How would you stock this tank?

Stargate_geek

Stargate_geek

Total Geek
May 2, 2007
98
0
0
Mass, USA
Alright, so here it goes: :help:

At the college I go to (not giving the name, so please don't ask) there is a 20L in the library. It is is poor conditon (no fish though.) according to the people who work there, they had fish, but they kept dieing, and the water checked out fine (the science department checked it.) So it's just sitting there, looking sad, with about 1/2" of 'junk' on the bottom.

Here's the specs I can work out by the quick glances I've given it (and junk cell phone pictures)
  • I think the filter is a whisper power filter 30, but it's covered in dust so it's hard to tell... and I'm not familiar with the whisper filters
  • No heater
  • Dark gravel substrate
  • Fake plant
  • Random decor (like a 'no fishing' sign, a rock with a hole in it..)
So, here's the situation. I'm trying to convinced the college/librarians to let me take over the tank (an old librarian took care of it, but has moved away.)

I'm going to go talk more to them tomorrow, and I want to have a 'plan' to present to them. I.E. what I would put in the tank... I just think it might make me seem more like what I'm doing, you know?

So, I was thinking just your basic community tank, small tetras, small corries and gourami or something. I thought that way most people would enjoy it. But is that too 'boring'?

So, if this was your 20L tank to stock for the public (well, students) how would you stock it? I'm thinking that a single species tank might not work too well, unless it was a wicked cool species :devil: I would love to do an SAP, but I'm not sure that the tank would seem 'active' enough for some people, or they might not appreciate the l33t puffer-ness :D

So, lets see what ideas you can come up with (numbers of fish would be helpful too!)

(P.S. The head librarian would like to see it gone, hopefully I can convince her to keep it. But if not, I think I'll offer to take it off their hands :headbang2: )
 
I'd probably do just what you said. If its a crppy stock hood, chances are there won't be enough light to keep real plants alive, but do maybe a dwarf gourami or a pair of apistos, a group of smalllish cories and a school of maybe 10-15 rummynose tetras or something.
 
sploke said:
If its a crppy stock hood, chances are there won't be enough light to keep real plants alive
Click to expand...

It actually doesn't have a hood right now. I'm not sure if they would give me a budget or say it's out of you pocket, but if they say "here's $200, make it look good" I might put a good light on it and make it nicely planted, if not... I'm getting fish when the stores have sales ;)
 
before you stock the tank, you need to clean everything very well.

you'll probably want to get all new gravel, decor, and a new filter. the bacteria in the tank are all probably dead anyway since it doesnt sound like this tank has had any fish in it for a while.
 
Oh, I know it would need a wicked good cleaning (maybe even bleach, followed by LOTS of declor...) But people who aren't 'into' fish tend not to care about the 'behind the scenes' stuff, and might just want to know what I would put in it, if you know what I mean :)

(I would also add the 'junk' from one of my filters, to get it to cycle...)
 
Perhaps one way to present it is a joint program with the science department. It could provide a study through cycling, maintenance of water quality, the needs of live plants in freshwater, the nutritional needs of freshwater species, the effects of chemical contaminants (not suggesting you would contaminate the tank.. just the importance of not washing the glass with windex, for example, meaning what would the chemical reaction be and effect on the fish), the treatment of disease, even the old argument of carbon versus no carbon, etc.
The science department could create posters explaining the various aspects of the project, the current "studies" underway, and results. That way, the library sees it as a "learning center".
Perhaps the library could also have a sign indicating the various reference resources they have available for fishkeeping.
Depending on the majors available at your college, you could also approach a department that teaches wildlife management, or biology, or ? And, there could even be signage that indicates the various majors available that are relevant to the aquarium project.
I'll bet you could even get a local fish store to donate supplies in exchange for a little signage as well.
Good luck...I hope it works out.
 
Oh, sponsorship! I didn't think of that... I wonder if the college would be okay or not with that, maybe it would have to do with the size of the ad... like a little thing in the corner of the tank or a giant two-page print-out....
 
I would think your botany professor would be interested in having live plants in there.
 
I agree with phil22. The plan would be to get as many departments to use the tank as a subject for studies. And if your really persuasive maybe they might allocate funds to upgrade the tank to maybe a 55 gallon for a more extensive plant and fish selection. Don't call me a traitor but maybe even change it to saltwater for a more intensive biological study.
 
When you graduate, someone else will have to take over. i.e., nothing difficult to take care of (so probably, no plants (or at most, hornwort and anubias or something), no finicky fish, whatever). Maybe before you graduate put together a caresheet/maintenance sheet so even a fish neophyte will be able to keep it going without problems, and/or find people that will take proper care of it to take over. Setting it up for the minimum maintenance in the long term is probably best.

Do not do what the tank in the reception area of public place in my area has done... 1 or two random fish of several various species, some schooling, some not (i think there's an angel, two zebra danio, a gourami, a guppy, a platy, two mollies, a couple clown loaches, some kinda pleco... and probably more I don't remember). Some of which will outgrow the tank ;/ It also has a lovely case of hair algae growing on the hornwort. With a fancy light that isn't long enough for the tank and has more wattage than it needs for the plants it's got ;/

I'd do some little schoolers (harlequin rasboras, neons, white clouds, or the like), a handful of cories, maybe some algae eating type (ottos? bristlenose? some kinda fancy snail?) and maybe one centerpiece fish (betta or gourami). Make it simple, attractive, with some activity for people to watch, and easy to take care of.

My school's biology department as its own fishtanks, mostly for specimens for the 1st year biology classes. It would seem to me that graduate students aren't likely to be able to get a good study (with money attached) out of a library's 20 gallon freshwater fishtank.
 
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