Stocking my first 29 gallon tank. Help / Suggestions.
- Thread starter CrimsonTide
- Start date
CT, welcome to the site! I love 29s and the kit you bought is what I started back into the hobby with 3+ years ago after being out of it for almost 30yrs. The Top Fin 30 hang-on-back isn't the best filter in terms of bio media. All they rely on is that thin black sponge for bio media.
Just as an example, but on my 29, I run a AquaClear 30 HOB and a two cheap eBay sponge bubbler filters.
IMO, the only water parameters you should be concerned with at this point is seeing nothing but nitrates. Until that happens, pH, GH and KH are meaningless. You need an API master test kit for this. Test strips are for Petco and Petsmart. LOL..
You have a lot of cool stocking options for a 29g. You could go as simple as two fancy goldfish, which are a lot more fun than people give them credit for, or you could go with a vast array of smaller tropicals. In the 29 in my sig, I haven and angel as a center piece fish, 6 julii corys, 6 silver hatchets and 5 celestial pearl danios. It's a very active tank. I've got lots of java fern and anubias nana in this tank with a basic T8 fluorescent hood/light.
Just as an example, but on my 29, I run a AquaClear 30 HOB and a two cheap eBay sponge bubbler filters.
IMO, the only water parameters you should be concerned with at this point is seeing nothing but nitrates. Until that happens, pH, GH and KH are meaningless. You need an API master test kit for this. Test strips are for Petco and Petsmart. LOL..
You have a lot of cool stocking options for a 29g. You could go as simple as two fancy goldfish, which are a lot more fun than people give them credit for, or you could go with a vast array of smaller tropicals. In the 29 in my sig, I haven and angel as a center piece fish, 6 julii corys, 6 silver hatchets and 5 celestial pearl danios. It's a very active tank. I've got lots of java fern and anubias nana in this tank with a basic T8 fluorescent hood/light.
Goldies are gross, but fantastic "dog" fish 
lots of personality where others lack. Check the above 4th paragraph, though. Great example!
lots of personality where others lack. Check the above 4th paragraph, though. Great example!I would not put zebra danios in a 5g, they're way too active. Can you give them back to the store? Pick something smaller for your wife's 5.
First round of fish bought.
I purchased 6 Cory Panda's from a mom and pop store. I absolutely love them. One died within two days of stocking the tank. He wouldn't shoal, was always by himself. The rest are extremely active. They play in the currents, and look super cool.
Now I have questions:
I've been alternating the cory's diet between shrimp pellets (2), algae tablet (broken in half), and flakes. I feed them twice a day. Once before work 7:30ish, once before bed 10pm. I don't want to overfeed.
I got 30 gallon top fin filter. I want to move to a Aquaclear 70 powerfilter. Will this harm my tank if I switch over?
Thanks for the help and advice. I love browsing the forums. I'll get my wife to take some pictures and upload them. Right now I got some dwarf grass, about 6 small water wisteria, and a water lettuce on the way.
I purchased 6 Cory Panda's from a mom and pop store. I absolutely love them. One died within two days of stocking the tank. He wouldn't shoal, was always by himself. The rest are extremely active. They play in the currents, and look super cool.
Now I have questions:
I've been alternating the cory's diet between shrimp pellets (2), algae tablet (broken in half), and flakes. I feed them twice a day. Once before work 7:30ish, once before bed 10pm. I don't want to overfeed.
I got 30 gallon top fin filter. I want to move to a Aquaclear 70 powerfilter. Will this harm my tank if I switch over?
Thanks for the help and advice. I love browsing the forums. I'll get my wife to take some pictures and upload them. Right now I got some dwarf grass, about 6 small water wisteria, and a water lettuce on the way.
I highly recommended endlers, cherry shrimp, live plants, and mystery snails, plus a couple corydoras catfish. You won't be disappointed.
If you're going to switch over to a new filter I think while you're low stocked this would be the best time. The day you setup the new filter, take your old dirty filter cartridge and squeeze it into the new filter. This will give you some of the bacteria and jump start the colony. You do have enough bacteria in your gravel, more than likely, but this will help if something weird happens.
As to feeding, watch their bellies and watch your nitrates and you'll know if you're feeding too much.
Sounds like everything is going good!
As to feeding, watch their bellies and watch your nitrates and you'll know if you're feeding too much.
Sounds like everything is going good!
