Stocking my 29 gallon

[iluvstartrek]

Hello:

I am going to put some Tangs. in a 29 gallon tank. I am hoping that I can get some suggestions on what to put in it.

I'm going to get them from Armke's. I've called them several times and each time I do, I get a different suggestion.

I would like to get one group of shell dwellers, and I think I am going for Lamprologus Ocellatus "Gold".

I would also like to get at least one rock dweller. I'm thinking of getting an Eremodus. She told me the the type of Eremodus that they have, but I have no idea how to spell it, so I'll spell it like it is pronounced, eyecola. It will not be spelled anything like that of course. Anyway, she made it sound great. Does anybody know anything about these? I know they are bi parental mouthbrooders, which sounds great.

I would really like to get something else in the tank. I would really like to get a pair, egg laying fish. I like the idea of the Chalinochromis brichardi, but she said that my tank is too small. I read that they have a really tight pair bond and are great parents. I really want to get a pair of those fish. Would they work in my 29 gallon tank?

I also liked the Paracyprichromis nigripinnis "Blue Neon" the Armke and the Ad Konings picture made them look really beautiful. I think I like them better than the the Eremodus. Yet again, I was told my 29g was too small.

What I am going for in my 29 gallon is some colorful, interesting Tang. fish. I like the bright colors. Obviously I am trying to get smaller ones. Anyway, if anyone has any ideas I welcome them.

Sherri

[jnorris]

The shell dwellers are a good idea...

You could get Julies also...

[matt1066]

Eretmodus like strong currents, I had Spathodus, did'nt work for me. They had a tough time competeing with the more active Neo's

That was in a 55g

Matt

[Adam]

Neolamprologus leleupi is a very colorful tang, but I'm not sure if they would appreciate the size of your tank. I really like the julies, my favorite fish ever, just because they look so nice and they have a great personality

[Adam]

Here is an incredible suggestion, get a much bigger aquarium, budget and space permitting, and then give it to me (actually not) and use the 29 as a shell dweller place or a nursery for your babies?

[iluvstartrek]

Actually, I am getting a bigger aquarium, a 125 g, but I'm putting Mbuna's in it. My 10, 20, and 29 did have babies in them. I had the parents in a 55 and a 125 but I got really tired of getting the females out and all that stuff. It was a pain in the butt. I had to get all the rocks out just to catch the fish. I've decided to go all males. I got rid of all my female fish, except one (I might get rid of them too if they get too beaten up on) and I'm not going to mess with the fry. Let them get eaten. I've ordered a whole bunch of other fish. I'm going to put Mbuna in one of the 125 g and Aulono's and Haps in the new one (after it has cycled of course, in the meantime they are going to be in my 55). I'm going to put Tangs and maybe some Victorian ones in the 55. So, I had these small tanks and I decided to get some Tangs.

I have finally decided. I put 4 Julidochromis transcriptus Gombi and 6 Lamprologus ocellatus "Gold" in the 20 gallon. I put 3 (that was all they had, I'm getting 3 more) Neolamprologus Caudopunctatus Red Fin, 6 Lamprologus ocellatus "Yellow Fin", and 4 Chalinochromis sp. "Nbodnoi" in the 29 gallon. I'm also adding 5 (with pair fish I buy 4-5 young ones and when two pair off, I sell the others) Julidochromis regana Kilpili (I think it is a regana).

Thank you to everyone who gave suggestions

[jnorris]

Cool that will be almost like my Malawi setup.

Hopefully there will be enough room in that 20 gallon for the Tangs.

[iluvstartrek]

I'm hoping that I'll get a pair out of the four Julios that are in my 20 gallon. Then, I'll have 6 shells and the two Julio's. If that is too much, I can always put them in the 55 tank.

[jnorris]

Just keep in mind that your nitrates and ammonia will build up much faster in the 20 gallon (thats what I was considering).

[iluvstartrek]

I do weekly water changes, but I can do them more often on the 20, and the 29, if I need to. Thanks.

[jnorris]

Weekly would do it I am sure.

[iluvstartrek]

I usually do water changes of 30-50%. Heck, my daughters tank is a little overstocked so I do around 70% in hers. I've read that with Tangs. you should only do water changes of 20-25%. What do you recommend?

[matt1066]

I routinely change 75% of my water on a weekly basis, I have Malawis and some Tangs; never had any issues.

What I have gleaned over the years is that the large scale changes can possibly break any pair bonds between Tangs. This has not been my experience tough.

matt

[Boilermaker]

I would really like to get a pair, egg laying fish. I like the idea of the Chalinochromis brichardi, but she said that my tank is too small. I read that they have a really tight pair bond and are great parents. I really want to get a pair of those fish. Would they work in my 29 gallon tank?


Sherri, I keep a pair of Chalinochromis Brichardi in a 29g and they do just fine. They are by themselves but I'm pretty sure I could keep them in a 20h with no problems.

[SGypsyMermaid]

I usually do water changes of 30-50%. Heck, my daughters tank is a little overstocked so I do around 70% in hers. I've read that with Tangs. you should only do water changes of 20-25%. What do you recommend?

IME, large-scale water changes are only harmful to tangs if you do water changes bi-weekly, monthly, or longer apart. with weekly water changes, there's no problem with large-scale changes.

[iluvstartrek]

Thanks everybody! I'm going to do water changes of 50% weekly with my Tang. tanks. I have always done at least 50% with my smaller tanks, and I appreciate everybody's reasurrance that I can still keep doing it.

[tastyfish]

I have had my current set up (40g) with a mixture of Tangs, a yellow lab and a purple Aulanocara (total 14 fish, not including fry) for 4 years. I change out 10 gallons (25%) weekly and have had no water quality problems or fish health issues. There have been occasions where I didn't change for 2 weeks and still had no problems with Nitrates or ammonia. My fish are thriving and even breeding on a regular basis, so I think I must be on the right track. I have read that large water changes can cause issues with the beneficial bacteria levels in an established tank. What's the general consensus?

[SGypsyMermaid]

here is one of our discussions on the subject. there are more if you do some searching: http://www.cichlidforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=272

[iluvstartrek]

What is a purple Aulonocara? It sounds neat.

[tastyfish]

Sherri- A Purple Aulonocara is......an Aulonocara that is purlple! Seriously, I'm not sure what his real name is. He is bright, deep purple from head to tail. Iridescent all over, very striking. I've yet to see on e quite so pretty! -Steve