Upgrading from 10 to 20 gallons

fineanimal

fineanimal

AC Members
Jun 23, 2007
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Minnesota
Well, now that my first tank (10g) has cycled with a net body count of +3 (no deaths, three births), I went out and bought a 20g long tank (30x12x12"). My goal is to transfer the contents of the 10g to the 20g, then keep the 10g as a quarentine/backup tank.

I don't want to add too many new fish, since I'm already above capacity on the 10g (thanks to so many baby Platys!). However, I do want to pump up the number of each species, and introduce a small pleco and/or a few loaches. So here's my starting point idea for stocking the 20g tank:

5 Zebra Danios
4 Platys
4 Gold Pristella Tetras
4 Cory Cats
1 Bristlenose Pleco (6" max) and/or 3 Kuhlii Loaches

Given that it'll be a long 20g tank, with good circulation (dual power filters), and I change 2g of water at least every two days (usually daily), what's your opinion of this mix?

As for the 1" per gallon rule; I've found it to be bunk when you consider the body mass rather than length, the vertical distribution of inhabitants, and when you're religious about water changes. In other words, it's the aquarium-keeper that matters most, not the static aquarium parameters. Nonetheless, I want to avoid physical crowding of different species.

One other question--if you were going to create a "real" school (8 or more that like to move around as a mass) of one active species in this tank, would you boost the numbers of Zebra Danios, Gold Pristellas, Platys, or Cories, or would you just add an entirely different species of small fish (eg, Bloodfins, Head & Tail Light, Glowlights, etc.)?

Sorry, but I seem to be the only person who thinks Neon Tetras aren't very attractive. :silly:

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this. You were all a great help making my 10g tank so successful!

Paul
 
What kind of cories?

6 Cories
8 Pristellas
4 Platies
2 Otos
 
I'd skip the pleco, the cory will be more than enough activity for the bottom.

Definitely throw that "1 inch" rule out the window.
 
DP: Right now I have 1 Albino, 1 Green, and 1 Julii Cory, for variety. I just can't find the pygmies locally. And are you thinking I should let the Zebra Danios go altogether?

Bob: Yes, I'm afraid the pleco is the one I'll have to leave out... What do you think about the Kuhlii Loaches, though?
 
I think you can keep the kuhlii.
 
I like the idea of cories and otos, but isn't that overkill on the bottom-cleaning? I don't mind feeding them directly, just curious if they'll be happy with little to scavenge for themselves.
 
As far as the otos and the cories go, I would do one or the other. In your case I think the cories are a better option. Otos by the way will play much better and be much happier if they are kept in groups of no less then three. The more the merrier in the case of the otos.

Marinemom
 
Marinemom said:
As far as the otos and the cories go, I would do one or the other. In your case I think the cories are a better option. Otos by the way will play much better and be much happier if they are kept in groups of no less then three. The more the merrier in the case of the otos.

Marinemom
Click to expand...

Sounds good, thanks!
 
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