cories, or a school of small loaches,

It's not that badly overstocked, just remove two tetras from each school and maybe two Cories.

 

[Tipton34]

That really wouldn't be too overstocked.

Ok another question, should I go with black sand, and white sand, or both??

 

[Samzter]

Black sand looks awesome!

 

[Tipton34]

I was thinking maybe black with a little white mixed in

 

[bud29]

Alright, I looked and it really isn't that bad. But, I would say no more bottom feeders with that so of you wanted loaches you would probably have to switch them out with the cories.

 

[bud29]

I was thinking maybe black with a little white mixed in

I think that would look very cool. I am a fan of black sand.

 

[Tipton34]

It's hard to beat the color enhancing of black but it looks really dark if you don't have very bright lights. I hope the two bulb t-8 from home depot will be bright enough

 

[bud29]

Maybe you could swirl the white into the black. That would look amazing

 

[Tipton34]

I think that's what I'm going to do. I have some bamboo sticks that I'm going to use for decoration.

 

[vanimal]

I have black sand and I love it! So
8 Neons
8 Rummy Nose
6-8 Cories
1 Bristlenose Pleco
2 Rams
???