New 25 Gal Tank: Setup and Stocking?

[Scottyhorse]

Hi everybody! This is my first post, I just joined today!

Anyways, I am going to be getting a new tank in a few months. Right now, I just have a 2 gal tank with 1 ghost shrimp named Blimpy.

I really want a bigger set up. In the past, I've had neons, guppies, bettas, but I want to do someting more exciting. So I was thinking of a 25-29 gal community set up.

I have been looking at fish, and I really like German Blue Rams and Dwarf Gouramis. My only concern is with the GBRs. Are they hard to keep, for begginers? I just love their color.

If I can't do the rams, what else could I do that has lots of color?

That's really all I have come up with

I know I want some schooling fish, with lots of color. I can really get any type of fish. My parents have a BL for our farm, so I can get fish from wholesale people (African Northwest)

For schooling fish, I really like Endlers, but really, I am open to anything that doesn't need a whole lot of special stuff and is hardy. I am more that willing to do multiple types of food.
Some Rasboras are cool too, but like I said, I am open to suggestions!

I also want some more shrimp, they are sooo fun to watch!

Some sort of Cory might be nice too, but I don't know!

I am also going to have live plants. So far I am thinking of Marimo Moss balls, Christmas Moss, and Wisteria. What else could I have that doesn't need special substrate or lighting?

I think this is the tank I am going to get:

Top Fin® 29 Gallon Starter Kit - Fish - Sale - PetSmart

or

25 Gallon Fish Tank » Aqueon 25 Gallon Premium Aquarium Kit | PetSmart

What do you guys think? Add, remove? Plants?
Sorry for the long post, I am new and full of questions!!

Thanks!!

-Sydney

 

[coolbeenes]

I would look into the Marineland led kits. For around the same money you can have led lighting. The led lighting has a day and night feature which is really cool. They have a 29 gallon set. Comes with a good filter and heater. I love the one I have. The Aqueon kit is decent, however, I believe the ML kit has better lighting and filter. Top fin would be my third choice of the three.

 

[Scottyhorse]

Thanks. I'll look into that kit! What do you think for stocking?

 

[coolbeenes]

Dwarf gouramis are good, they have a bad rep though. I would advise you to only put one in a tank. They can be aggressive in pairs. They have the labyrinth organ which allows they to breath air from the surface. The rams require more water care, however are not impossible to keep.

 

[Scottyhorse]

What else should I add to the tank? Could the gouramis and rams be together?

 

[Pipedreamer86]

I would do 1 dwarf gourami 1 ram a school of something you like. if you like endlers that's up to you i personally would do cardinal tetras... Then 5 corys.

 

[azmodan]

First off, definitely go with the largest size tank you can possibly get. Secondly, personally I'd recommend a honey gourami as your gourami of choice. They are normally very peaceful and also aren't susceptible to dwarf gourami disease. In terms of stocking you could probably do something like...

1 honey gourami
1-2 GBR
8-10 rummy nose tetras
8-10 other small tetra (neon, cardinal, etc)

I have a slightly smaller tank that has 1 honey gourami, 1 GBR, 9 rummy nose tetras, and 5 neons (had more but several did not make it during the first few days).

But really there are a lot of things you could do depending how comfortable you are. You could do endlers instead of one of the tetra schools but if you got males and females you'd end up with a ton of fry too. You could also instead a school of one of the smaller corydoras species as a fun bottom dweller, but just be aware if you get two GBRs and they spawn they'll get quite territorial around their eggs. I also recommend checking out some of the smaller and peaceful barbs species. The five banded barb (puntius pentazona) is a particular favorite of mine and does well in the peaceful community tank.

EDIT: Sorry, forgot to mention that this is for 29g if you can get that size.

 

[Scottyhorse]

First off, definitely go with the largest size tank you can possibly get. Secondly, personally I'd recommend a honey gourami as your gourami of choice. They are normally very peaceful and also aren't susceptible to dwarf gourami disease. In terms of stocking you could probably do something like...

1 honey gourami
1-2 GBR
8-10 rummy nose tetras
8-10 other small tetra (neon, cardinal, etc)

I have a slightly smaller tank that has 1 honey gourami, 1 GBR, 9 rummy nose tetras, and 5 neons (had more but several did not make it during the first few days).

But really there are a lot of things you could do depending how comfortable you are. You could do endlers instead of one of the tetra schools but if you got males and females you'd end up with a ton of fry too. You could also instead a school of one of the smaller corydoras species as a fun bottom dweller, but just be aware if you get two GBRs and they spawn they'll get quite territorial around their eggs. I also recommend checking out some of the smaller and peaceful barbs species. The five banded barb (puntius pentazona) is a particular favorite of mine and does well in the peaceful community tank.

EDIT: Sorry, forgot to mention that this is for 29g if you can get that size.

Thanks for all your help! Are the rams hard to keep? What are your water parameters? Just wondering so I know what to shoot for
I was thinking of getting a pair of rams, would it be possible to get some corys? Or maybe I could get two females?
I really like silver tip tetras, could I do those?
I'll look into those barbs!


Thanks again!!

 

[Scottyhorse]

Bump Bump Bump

Okay, so African Northwest doesn't have honey gouramis. I can get one somewhere else if you think that's they way to go.
They do have Gold, Pink Kissing, Moonlight, Opaline, and Thicklip Neon Hybrid.

For tetras, I like Silver Tip, Von Rio Orange Flame, Rainbow Skirt, and Neon Gold are pretty cute! Of course there is the Neon and Cardinal, but I want something different. I also like Endlers.

So For stocking the 29 gal:

2 German blue Rams. 2 Female or a breeding pair
1 Gourami of some type
Then for schooling
5 Endlers
4 Silver Tip
5 Neon Gold?
Could I add the rainbow skirt and Rio's?

I am pretty sure I will not add any cory cats. Although I really want some, I don't want the rams to attack them..
I think I will also add some shrimp, maybe 1 snail.
Does this stock sound good? Feel free to add and remove if you think it'd be better

 

[bud29]

Bump Bump Bump

Okay, so African Northwest doesn't have honey gouramis. I can get one somewhere else if you think that's they way to go.
They do have Gold, Pink Kissing, Moonlight, Opaline, and Thicklip Neon Hybrid.

For tetras, I like Silver Tip, Von Rio Orange Flame, Rainbow Skirt, and Neon Gold are pretty cute! Of course there is the Neon and Cardinal, but I want something different. I also like Endlers.

So For stocking the 29 gal:

2 German blue Rams. 2 Female or a breeding pair
1 Gourami of some type
Then for schooling
5 Endlers
4 Silver Tip
5 Neon Gold?
Could I add the rainbow skirt and Rio's?

I am pretty sure I will not add any cory cats. Although I really want some, I don't want the rams to attack them..
I think I will also add some shrimp, maybe 1 snail.
Does this stock sound good? Feel free to add and remove if you think it'd be better

All the gouramis sold by your store get too big for your tank, so I would scratch them. Also, the silvertips and rams might get aggressive to the endlers and neons. Also, if you want shrimp get a larger type such as ghost shrimp or amano shrimp. Smaller shrimp would be eaten. I would say something like this would be good:

2 German Blue Rams
6 Silvertip Tetras
6 Von Rio Tetras
1 Apple Snail
7-10 ghost shrimp or 2 amano shrimp

Also, if you are keeping silvertips, check out my silvertip tetra profile Here is the link: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...vertip-tetra-by-bud29-228033.html#post2154444

 

[Scottyhorse]

All the gouramis sold by your store get too big for your tank, so I would scratch them. Also, the silvertips and rams might get aggressive to the endlers and neons. Also, if you want shrimp get a larger type such as ghost shrimp or amano shrimp. Smaller shrimp would be eaten. I would say something like this would be good:

2 German Blue Rams
6 Silvertip Tetras
6 Von Rio Tetras
1 Apple Snail
7-10 ghost shrimp or 2 amano shrimp

Also, if you are keeping silvertips, check out my silvertip tetra profile Here is the link: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...vertip-tetra-by-bud29-228033.html#post2154444

Thanks for the info! Is there any other fish I could add? I really want a Dwarf Gourami, but I heard those can make the other fish sick...
I was going to do ghost shrimp

Is there ANY way I could do endlers or neons? I really like them...

I'm going to have the tank planted with lots of hiding places it that changes anything.



By the way, I already checked out your fish profiles! Really great!

Thanks!!!

 

[bud29]

Thanks for the info! Is there any other fish I could add? I really want a Dwarf Gourami, but I heard those can make the other fish sick...
I was going to do ghost shrimp

Is there ANY way I could do endlers or neons? I really like them...

I'm going to have the tank planted with lots of hiding places it that changes anything.



By the way, I already checked out your fish profiles! Really great!

Thanks!!!

I would go against the dwarf gourami, they are like 5 dollar heartbreak. They become sick quite often. If you wanted to do neons and endlers, you would have to alter your stocking plan quite a bit. German Blue Rams would probably pick on neons and endlers, so I recommend changing them to Bolivian Rams if you could. Then maybe you could do something like this:

2 Bolivian Rams
8 Neon Tetras
8 Endlers
7 Ghost Shrimp
1 snail

 

[Scottyhorse]

I would go against the dwarf gourami, they are like 5 dollar heartbreak. They become sick quite often. If you wanted to do neons and endlers, you would have to alter your stocking plan quite a bit. German Blue Rams would probably pick on neons and endlers, so I recommend changing them to Bolivian Rams if you could. Then maybe you could do something like this:

2 Bolivian Rams
8 Neon Tetras
8 Endlers
7 Ghost Shrimp
1 snail

Okay so I think I am going to go with your first stocking suggestion. I really like the blue rams. What are your water params?
What could I add, or would I be fully stocked?

 

[bud29]

Okay so I think I am going to go with your first stocking suggestion. I really like the blue rams. What are your water params?
What could I add, or would I be fully stocked?

Alright. I think with my first stocking suggestion you would be fully stocked. When you have fish you want your params to be: 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and less than 40 nitrates, preferably under 20. You're cycling the tank, right?

 

[Scottyhorse]

Alright. I think with my first stocking suggestion you would be fully stocked. When you have fish you want your params to be: 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and less than 40 nitrates, preferably under 20. You're cycling the tank, right?

In the tank with the rams, what is your hardness, PH, etc..

Also do you think I could eventually add a hummingbird tetra or a couple small
Platies?
I dont have the tank yet, but of course i'll cycle it. On my two gal I used tetra safe start and it cycled in about 24 hours, so I think I'll use it again. I'm also going to add some plants and the shrimp to help make it faster. Does that sound OK?

 

[Aloe Vera]

With the rams you'd want your p.H. below 7, or steady at 7. THey do better in soft water but I think its best for them to have stable water conditions even more than it is to have the perfect soft water.
Personally I would skip the silvertip tetras but I think the Rams would likely leave endlers alone as they tend to swim at the top. I would also skip the neons as they would try to swim lower in the tank and the Rams might not tolerate that too well, and add more of the Von Rios.

edit: sorry missed that you already changed that. I would sasy no to the platies they are BIG poopers. I don't know about the hummingbird tetra.

 

[Aloe Vera]

Found this tidbit about them. "A peaceful loner that should be kept either singly, or in a large group of eight or more fish. If kept in groups smaller than about eight, fish can act aggressively. Combine with small to medium-sized fish of upper swimming levels."
I would say no, I don't the rams and them would get along. They will be competing for the same area.

 

[Scottyhorse]

With the rams you'd want your p.H. below 7, or steady at 7. THey do better in soft water but I think its best for them to have stable water conditions even more than it is to have the perfect soft water.
Personally I would skip the silvertip tetras but I think the Rams would likely leave endlers alone as they tend to swim at the top. I would also skip the neons as they would try to swim lower in the tank and the Rams might not tolerate that too well, and add more of the Von Rios.

edit: sorry missed that you already changed that. I would sasy no to the platies they are BIG poopers. I don't know about the hummingbird tetra.

Okay thanks for the info! So no platies and no humming bird then. And I think i might not do the silver tip tetras. What else could I do?

So
2 rams
6 von rios tetras.
7 ghost shrimp.

Now should I add?

 

[Slagrunner]

For me personally I would look at Craigs list, you get more bang for your buck. Lots of people try aquariums and for many reasons just off load them for little of nothing. My last aquarium I bought was a resale brand new 125 complete set up 200 bucks stand lights filter the whole works, little scrubbing and it was brand new.

 

[Scottyhorse]

Bump Again

Could I add a few KilliFish? I have been thinking of getting some eggs, and hatching a few. I'm also thinking of getting a 8 gall nano tank, so I would also have a killi only tank.