Largest fish for a 28-gallon?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I will do some research on each of the fish you have suggested. So far, I like the sound of either rams or dwarf gouramis. My LFS had some gorgeous German Gold Rams the last time I went in. They also had some Roseline Sharks, but I'm not sure those would be happy in my tank.

The tank has a footprint of 24 inches long by 12-13 inches (it's a bow-front), and is about 18 inches deep. I know a longer rather than deeper one would have given me more options, but I just don't have the floor space.

I don't think plecos are really my thing, although the LFS did have one called an "Orange Seam" pleco that looked kind-of cool. They also had one called a "Burmese Pleco" that looked interesting, but it looked more like a loach to me.

I do really enjoy the two loaches that I have in my 10-gallon tank, so maybe I should try a new kind of loach? Problem is, there are so many kinds that it gets overwhelming! (Polka-dot, horse-face, black kuhli, golden dojo, panther, zebra, red-tailed, and yo-yo loaches?) Besides, I'm not sure the loaches in my LFS are all labelled correctly. Neither of my current ones were! Also, I don't know which loaches are overly aggressive, which ones absolutely require being kept in large groups, etc.

I'm actually having second thoughts about putting neons in the tank. I really liked the idea of having a school of them, but I'm reading that they need slightly acid water, and I'm guessing that our local water is alkaline (this being the desert and all).
 
Hm . . . keyhole cichlids sound interesting, and seem to have a huge fan club! If my tank is truly large enough, that might be a good choice!

I'm a little leery of pea puffers and elephant-noses.
 
The common elephant nose gets quite large and nippy, but double trunk elephant noses are really peaceful and they love to interact with other fish. Mine has only grown from 3 1/2" to 4" in the past 6 months.

If you go with rams, I would make sure you don't get a pair. I have heard many situations at work, where customers get rams or apistos and they pair up in a 20g and terrorize all of the peaceful fish. IMO, no cichlids really should be mixed with the "nano" sized fish.
 
One angelfish would do well, especially since you are no longer planning on getting neons. Possibly cardinal tetras and an angelfish :)

Don't worry too much about pH (alkalinity/acidity) it is far more important (for highly cultivated fish) that the pH be steady and constant and to have clean water than it is to have any particular type of water.
 
Response in red

BoiseNoise;4791592; said:
I will do some research on each of the fish you have suggested. So far, I like the sound of either rams or dwarf gouramis. My LFS had some gorgeous German Gold Rams the last time I went in. They also had some Roseline Sharks, but I'm not sure those would be happy in my tank.
Rams tend to be really sensitive and short lived. I would veer towered the gouramis. There's also apistogramma, another dwarf cichlid. The "rose line sharks" are actually a large barb from India that grow to 6"+. Puntius denisonii.
The tank has a footprint of 24 inches long by 12-13 inches (it's a bow-front), and is about 18 inches deep. I know a longer rather than deeper one would have given me more options, but I just don't have the floor space.
Deep tanks are great. It does limit you a bit on some of the more active schooling fish that need more room.
I don't think plecos are really my thing, although the LFS did have one called an "Orange Seam" pleco that looked kind-of cool. They also had one called a "Burmese Pleco" that looked interesting, but it looked more like a loach to me.
Be careful with plecos, that cool looking pleco at the LFS could turn out to be a giant. Research species first. Bristle nose are a great first pleco and stay small.
I do really enjoy the two loaches that I have in my 10-gallon tank, so maybe I should try a new kind of loach? Problem is, there are so many kinds that it gets overwhelming! (Polka-dot, horse-face, black kuhli, golden dojo, panther, zebra, red-tailed, and yo-yo loaches?) Besides, I'm not sure the loaches in my LFS are all labelled correctly. Neither of my current ones were! Also, I don't know which loaches are overly aggressive, which ones absolutely require being kept in large groups, etc.
Stick with groups (at least 5) of smaller Botia loaches like yoyos, polka dots, or zebras. Kuhlis are anther option, but expect to see them less.
I'm actually having second thoughts about putting neons in the tank. I really liked the idea of having a school of them, but I'm reading that they need slightly acid water, and I'm guessing that our local water is alkaline (this being the desert and all).
You can forget the rams then. Much more sensitive to ph than most of the tetras you'll find. Most tetras are captive bred and not so picky about their ph as long as it's consistent.
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It sounds like you're looking for more of a community setup, so I would go for a small group of either tetras, pencil fish, rasbora, or barbs. I would go for a pair of gourami or dwarf cichlid, or some angelfish as a centerpiece fish. For bottom dwellers, go for some small Botia loaches or corydoras catfish (AWESOME little fish!) and possibly a small pleco. You could alternatively do a group of smaller cichlids like keyholes.
For different themed tanks you could do a small puffer, a senegal bichir, a small central American cichlid (either individual or a small breeding group), small African cichlids, etc.
 
gazelle;4791895; said:
a single gulper catfish and many danios and/or tetras
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A 28 gallon would be too small for a gulper, and it would be a complete waste of money to put danios and/or tetras in a tank with one.
 
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