View Full Version : Newbie with a 20 gallon (freshwater) tank & Questions
morrigan
03-19-2009, 7:23 PM
I have a 3 gallon tank with 1 betta, 1 dalmation mollie, 3 lyretail mollies and a "lace cat" (some kind of catfish...I can't find out much on it.)
After some research (after I figured out that a 3 gallon tank wasn't nearly big enough for 6 fish), I went out and bought a 20 gallon (long) tank. The betta is staying in the 3 gallon (with the lace cat), so I need some help stocking the 20 gallon.
The 4 mollies are going in it, and at least 2 (2 to 4) more are being bought. Also, a dwarf gourami is going in there (requirement from my SO).
Fish on my list:
2-3 cories (not sure what kind, yet)
3 sword tail (1 male, 2 female)
a snail (do I need a snail?)
6 Rasbora Vateriflorus
6 danio
2-6 Kuhli Loaches
2-6 Tetras
Any others would be great.
The list is NOT a list of all the fish I'm getting-it's a list of POSSIBLE fish for me to get. I need help figuring out what kind of fish to get.
The tank is cycling, tested the water levels (pH and everything) and everything is good. pH is about 6.6-6.8.
shawnhu
03-19-2009, 7:32 PM
If you're thining of putting existing fish in that 20G, and also purchasing new fish, did you consider a quaranteen regeim? I would probably choose to place all your current fish in the 20G, and use the 3G as a QT tank for the new fish, regardless of what fish you choose to purchase.
I'm sure others will chime in about stocking your tank, but QT is a must if you want to avoid disaster and losing your current fish.
Where will you find the Rasbora vaterifloris? I have not seen them in the trade at all. What snail do you have?
clb2196
03-19-2009, 7:37 PM
Morrigan you found us (it's CSGirl ;) ). Do I get some commission for getting people here or what? lol
ETA: I've found myself kind of taken with my danios, moreso than I expected! And also I think kuhli loaches are the coolest fish evar, in case you couldn't tell. ;)
McLendon
03-19-2009, 7:48 PM
Before stocking give some thought to Not over stocking.rule of thumb if you have ten adult size one inch fish then you need a min of a 10gl tank
dadiopadio
03-19-2009, 7:59 PM
just remember that the mollies and swordtails are livebearers and befor long you might have a whole lot of fish.
clb2196
03-19-2009, 8:04 PM
just remember that the mollies and swordtails are livebearers and befor long you might have a whole lot of fish.
Well, depends on what else is in the tank, no? Wouldn't some of those eat the fry? A gourami, especially.
ETA: And no, you don't need a snail, but if you can have one, they're pretty cool. :) And people sell 'em on here, even the cool colored apple snails.
morrigan
03-19-2009, 9:27 PM
Where will you find the Rasbora vaterifloris? I have not seen them in the trade at all. What snail do you have?
I have no idea about the availability of ANY of these fish, so I was looking up types of freshwater tropical fish, and that was one that on a list!
Hence the title of (Newbie).
Morrigan you found us (it's CSGirl ;) ). Do I get some commission for getting people here or what? lol
ETA: I've found myself kind of taken with my danios, moreso than I expected! And also I think kuhli loaches are the coolest fish evar, in case you couldn't tell. ;)
Yep! I found you! :)
Before stocking give some thought to Not over stocking.rule of thumb if you have ten adult size one inch fish then you need a min of a 10gl tank
I already knew about that! I have a 20 gallon tank, with a maximun of 20 fish (inch long fish, that is.)
Well, depends on what else is in the tank, no? Wouldn't some of those eat the fry? A gourami, especially.
ETA: And no, you don't need a snail, but if you can have one, they're pretty cool. :) And people sell 'em on here, even the cool colored apple snails.
Do they reproduce extensivly? I'm worried about getting a snail because of that!
SO really wants a loach, so I think we'll end up with the mollies, a loach (or two) and a gourami, at least!
I have no idea about the availability of ANY of these fish, so I was looking up types of freshwater tropical fish, and that was one that on a list!
I don't thin they're available though so your other alternative is the Trigonostigma heteromorpha/espei/hengeli.
Squeakfish
03-19-2009, 10:28 PM
This is what I found on the "lace cat":
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=89
or maybe this:
http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Catfish,%20Synodontis%20(spotted).htm
Either way, get it out of the 3 gallon. Most likely, you are not prepared with either tank to permanently house this fish.
morrigan
03-20-2009, 8:47 AM
This is what I found on the "lace cat":
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=89
or maybe this:
http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Catfish,%20Synodontis%20(spotted).htm
Either way, get it out of the 3 gallon. Most likely, you are not prepared with either tank to permanently house this fish.
Well, crap.
That just gives me an excuse to get a bigger tank in the future, though. (Which I want but have no room where I'm currently at...I really want a 100 to 150 gallon, but don't have the room for.)
Thank you for finding that about him!
clb2196
03-20-2009, 9:44 AM
What do you have nearby for fish stores? If you want to buy in person, I'd see what they have and then adjust accordingly. If there are non-chain stores, they may order for you. I'm trying to become a regular at mine so I can get them to order me some kuhlis, because they don't always have them. :)
KarlTh
03-20-2009, 10:28 AM
Water with a pH that low is likely to be soft, so it's not a very good setup for swordtails, or mollies for that matter. I wouldn't get any more poeciliid livebearers (guppies/swordtails/platys/mollies).
morrigan
03-20-2009, 11:10 AM
What do you have nearby for fish stores? If you want to buy in person, I'd see what they have and then adjust accordingly. If there are non-chain stores, they may order for you. I'm trying to become a regular at mine so I can get them to order me some kuhlis, because they don't always have them. :)
We have a non-chain just fish store. (Well, fish and all of the accessories that fish and other stuff need.) It's a family-fun business (been in that family for at least 20 years.)
That's where I'm getting all of my stuff from.