Setting up a 30 gallon

After caring for the work tank I really began to enjoy myself so I got a 30 gallon for my house.
I have it set up and running right now with a goldfish just to make sure everything is going well..
What I would like to do sometime soon is put in 2 electric yellow cichlids....or maybe not..ha and an eel. I really want an eel but I know a good portion of them are saltwater...
What kind can I get for a freshwater?
The other thing is...im not really sure - if I were to go with a community tank how many fish can comfortably live inside. do you know?
I really want bright vibrant fish too..got any suggestions?
Sorry it is such a jumbled mess but thanks for your help!

I forgot to say that I also need a light for the top but im not sure which to get...
I want a really bright one that brings out the color in the fish well.
So flourescent? incandescent?

Hi..just me again....
Before you add any fish to this new tank..make sure you have it completely "cycled' first.
It may take around a month before all your water parameters read what they should. ZERO ammonia...zero nitrites..and your NitrAtes should always stay below 20.
To jump start your cycle...there is a product called Bio-Spira that will give you the benefical bacteria needed to balance your sysytem & have a healthy environment for your fishies. If you add that..you can place the fish in right away.
If you can't find that product...ask your LFS if perhaps they would give you a scoop of gravel from an established tank. About a cup should do it. Place that is a nylon sock in the corner. ( don't rinse the gravel or anything). I know we used to do that to help people out..especially if you are buying fish from them.

You were asking about some colorful fish? Yes..I think the african cichlids would probably be great for you. ( Check out my post w/ video of my african tank)
If you went with Yellow Labs...
in a 30 gal. you could probable have one male and a few females.
Other Mbuna's ( or Lake Malawi) cichlids would be compatible with them as well.
Africans ( as do most fish) prefer more subdued lighting. It just makes them feel more secure IMO. I have a flourscent on my 75 gal..which is probably around 100 watts. Just the one strip. It is bright enough to see the fish & their colors.
But this is your tank...
it's what you like best.

* Diane

* BTW..like your user name...
but what should we call you?

Thanks for the help your perfect ha.

The 30 gallon was used...a friend gave it to me so I used his old gravel and also let the filter run for a day with his old filter in it, then switched to new gravel and a new filter hoping to keep that bacteria. My GH was cool KH cool the only problem I did have was a high nitrate - i believe above 50 ppm. So im working on that.
Id like to get cichlids but part of me is so bent on a eel that i could do without them. Could i put cichlids and an eel together?
What do you know about eels? Enlighten me please.

Sorry..but the eel and africans would NOT be compatible.
Also... when you say you used the gravel that was used ( from your freind)..and the filter that was used..why did you then switch it out?
All the old gravel & the "old" filter that's where the good bacteria was.
When you switched it to the new..all the good nutrients...removed/lost.. unfortunately.
That is why you now have such high nitrates.
The water itself holds very little nutrients to handle the bio-load.
It is most likely your tank is NOW going thru another cycle.
I would guess that is why your gourami is acting sick.
JMO..before thinking of any other fish..
First..your tank needs to get completley cycled.
Without a tank being fully cycled..
It is extremely stressful on fish!
Sorry..but any levels of ammonia... or nitrites is too much. And the high "nitrates" you now have..most fish do not live through it. Most fish will adapt to a high PH hard water & so forth..it is the other that is most toxic.
Do a good water change ( around 40 -50%) to bring the nitrates down. And get some Bio-Spira asap...that is my suggestion.
Also..how often are you doing water changes?
After this tank is completed it's cycling...
Weekly water changes on a 30 gal. tank with the amount of fish you have is probably what you will need to be doing to keep your parameters balanced. Only way to EVER rid your tank of high nitrates is thru w/c's.

From what I understand..the only "true" Eel is marine.
Those sold as freshwater eels are actually not. Are you referring to maybe the Black knifefish..Kuhli loach..or Dojo loach?
...along those lines? They are best kept in groups of three or more.
Be warned that they are little escape artists though. They can wiggle their way out of your tank if not a good tight lid on top. The Loaches would be compatible with your Tin Foil Barb.

Need to make a slight corection on something I said. There ARE freshwater Eels.
I had forgot that our son-in-law had one in his 225 gal. So. American tank.
Anyways..long story short..if you are wanting eels..
a HUGE tank with a tight lid is a must.
He had some "monster" fish in his 225 gal.
The Eel he had was a tire track..
and it reached in access of 2 ft. long.
Unfortunatley it ended up supper for his ARROWANA..who was a monster at over three feet!!
That thing ate nearly "anything" that would fit
into it's mouth!! Plus it had a habit of smacking the glass & the lid so hard(jumping) that it literally would jump out!! Even with a brick on
top to hold the lid down !! Try picking up or netting something that weighs 30 lbs...and has "teeth"..that is flippin' all over your floor!!

My daughter & son-in-law sold their 225 tank & remaining fish afterwhile.
This angry arrowana took over.
Just for fun...
Here's a pic. I took of it at their house awhile back....

haha thats crazy. thanks for the help! good news both of my tanks are now doing good. I isolated the gourami at the work tank and am basically letting nature run its course for him. I treated him for ich and thats cleared up but it seems as though there is a problem with his swim bladder. He will float at the top of the water like its dead and as soon as you go over to do something he swims back down.
The work tank (55g) that you saw a picture of is doing great now...all the fish are really playful and the water is super clear.
My home tank (30g) is running good my water levels were fine nitrates and nitrites both tested white on the api strips. In the tank I have 2 clown loaches, 2 tiger barb, and a ghost knife. Ill post pictures soon.
Thanks for the help