My Community Tank

[GoldenGardner]

I finally got the backing put up on my tank and I LOVE the way it looks. Black substrate and black back. Makes all the colors inside really pop. 

I have had this tank set up for about 2 months, and it's really doing well now. I put my quarantined Red Platy's and Dalmatian Platy in too and everyone seems really happy. My Bristle nose pleco is a workhorse and is just constantly cleaning.
I am now going to set up my other 29 gallon tank with natural looking rock, some wood and a river rock backing. Not quite sure how I'm going to fill the tank though. I don't want a second community tank. Any ideas?

 

[Dawn T]

Talk about a big question. LOL There are so many options with a 29g tank, it'd be hard to make suggestions. What other types of fish do you like besides the platies and tetras? Anything caught your eye that maybe needs a species tank and would work in a 29g?

[GoldenGardner]

That's a good question. I've only done community tanks, so I just don't know. I always stayed away from anything that was remotely aggressive. Plus I don't know what you do in a non community tank, you still need fish that clean right? I love the look of schooling fish. I think I may have to go to a larger fish store in Raleigh to decide, because what my local Petco (Chapel Hill, NC) while very good, is limited in species. Lots of Platy's, Tetra's, and rasbora. The Rasbora get too big. 

 

[Dawn T]

Depending on the main species in a tank, you can get various snails and/or shrimp as a cleaning crew. It doesn't have to be fish like plecos or cories. Some species, you pretty much avoid anything but disposable "pest" snails. They'll eat anything. Hm... I guess that last statement applies equally to "some species" AND the snails. LOL

You could even go with a schooling fish that doesn't always play well with other species. Tiger barbs have that kind of reputation, though I've usually kept them in community tanks without issue. You can have a nice sized school of fish about that size in a 29g tank. Get a small variety of pleco as the cleaning crew and you're set, given they basically sport body armor.