One more new tank thread! :)

PsyKick

PsyKick

AC Members
Aug 14, 2008
203
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16
Arcata Ca
Hi all, first post here at AC.
As much as I hate making the same first post that all the new people do, I have to run my setup by you guys!

I have a 20 Gallon tank that I set up awhile ago, and I finally got some fish for it!

I wasn't really planning on buying fish, but the local aquarium supply store (Fin'n'Feather) had just gotten some Albino Bushynose Plecos, and I just had to get one.

So at the end of the day I ended up with:

1x Albino BN Pleco
3x Zebra Botias(loaches)
3x Kuhli Loaches

The tank is planted with some anchor moss, an anubias nana, a java fern, and an unidentified plant that looks kind of like an underwater Horsetail. There are a couple of hidey rocks, a large rock (all made of lavastone) and two logs. The logs are kind of holding up a small underwater hill made of gravel.
The gravel is medium fine, with more course stuff on the hill.

All the fish seem to be settling in well, the zebras especially seem to love the tank, swimming around and playing with everything, much to the chagrin of the kuhlis!!

Anyway, I just wanted to see if you all had any thoughts on the tank, what I should add or take out or anything like that. I was thinking about getting an African Dwarf Frog?

Edit:
Forgot to mention that I use NovAqua + to condition my water, and I am currently filtering with a Penguin 100 BioWheel filter. I plan on getting a Stealthheater for the tank this weekend. I also have a Tetra whisper air pump hooked up to an airstone, and a medium sized airstone bar. The Zebras seem to enjoy swimming into the bubbles and getting pushed up, swimming down, and repeating!! Its hilarious to watch!!!

Appreciate any feedback!!
Thanks,
Seth
 
Welcome to the board!

How long had your tank been set up and how far along are you in the cycle?

The zebra loaches will need a bigger tank as they grow but other wise I think the stock is pretty good. The plants also sound good for your set up except I'm not sure what the horsetail one is. Can you get a picture?
 
As I understand it, the cycle is only a day into it (from what I have read it starts when you first put the fish into the tank?).

picture.php


This is the unknown plant. It just reminds me of the terrestrial horsetail :D
 
that must look nice with the plants flowing in the water

how much air you pumpin into the tank just wondering from the surface of the water
 
It looks super nice, all the plants seem to have fit in nicely.

As for the bubbles, they concerned me too, but from experimentation with the air, I believe that the bubbles are actually from the NovAqua + that I used to condition the water, plus the filter and air bubble agitation. I read somewhere that It will stop bubbling in a day or so.

If im wrong about this please let me know!
 
I think the same goes for the kuhlis though, Lupin will correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, Even though its a BN, I wouldn't keep one in a 20g. A 29 I think would be the minimum for a full grown BN. Also, I would overfilter the tank should you plan on keeping the pleco. Plecos are big wast machines to be sure, and as such, a new filter would be in order. Two filters would be great.

What filter do you have on there now?
 
Do you have a test kit for ammonia ,nitrite and nitrate? If you are putting those fish into an uncycled tank you will have to do frequent partial water changes and test for ammonia level on a daily basis. Have you read up on how to cycle a tank?
 
From what I have read about cycling, What I need to do is do a 10-20% what change every other day or so for a week, then get the water tested. I dont have the tests for it, but my local store does water tests for free. the water should be high in ammonia, with a trace of nitrite. i should keep this up for 4-8 weeks until the levels of both have dropped to trace levels.
also I should not add any more fish until the levels have dropped or the cycle will have to restart.

that about it?
 
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