Setting up new tank - will this be okay?

[heartsx2]

Hi,

I will be setting up a low-light planted community tank soon and I want to make sure everything I intend to do is okay...

29 gallon
Emporer Double Bio-Wheel filter
Magnum 350 canister filter
Standard gravel (small in size)
Coralife F/W T-5 Aqualight Double Strip Light-30"

Plants
1 - Java Fern
1 - Cryptocoryne
1 - Anubias Nana
1 - Anubias Barteri Round Leaf
2 - Water Sprite
2 - Anacharis

Fish
9 - Gouramis (3 variations)
6 - Assorted Platies
4 - Assorted Mollies
6 - Assorted Guppies (most fancy)
2 - Boesmani Rainbow
1 - Clown Pleco
1 - Bristle-nose Pleco
1 - Pim Pictus

Does anyone see any problems with this? Anything I'm missing or need to know? With plants, fish, or equipment? This is for a low-light setup.

Thanks for any help!!
Denise

 

[Jchillin]

Can I have this tank setup? LOL. All kidding aside, the equipment and plants look excellent. I just have some thoughts about the stocking. You may be overstocked by a bit and the livebearer's will add to this issue with their eventual fry.

 

[malkore]

gotta agree, the stocking is too much. i'd ditch the guppies, as they'll surely breed and then you'll be really over stocked.

 

[heartsx2]

Great, thanks! Maybe I'll just get like 2 male guppies...

 

[greenmaji]

How heavily are you planning to plant the tank? Will you be planting densely?

 

[heartsx2]

I have no idea I'm not really sure how much space the plants I listed will take up. I'd prefer it not to be too heavy into plants though. Just enough to look nice and also give the fish room to swim around.

 

[greenmaji]

Enough healthy plants make a excellent bio-filter that was my only thought.

 

[heartsx2]

So once I have the tank setup, the plants added and filters running, I should add 50% fish right?
A couple days after the tank is setup with plants?
Then gradually add a couple fish per week after that?
Or do I wait to stock the second 50% after the tank has cycled out after 6 weeks?
And what order would be best for stocking the list above (minus a few guppies)? Thanks!

 

[greenmaji]

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showquestion.php?faq=2&fldAuto=15

 

[heartsx2]

This method discusses saltwater... I am not starting up a saltwater tank.
I've also seen methods that mention adding amonia to the tank to cycle it. I question what affects this would have on the plants.

 

[greenmaji]

just search for fishless cycle... it is just written as a saltwater article.. fishless cycling is for any water type....
most aquatic plants consume ammonia (before NO3) as a nutrient.. It would not harm the plants..

 

[heartsx2]

My canister filter currently has a bunch of chem-stars in it from a turtle/fish tank. The filter was just turned off yesterday from another tank but still has water in it. I was hoping to just hook this up to the new tank and get a jump start on the cycling process. Because of this I thought it would be safe to start out with some fish. Thoughts?

 

[greenmaji]

I would be conserned about how healthy this might be.. also some of your bactarica could have died without O2 being added (air-stone with air pump would have kept them alive.. I would get a second oppinion on this.. maybe PM toirtus.