Ultimate 20 gallon tank

[Andy16]

I was bored and wanted to knwo what every1 would do with the a 20 gallon tank, like what fish they would keep and if it would be planted or whatever. My 20 is getting sorta boring and i want something cool.

[Forum221]

I would think it would be cool to have it planted with a good sized school of neons, and some small clown loachs. I have never done a planted tank before, and i am thinking of making my 20l into a tank like that.

[TomFromStLouis]

Live plants are the way to go for sure. Check out some AGA contest tanks for inspiration:

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2001.cgi?&Scale=258&op=showpage&name=view-showcase

BTW, clown loaches may outgrow a 20g since they can get to 6" or more. But I like the idea of a school of tetras or barbs or danios with some scavengers for a tank this size.

[TKOS]

The 20 gallon tank allows you the opportunity of a few big fish or lots of little ones. I would personally have a nice school of tetras and a school of cories on the bottom. And of course planted with caves as well. The more cories the better I say!!!

[PumaWard]

Small to medium sized african cichlids, I think are the way to go. Have a rocky outcrop in the back, some robust plants and a few africans like Julidochromis, Brichardi, or similair. Another good choice to go is labyrinth fish in a well planted tank, dwarf gourami, maybe a paradish fish, or in place of a paradise fish, a betta (bettas if females) and spike-tailed paradise fish (Days Paradise fish). Labyrinths and Africans are both very colorful and full of personallity (for the most part).

[Andy16]

I sorta wanted to go planted too, but i dont know anything about plants. I could probably make my own co2 thing if i knew how it worked and what it did. Other then that i dont know anything about plants. I think it would be cool to have more hten 1 schhol of fish, like maybe more diverse species of fish instead of just of just 2 or 3.

[tricksterpup]

I would make it a planted tank with alot of small fish. Fish I would run with would be florida fish.
Leptolucania ommata (Pygmy Killie Fish/lemmon killie)
Elassoma okeefenokee (Pygmy sunfish)
Heterandria Formosa (least killiefish) smallest live bearer
Lucania goodie (bluefin Killie)
Gambusia Affinis holbrooki (Mosquito Fish)

All these guys are pretty small fish, and are very interesting. I currently own 2 species, Heterandria Formosa and Leptolucania ommata , and would love to set a tank like this up. Put a power compaq for lighting, lots of low growing plants some driftwood, one nice little tank.
jim
hmmm.. i got that spare 75 gallon down stairs sitting empty. Now what would people do with that?

[Andy16]

I sorta like blue rams. I think that two would work right? Then maybe soem shrimp and neon tetras. So what else would you guys put in? O yeah and a pleco and teh cories.

[tricksterpup]

I would hold off on the pleco, i know many people like them but they will out grow your tank. If you want alage eaters, i would go with Amano shrimp, since you indicated you wanted shrimp. Or even a big Golden mystery snail. That would add eye popping color to your tank.
But the pair of Rams, Tetras and shrimp would be about it for me.
jim

[TKOS]

If you do go with a pleco make sure it is a bristlenose or other dwarf one that doesn't grow past 4-5 inches.

[Andy16]

I know that some plecos are small enough for my tank. But i know that they produce a lot of waste, that can be good or bad, because dont plants eat that?

[Drake Titan]

mini reef!!!!

[Andy16]

Dont remind me:( Thats what i wanted to do for the longest time until i thought realisticly about raising hte $350 to get it done.

[LMOUTHBASS]

lots of em caves n cool fish that like to hide out n maybe school a little bit n i woul get some shrimp n stuff, prob some odd species of fish that woul be interesting

[Andy16]

Are there any catfish that wont like kill anything? not like hte cories but the bigger ones.

[optix]

Rams with cories and lots of plants.

[Andy16]

I sorta want to fill this thing to the brim with the little fishys. I currently have a penguin 170 and an AC mini controlling the tank. I am looking at eheims and fluvals also just for soem more filtration. I like filters for some reason, dont ask me why:D
I could probably control the bioload with all the filters i have and will be getting. I would get all the filters i could afford if i didnt keep the fish.The main reason i want to put a lot of fish in it and probably a lot of plants is mainly because i want to impress the parents and everyone else so i can get some more tanks.

:D

[ROLLIN]

Im going to be chaning my 20 gallon soon, and here are the fish I will have.

1 lace catfish (synodontis nigrita)
1 paradise fish
1 school of something, long fin leopard danios or some kind of tetra, 6 - 8 in the school.

Filtration: Emperor 280

Heating: 100 watt ebo-jager

Substrate: Fruity colored gravel that I need to change but had to put in at the time because I added alot of fish and this gravel was in another tank and had alot of beneficial bacteria on it.

Decorations: Plastic plants, 1 cave.

[Andy16]

hwo does this fish list sound?

6-8 neon tetras
2 platys
1 ram
2-4 cories
1 pleco like TKOS mentioned
3 SAE or CAE
1-2 shrimp

Planted tank with large peice or drift wood and some rock structure. 2 HOBs and 1 cannister

[TKOS]

I would say try for ottos instead of SAE and CAE as they are smaller and less agressive. But of the 2, SAE would be a better choice, though as they grow yp they get a bit nastey to each other. Platys are actually quite good at eating algae so you might not need them at all. I just bought platys and they are great. Maybe more platys instead of the SAE.

Bristlenose tend to be the best pleco choice for that tank. With that filtration you should be doing very well indeed. I am only assuming that plecos won't eat shrimp, but all the others should leave them alone.

As this is planted you will also have snails. No choice really, they will come setup shop.

[Andy16]

Ok then add a platy and take away SAE and CAE and add ottos for that position. Any other additions i could make?

[TKOS]

I would say that once you get plants in their you will have anice tank. A bit on the full side but then again all that filtration will keep things very nice indeed. Make sure to get cories that are a different colour than your substrate (ie don't get albinos with areally light bottom!!). I seen tanks with albino fish and white rocks.

Your pleco should be the most aggressive but as long as people leave his territoy alone he will be happy munching away.

I can't wait to see pics of this tank.

[Andy16]

I cant wait till i get the money and be able to post pics on the computer:D Im hoping for this to be a $100 project maybe 130. It will be mostly low light plants too. Ill be changing hte stcok list probably once i see some different fish. also, what sorta canister filter would you get TKOS? Would you go for the total eheim deal or jsut the ecco? or would you even use an eheim?

[TKOS]

Well unfortunatly for me I have never used a canister filter. I do have a 20 gallon that I keep at my parents but I keep it understocked with just HOB filtration so that it is easy for them to maintain. But there are like 5 million threads on canisters so I would do a search for the brand names you see and I am sure something will come up. I do not know about the Ecco brand but I see Eheim mentioned a lot. And I see self priming mentioned as a good thing in case of a power outage.

[Andy16]

Thanks for all of your help TKOS. How many more fish could i keep at the maximum. Do you think i could get soem more cories?

[TKOS]

I would stick with probably 5 cories. That way they won't have to compete for too much territory with the dwarf pleco. Also make sure to add the ottos last as they seem to really need a well established tank before they can thrive (and they of course need lots of algae to thrive, especially when fist introduced).

[Andy16]

Dont he ottos eat algae wafers? Then that could be the food for them if there isnt any algae.

[TKOS]

Everything I read about them says established tanks with some algae and plants. They are (once again from what I have read) finicky eaters and won't readily take to the waffers. Whenever I get new fish I try to make sure and feed them their best food for the first bit before trying them out on new fish. Either way, definatly wait for a few months to get everything established.

[Andy16]

The tank is already cycled and stuff. I figure ill clean out the whole glass part of the tank and get new filter media. Ill keep teh water. The tank has been steup since december 31st. So what do you mean by establised then? Im jsut wondering, i want to wait anyways so all of the fish are healthy and happy.

[TKOS]

Well sounds like the tank has been running well for quite awhile. Are you planning on adding all of the fish at once or in small groups. If it is small groups then you will probably be fine adding the ottos near the end. The cories can go in anytime as I have found them to be super hardy, as are the platys (which I am loving as well).

[Andy16]

It all depends. I am getting the most aggresive fish last. Probably neons first. ITs in no particular order though.

[TKOS]

Sounds good to me. Sounds like it is going to be a nice tank!

[CHINABOY1021]

IMHO, dont get an ehiem canister. not because it will last forever and no one ever complains about it, because the cheapest ehiem is a ecco and thats 65 bucks. if you use your current filter, you could upgrade on lighting and plant the tank. IMO IMO.

[michelliot]

I believe that planted tanks do not prefer the rippling effect that surface filters establish. I think that it helps dissipate the CO2 that the plants need to thrive. I would suggest that you confirm my initial thought or if anyone else can confirm this theory it would be appreciated because I'm also considering switching to a planted tank.

I think I'll do a separate post.

Elliot °¿°

[GobyGuy5]

I find this thread very interesting, especially since I was stuck trying to figure out what to do with my fifteen gallon tank for the past year.

Amazingly I've came to a similar solution:

- 3 Platies
- 2 Ottocinclus Catfish
- 2 German Blue Rams
- 3 Marbled Hatchets
- 1 USD Catfish

It's worked out well for me, The addition of an Upside Down Catfish looks good on paper, but for me It hasn't turned out well at all. Sadly, all he does is hang out in a log ALL DAY LONG! He never comes out and swims for me, which is too bad. However, he may, once he settles in better, come out, right now he's not looking promising. The problem I'm having with this tank at the moment is the lack of a real bottom-dweller (like the cories you have planned)

The otto's are quite finicky eaters, I bought some algae waffers, and I have yet to see them take a serious interest in them. Also, give these guys the royal treatment when you introduce them into your tank, out of the seven I have bought so far, I have one left, all the others, with the exception of one, died shortly after me introducing them into my tank. The only stuff mine eat for me is the brown algae that grows on the gravel and glass, but that is all they've needed.

Hope you have fun with your twenty!

[Andy16]

I was looking into the hatchet fish and sorta liked them. What luck have you been having with yours gobyguy? I think that would look cool since they have such a different body shape then all the the otherfish.

[GobyGuy5]

I wish I could tell you about all the luck I've had with them, but the truth is, I've only gotten them recently, and don't have any tips yet. In fact, I'm looking up what live foods they like to eat since they don't appear to appreciate my flake much.

They are very nice to have though, attractive fish In my opinion, the only problem I've had thus far besides them being finicky eaters, is the fact that I need to lower my water a tad so I can see them, they always swim just slightly below the surface, so the black top part of my tank gets in the way of viewing them.

As far as behaivor, mine tend to pick a spot on the top of the water and 'hover' there, letting the current pass by...

All in all, I like them, nice fish to fill in the top of the tank, but I've yet to see how they'll work in the long term

[OrionGirl]

USD cats are shy. Mine are active all night long, but I seldom see them do more than zip from one location to another during the day. I think it's because they've got used to having aggressive, busy fish hogging the surface during the day--even though that's no longer the case. They do better in groups--though I wouldn't add anymore to your tank, because these guys are chunky and big. All 4 of mine are about 4 inches long, and bigger around than my thumb. My significant other refers to them as the "fat b****** squad".

Hatchets require a tightly covered tank. They are not really active swimmers, like danios, but prefer to hang around in a concealed area (ripples qualify as cover when you're a fish), waiting for food to makes itself available. They are excellent jumpers--many people find them several feet from the tank.

[GobyGuy5]

not to take over the thread or anything....

But, about the USD Catfishes, is there anyway I could get mine to swim around AT ALL during the day?

Currently, all he does is sit tight in a piece fo driftwood and occasionally change positions...He's practically 'stuck' there during the day...

He doesn't even come out during feeding, he just feeds during the night...

[Mandairn]

1.) Blue Gularis Killifish (one of them)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=1173
2.) Tiger barbs (mix like 2 green, 2-3 normal and maybe a albino)
1.) Red tail shark (one of them)

Heavy planted with a sandy peat bottom and some drifft wood


.....bEAt ThiS For A 20GL tANk.....

ok if u dont like barbs it may sux.

[OrionGirl]

GobyGuy--there really isn't much that can be done to change the behavior of a fish without changing the tank dynamics completely. Mine could now reign the upper levels of the tank all day, but still choose not to come out much when the lights are on. I do know that a couple buddies will make them more comfortable and social, but can't gaurantee anything, and of course if you have top level fish already, they are probably making the UDC nervous. Mine only come out when the lights--all lights, not just the tank lights--are off.

You may want to consider replacing the UDC with a similar looking cat that is more social. I think lace cats might work--similar color pattern, a bit smaller, and less nocturnal. Of course, they don't swim upside down...

[GobyGuy5]

Figures...:rolleyes:, Although, he was just as 'nervous' before I added the Hatchetfish. I don't have room for some buddies, so I guess this interesting guy will have to be traded in...

I'd really love to see USD catfish swimming around during the day in a tank though, that would be a sight to behold...

On second though, would a moon light allow me to see him when he's active?

[OrionGirl]

I'm not sure, possibly. The room where this tank is has lot of ambient light, all the time--several windows and sky lights. It's usually enough that I can see mine swimming around at night without using any other lighting. Try covering a flash light with a red filter, and check the tank out about an hour after all the lights are off. If this works, a moonlight bulb might as well--I just don't know! :o Would be worth it to try.

[GobyGuy5]

Thanks for the tip, I'll have to try it soon, I'll let you know how it works out! ;)

[nolemite]

I'd go with goldfish.