29 gallon stocking level and introduction order

happypoet

happypoet

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Jul 9, 2010
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Aaron
Greetings everyone. My tank is nearly cycled (nitrites going down, nitrates going up!) and I know what fish I want to put in it, but I'd love advice on the order in which to introduce them and number of fish you'd recommend.

The 29 gallon tank is moderately planted (2 anubias nana, 8 anacharis (which will be replaced if they don't like my low-light set-up), 6 java fern, moss, 2 aponogeton + a pothos growing emmersed), and has an Aqueon quiet flow 30 HOB filter. I'll do water changes as needed, and hopefully the plants will help with the nitrates as well. I have eco-complete substrate and dose with excel. I have driftwood and am using Indian Almond leaves to keep the tank a light tea-color. I also am planning on adding Malaysian Trumpet Snails.

These are the species I'd like to keep:

Ember Tetra
Neon Tetra
Pygmy Cory (habrosus, likely)
Otocinclus (will supplement with zucchini or grow algae on rocks in a bowl by the window).
Maybe Sparkling Gourami, but not sure, I definitely want the other four.

So my questions:

What should the introduction order be?

Will the two different groups of tetras school together?

How many of each fish would you recommend?

I am thinking 12 of each tetra, 10 pygmy cory, 6 oto, and maybe 4 sparkling gourami (these are T. pumila--very small). Would this be overstocked in your opinion? It likely breaks the 1" rule, but these are all small fish and the plants will help with water quality. I do NOT want to overstock, but I do want proper schools for these little fish.

Would you do something differently?

Thank you! I look forward to your responses.
 
Since you are fishless cycling you can essentially add them all at the same time. Most people advise waiting a few months before adding otos though so the tank gets established. They can be a bit fragile when acclimating.

I would maybe trim down the list a bit to 8 of each tetra and maybe 3-4 otos.

The tetras probably will not school together, at least not as tightly. Cardinals and neons sometimes do since they are similar in shape, size, and appearance but neons and embers are fairly different.

I, personally, loved my sparklers but they seem to have rather short lifespans in captivity. I had a pair in a 10g for about 4 months before they kicked the bucket...no indications as to why though. I've heard the same happening to others where they last maybe about a year tops. Honey gouramis may be a good substitute as they are still small, colorful, and can be kept in a small group.
 
with tetras you never know. My cardinals school with the serpies yet will not go near the black skirts. For a 29 I agree with jpappy 8 of each is fine. I have 5 oto's in a 55 and feeding is a problem. for a 29 I myself would only do 3. I would just stick with the pygmy cories and forget the oto's until the tank is well establish (at least 4 months). (if at all)
 
You've received great advise re: the size of your schools... personally, I think a single school of 15 would look great. I could be biased, as I have a 20gallon with 10 neon tetras (which look great!). :grinyes:
lotsoneons.jpg

I also think you should up your habrosus school to 14-16. I have 8 in my 10g, they're really little guys!
cory tumble.jpg

cory tumble.jpg lotsoneons.jpg
 
I will wait on the otos and maybe skip them entirely (though they're such cute little fish!) in favor of a bigger group of c. habrosus.

Tetra-wise, it sounds like a choice between 2 schools of 8 or so, or 1 school of 14.
I am really enamored with the embers, but i'm nostalgic for neons lately--I had them when I was a kid.

Fishycat, I see you have neocardina in with your neons. Do the neons eat the baby shrimp? Or do the shrimp reproduce and make it to maturity?

Jpappy, thanks for the feedback re: sparkling gourmai. Any other experience out there with sparkling gourami?
 
If you get a good deal on sparkling gourmai by all means go for them. Remember thou they do have a short life span and will need to be replaced.
 
I adopted this tank (betta + wild-type neocaridina) just a couple weeks ago. I added the neons this week. The neons are smaller than the shrimp! :laugh:

I'm sure both the neons & betta will eat any baby shrimp they can catch... Not too worried. I have a huge wad of moss which should provide good shelter.
 
I had a pair of sparkling gourami and now only have one because it wouldn't let the other get food. I've had them since January. If you are concerned about neons eating shrimp then do not get a gourami. IMO they will search out anything that can fit in it's mouth and eat it. My sparkler even just pecked the eyes of my shrimp. :(

It's now in a tank with a pair of juvi keyhole cichlids and seems to hold it's own.
 
IMO, you could do 12 of each tetra, as long as you keep up on your water changes, over filter the heck out of the tank (I would keep the filter you have, and add another, like an AC 50 or 70), and add some fast growing, nutrient absorbing stem plants like anacharis, rotala or ludwigia. I think 12 neons, 12 embers, 12 habrosus and 4 sparkling gourami would be doable in this case.
Remember, a LOT of stocking is JUST opinion. No one here is necessarily wrong or right. :) Look at what people say, think it out, and good luck with whatever decision you make!
 
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