Another Tank Newbie Help Thread

[crownjules]

Hey there,

I've been thinking about starting up an acquarium now for a couple of weeks and I think I've finally made up my mind and will start to do so. I've read up about the nitrogen cycle and all the necessary equipment. I think I'll be going with a tank in the 20g neighborhood, stealth heater, bio-wheel filter, and hood.

My real question is about species - both fish and plant (I want to have a beautiful aquascape). There is an overwhelming number of species of fish to go with, I don't know where to start. What are your suggestions for fish to start my tank and why?

Thanks!

[SmallFishi]

After your tank is cycled I would go with..

6 Harlequin Rasbora, because they like the upper level of the tank they are peaceful yet fun to watch they school not tight but they do school.

1 Dwarf Grourami, good centerpiece fish peaceful when kept as only gourami, likes upper tank slow moving pretty to watch.

3 pygmi or panda cory, cute fun to watch stay at the bottom of tank

1 or 2 guppy help with algae colorful pretty middle and top tank

2 Otocinclus (otto's) cute and suck on glass

Ok i'm going over if you get say a 25 or 29 gallon I would add a pair of Rams if your water is really good for them, they stay lower tank too are peaceful and unusual looking IMO.


Plant I would go with whatever is recommended as easy to grow, maybe some sword and definately some Java Fern sorry my knowledge on plants are a bit vague try the plant forum and search beginner plants i'm sure you'll get a load of info.

[SmallFishi]

Or you could go with a single figure 8 puffer, and brackish plants that is what I am planning with my 20 :)

[RiVerfishgirl]

20 gallon is limiting in space, but if you plant a lot you can get away with several small fish. Just DON'T buy a 20 high or a bowfront, these have plenty of gallonage but not enough usable space for most fish, so you'll cut out about 90% of the fish you can use.
They're ok for devoting to one centerpiece fish (depending on species) or some specialized species, but not much else.

I'm doing a heavily planted 20 gallon with a couple of bolivian or blue rams and several hatchetfish. If you go with hatchetfish you MUST have a tightfigtting lid, they'll jump.

You could use one or 2 pearl gourami and some smaller schooling fish such as neons, guppies, danios or tetras (not all species combined).

You could use killifish, there are hundreds of species and colors. Some like to swim in the middle of the tank some hover around the top, they're pretty neat.

You could keep one bristlenose pleco along with some of the species above.

I'm sure I could think of more, but that comes to mind at the moment.

What kind of biowheel were you planning on?
If you want plants that require co2 you're better off with an Aquaclear HOB or a standard canister filter. They cause less surface agitation than most of the biowheel filters which will help you keep the co2 in your water not in the air. Also depending on co2 setup you can hook it directly into a canister filter which will put it into your water more efficiently.

[crownjules]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was considering some Blue Rams after a guy on another forum I read commented on their inquisitiveness - sounded like a cool fish type to have in my tank.

As for filter type, I didn't have a specific one in mind. I'm actually considering upping the tank size to 29-30 gallons. The Aquaclear looks find to me. I was also going to prepare a CO2 system (homemade) if necessary. One thing about the plants - should I put them in when I first setup the system or wait until it has cycled?

[Star_Rider]

cycling will take a few weeks(usually 6 or more)
unless you have access to established tank media or filter material.

the other alternative is bio-spira.

you will need beneficial bacteria to get the nitrogen cycle going.

do not add blue rams unless the tank is established. blue rams are a bit sensitive esp to ammonia,nitrites and elevated nitrates.

the alternative to the blue ram is the bolivian ram. also very inquisitive.
the bigger the tank the better.
DYI CO2 works good in the smaller tanks(under 40 gallons)

I used it with some success in a 75 but now prefer pressurized.

[Daudzegier]

Cherry barbs are always very hearty fish. Any kind of barb or tetra is gonna be resiliant and adaptive, something that you will appreciate when you make a mistake with your tank (It will happen if you are newbie, I've been keeping fish for 10 years and I still am learning, and still messing things up.) As a rule of thumb, I sugjest getting fish that are naturaly found together in the wild, or at least kin to fish that would be found in eachother's enviroment. For example. Siamese fighting fish would go well with cherry barbs, even though the Siam fish is from, well vietnam obviosly, and the barbs are from sri lanka, but there are quite a few labrynth fish on the island of sri lanka, the kind of fish that betta's are, so the two species will "understand" one another because they are inatly familiar with eachothers behaviorlisms. It's why you cant mix new world cichlids and african cichlids in the same tank. They are as shocking to eachother as white man meeting indians for the first time.