Starting up a 35 gallon Hexagon

Question
Hi, I have just moved and now that I have settled I have decided to set up my 35 gallon hexagon tank again, it has been about a year and all I had previously was two Oranda Goldfish in it.  I learned things about cycling etc.  I want to do something different this time and have a community tank of freshwater fish.  I do not want to overstock my tank.  I really have no experience with fresh water fish and was hoping that you could give me a good suggestion on how to stock my tank.  My tank is tall not wide.  I would like a nice variety of top, middle and bottom fish that are interesting.  Also out of your suggestions which one would be good cycling fish and how many would I want to start out with?  Thank you!

Answer
Dear Mitzi,
Your idea of a stocking scheme of fish living mainly at the top, and middle and bottom fish is a really nice one! Stocking an aquarium this way insures you will have activity at all levels of the tank, it also gives you a nice variety of fish too!

I'll start with some good "cycling" fish. My favorite is the Black skirt tetra. These fish haven't failed me yet in terms of being great cycling fish. They are easy to care for and are very hardy. They are also peaceful and can live with almost all community fish, they enjoy being in groups but can also do well in 2's and 3's
For cycling your tank.  Starting out as -just- the cycling fish I'd put about 4-5 Black skirts and let them cycle the tank.
Other cycling fish you could try are Platies, which are very active little fish that come in many bright colors. They also have live babies about once every month or so. Platies don't lay eggs like other fish do but instead they are livebearers. Platies can also be hardy cycling fish and about 3-4 of them would be good for your tank to startout.
Another good cycling is Danios. There are several species of danio available at your local petstore. The most common is the Zebra danio, Leopard danio, and Giant danio. All of them are generally good cycling fish. Zebra danios are very interesting fish with their gold and blueish/dark gray horizontal stripes, constant activity, and schooling behavior. These little fish are tiny and slender, about 1 1/2 inches. For starting out your tank I would put about 6 of these little danios. This also goes for Leopard danios.
But with Giant danios (which are -much- larger than their cousins) I would only put maybe 3-4.

~So those are some good cycling fish. Now for some "stocking schemes"

I know some good stocking schemes from my favorite fishkeeping book "The simple guide to freshwater aquariums by: David E. Boruchowitz" there are several schemes in his book. He bases the number of the fish for a 29 gallon aquarium but it would also work very well for your 35 gallon. And the stocking levels of all these schmes will not make your tank overstocked.

Here they are:
Stocking scheme 1# a "typical" community tank
This stocking focuses on the beauty and form of the fish and how well they look together. And it makes a colorful if eclectic display.

*3 Platies are used to cycle the tank
*8 Zebra danios are later added
*8 Leopard Danios are also added
*6 Lemon tetras make up another school
*4 Corydoras catfish call the lower levels of the tank their home and they complete this stocking scheme of a typical community.

Stocking scheme 2# An Asian Accent
This fish stocking theme is made up of fish from Southeast Asia. This setup will provide a lively, colorful tank of small fish.
*6 White cloud mountain minnows cycle the tank
*8 Harlequin Rasboras are later added
*6 Gold Barbs are added also
*1 Pair of Dwarf gouramis completes this grouping

Stocking scheme 3# Barbs, Barbs, Barbs
Sometimes barbs can be nippy, but this is usually minimized if they are kept in a school. Barbs are a very interesting group of fish whom are bold and colorful and very lively!
*6 Cherry barbs cycle the tank
*6 Black ruby barbs
*6 Tiger barbs completes this grouping

Stocking Scheme 4# A Tetrad of Tetras
Tetras are very popular fish and many have very colorful iridescent markings on them. There are many different species and fortunately most all of them are peaceful schooling fish.
*6 Black neons cycle the tank
*6 Bloodfin tetras
*6 Glowlight Tetras
*6 Serpae Tetras completes this grouping

You may also be interested in the colors of the livebearers. And there is a stocking scheme for them also:

Stocking scheme 5# Livebearers only
*2 pairs of Fancy guppies cycle the tank
*1 trio of Swordtails
*6 platies
*1 Bristle or bushynose pleco (Although not a livebearer these algae-eating catfish stay small at around 4 inches and do a great job as an algae-cleanup worker)

Stocking scheme 6# Teeming with Tinies
This tank is unique because it contains fish that are very small, only one species may grow to 2 inches but that is not common. The one drawback to this is some of the fish may a little harder to find unless your really lucky. Here they are:
*6 Leopard danios are used for cycling
*6 Dwarf Chain loaches are added later (these are a very tiny under 2 inch loach who what is lacking in size makes up for in energy, they are an attractive and playful fish who often play games of "Tag" with each-other also, these fish are constantly rooting around for food and taking up any tidbits that the other fish leave behind)
*8 Dwarf Pencil fish these fish barely top 1 inch!
*5 Pygmy Corydoras are a great bottom dweller fish, but they also like to swim in the upper regions of the tank also
*6 Pristella Tetras are later added
*1 Pair of Pygmy Gouramis (these are delicately marked fish with florescent blue highlights and a shy nature, they are only about an inch and a half and they should do well with these other fish. Its strange why these lovely fish are not offered for sale very much, if you can't find any, you can substitute a pair of Honey dwarf gouramis)

The new Fish website "Fishchannel.com" has several suggested stocking levels for a 20gallon community tank. It includes pictures of the fish and more info. You might want to look into that also for ideas. For your 35gallon you could double the numbers of the fish if you like or maybe add another species or two to the stocking list.

The link is long, but just click the link to highlight it, then right click to copy it, then right click again in your search box, paste and then you should be taken there.

http://www.fishchannel.com/freshwater-aquariums/tankmate-tips/20-gallon.aspx?cm_...

When cycling your tank, make sure to test your water frequently at least every to every other day. And make 50% water changes whenever your ammonia or nitrite levels go above safe bounds. This is to keep your fish healthy of course and safe from the toxic effects of ammonia. With careful water quality moniteering you shouldn't have any trouble and your tank should cycle smoothly.

Once it is cycled, start to slowly and gradually build up your groups of fish. Adding only maybe 3-4 fish per week and making sure to test your water frequently throughout and don't forget the importance of water changes.

Also, the most important thing you could do is reasearch and read as much as you possibly can about the fish you plan to keep. It's very important that you do so for the sake of the fish (so you know how to feed and take care of it) and for your own sanity ;) because you wouldn't want to accidentally get a fish on impulse and then later find out he grows to 12 inches or more!

I really hope this helps!
Karen~