I was at Pet Supermarket and saw a $85 20g tank, lighting and hood, and the filter. Is this a good deal to start off? Next question I had was, what would you all recommend in terms of a subsrate and tropical fish. Looking for something tropical like angelfish, tetras, gouramis, and a red tail shark. How many of each do you all recommend. The aquarium is probably NOT going to be planted because of the hassle in maintaning a planted aquarium. I have a 10 gallon with 3 tetras and a pleco but I read somewhere 3 fish to a 10 gallon is more than enough. Can anyone help please?
Ideal setup for 20g
- Thread starter MiamiE
- Start date
I bought one of those 20g starter kits to begin my entrance into the hobby. I now wish I'd splurged and got the 55g kit. The kits are fine for beginners--you are right to avoid lots of plants as those hoods have about 15w.
As for stocking, it is important to remember that most rules are too simplistic. For instance three fish in a 10g could work--3, 4, even 6 or 8 neon tetras or white clouds would work fine in a 10g. But 3 oscars or pacus would not physically fit in the tank. If the pleco is a common pleco it will not fit for long in the 10g, even alone, the most commonly sold variety of pleco can get way bigger then a foot long. Depending on what kind of tetras you could put a number more in the 10g and return the pleco to the local fish store.
There are a variety of combos and options for a 20g. I have two 20gs. One is a tiger barb species tank--they are nippy and do best in big schools, species only tanks, or in a big tank. The other is being used as a qt tank, but I had a dwarf gourami, five bronze corys, and I was going to get a small school of rasboras.
Take a look at what other people have in their 20g, to see if anything appeals to you. Remember that it isn't just size of the fish, but compatibility, water and temp needs, and so on. Think about what part of the tank they use as well.
As for stocking, it is important to remember that most rules are too simplistic. For instance three fish in a 10g could work--3, 4, even 6 or 8 neon tetras or white clouds would work fine in a 10g. But 3 oscars or pacus would not physically fit in the tank. If the pleco is a common pleco it will not fit for long in the 10g, even alone, the most commonly sold variety of pleco can get way bigger then a foot long. Depending on what kind of tetras you could put a number more in the 10g and return the pleco to the local fish store.
There are a variety of combos and options for a 20g. I have two 20gs. One is a tiger barb species tank--they are nippy and do best in big schools, species only tanks, or in a big tank. The other is being used as a qt tank, but I had a dwarf gourami, five bronze corys, and I was going to get a small school of rasboras.
Take a look at what other people have in their 20g, to see if anything appeals to you. Remember that it isn't just size of the fish, but compatibility, water and temp needs, and so on. Think about what part of the tank they use as well.
Substrate, I'd just some natural pond rocks from Lowes/Home Depot for $4 for 50 pounds if you want to go the natural and inexpensive way.
I have a 10 gallon with a 15 watt bulb (1.5 WPG) and I have plants and they're doing fine. It takes a while to get setup and whatnot, but...after, they're preeeettty. lol.
What kind of tetras are you looking for? I would have: 3 angelfish, a small school (6-8 small tetras, or 5-6 larger ones), and 2 dwarf gouramis....red-tailed sharks are pretty aggressive and I'd only have one if it would be kept with larger fish.
I have a 10 gallon with a 15 watt bulb (1.5 WPG) and I have plants and they're doing fine. It takes a while to get setup and whatnot, but...after, they're preeeettty. lol.
What kind of tetras are you looking for? I would have: 3 angelfish, a small school (6-8 small tetras, or 5-6 larger ones), and 2 dwarf gouramis....red-tailed sharks are pretty aggressive and I'd only have one if it would be kept with larger fish.
I definately wouldn't put a red-tail shark in a 20G. Personally I think they need a minimum of a 50G. Same with the angelfish, they'd be better off in a bigger tank.
I have 2 20G tanks. I have one with a set-up just like below and all the fish get on really well.
My favourite set-up is:
A group of peaceful schooling fish (tetras, rasboras, danios). Around 6 is good.
Some corys for clean-up and they're really cute.
One feature fish (gourami, ram, dwarf cichlid)
And some algae eaters (2-4 Otocinclus Catfish, snails). I'd leave these till you have some algae in the tank (they seem to do better in a well established tank).
I have 2 20G tanks. I have one with a set-up just like below and all the fish get on really well.
My favourite set-up is:
A group of peaceful schooling fish (tetras, rasboras, danios). Around 6 is good.
Some corys for clean-up and they're really cute.
One feature fish (gourami, ram, dwarf cichlid)
And some algae eaters (2-4 Otocinclus Catfish, snails). I'd leave these till you have some algae in the tank (they seem to do better in a well established tank).
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