returned 38 for 30

[Got Fish?]

OKay i just returned my 38 gallon cuz it had this huge crack =p neways thank god i didn't buy any fish yet, i need some suggestion, i'm thinking:

12 neon tetras
2 angelfish
1-2 kissing gouramis
4 serpae tetras
2 glass bloodfins
1 pleco

and maybe

10 ghost shrimp

also do live plants thrive better in gravel or sand, cani putt sand in a fresh water aquarium???

also there's this substrate, its like large rocks something u might find in a river, can the live plants thrive in that???

[MarkMc]

Do a search in the substrate section-you'll find plenty info. If you use sand make sure it's not a calcium based sand like sand from a beach-you want river sand. Angels have a rep for eating neons when they are big enough. Some say serpae tetras are aggresive some say they are ok. I'd suggest some ottos for algae patrol.

[Pooky125]

Angelfish will get to big for a 30 gallon tank. Kissing gouramis ge even bigger, up to 12 inches and aggressive. Serpae tetras and glass bloodfins would both do better in larger schools, and the common pleco will get far to large for a 30 gallon. There are a few dwarf varietys that would be ok. A bushy nosed, or a clown pleco are the first that come to mind. If you stick to just the tetra species, and go for 6-8 of the neons, the serpaes, and the glass bloodfins then the ghost shrimp should be fine. Sorry to rain on your plans.

Sand would work, just be careful what you choose. You need to find an inert one, with a grain size of about 2-3 mm. Anything smaller compacts crushing the roots and creating problems later on. Anything bigger and the plants don't root very well.

Substrate = sand or gravel.

[Got Fish?]

okay, how about this, 12 neons, 4 serpas, 2 glass bloodfins, 1 angel fish, 1 pleco....maybe 10 ghost shrimp, and 1 german blue ram???

[Got Fish?]

because i already have the angelfish, ic an't really get rid of it, and serpas are prety expensive, 2.80 per fish so i think i'll just stick with the four//// and alos i already have the pleco, i'm giving it away soon though, and the glass bloodfins, i need to go way out there to get some, cuz my LFS doesn't carry any..soooo i ono, i really wanna get the neon, so i thouight 12 would be enough for a small school so they can be safe from my angelfish

[MarkMc]

I think it's safe to say that eventually the angel fish will eat your neons.

[ringram]

instead of only getting 4 of one, 2 of another, etc. just get one or two types and get at least 6-8 of each. The fish will be more confortable and act more naturally that way. I'm not too sure about the neons and angels - I doubt that will work. Cardinals might, as they get a tad larger, but they're also more delicate. It's your call, but realize that pretty much ALL fish will eat whatever they can fit into their mouths, including other fish.

[zergling]

please do not mix your angels with the neons....it was a semi-traumatic experience for me when I was a kid when me and my dad made this mistake.

[Got Fish?]

LMAo, okay, how about this, 2 angelfish, 12 neon tetras, 3 serpaes, 2 glass bloodfins, and 1 pleco.....come on this has got to work,,i'm running out of money =p

[MarkMc]

How about this: 2 angel fish and instead of feeding them neons feed them something else like frozen bloodworms, 3 serpaes, 2 glass bloodfins, and 1 pleco?

[Got Fish?]

but if i have 12 neon wouldn't that help, i mean if i buy a big enough school wouldn't that keep them safe?

[Got Fish?]

i'll haveplenty of plant
coverage too?

[JenThePlantGeek]

You only have a 30 gallon tank. At best, that's a little over 2 feet of swim room. Planted tanks tend to be on the low side of stocking and you're really trying to overstock it.

how about this, 2 angelfish, 12 neon tetras, 3 serpaes, 2 glass bloodfins, and 1 pleco

2 angelfish? Yes. Just two.

or

12 neons? Perfect.

or

6-8 serpaes + 6-8 glass bloodfins? Great!

or

a pleco? You do realize how BIG these guys get and what poop-machines they are, right?


Do ONE of those ideas, but NOT all together. For the sake of your fish, your time (lots of maintenance), and your sanity (no one likes to see their fish die), just pick one of those options.

[MarkMc]

How about a couple of rams and a school of neons. Forget the pleco and get 4 or 5 ottos instead-they'll eat algae instead of rasping holes in your plants.

[Jessica]

Yes... like everyone has said a few times, the neons + angels will probably not work. Since you already have one angel and won't trade him in, you could try:

1 angel
6-8 bloodfins
1 ram

I would hesitate on the serpaes because they can be fin nippers.


And do yourself a favor and just erase all ideas of common plecos out of your mind. Bristlenose and clown plecos, ok. But commons, no way.