I didn't look it up, but that's the liquid test kit, right? List looks good! For a 20, you don't necessarily need to purchase a "Python" brand gravel vac/syphon for water changes. When you go to home depot, you may want to just pick up a 3' 1/2" or 1/4" section of tubing to syphon the tank. But you have time to decide on this...aa fishless cycle could take 4-6 weeks...and you don't need to do water changes while the cycle is maturing.
Just researching and Starting, HELLO!! I need advice...
- Thread starter romaric
- Start date
Hi all. Romaric here again. I have my order placed for all my equipment! Awesome. Just a quick question for Star_Rider. I'm getting my tank today.
Would a 20 gallon LONG be better for a planted tank than a 20 gallon HIGH?
My instincts tell me HIGH is better, but I love the widescreen view the LONG gives off.
What is your advice.
Also, I LOVE when people tanks do not have any black molding around the top of their tanks. Does anyone know how this works? Can I just carefully strip off the top and clean off the extra glue. I love the clean look of this style. Any suggestions?
Thanks gang.
Pics of my equipment and tank coming soon!
-romaric
Would a 20 gallon LONG be better for a planted tank than a 20 gallon HIGH?
My instincts tell me HIGH is better, but I love the widescreen view the LONG gives off.
What is your advice.
Also, I LOVE when people tanks do not have any black molding around the top of their tanks. Does anyone know how this works? Can I just carefully strip off the top and clean off the extra glue. I love the clean look of this style. Any suggestions?
Thanks gang.
Pics of my equipment and tank coming soon!
-romaric
i would not recommend removing the black strips along the outside if the tank, you have to buy the tanks like that.
the 20 long would probably be better for the plants, because it's shallow so the light reaches down to the bottom more strongly.
the 20 long would probably be better for the plants, because it's shallow so the light reaches down to the bottom more strongly.
Thanks Phil...Yeah I guess I'm safer just leaving it how it is...seems sketchy to rip the plastic off.
I just love this look:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sworrall/321807208/
That light set up is sweet
I just love this look:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sworrall/321807208/
That light set up is sweet
I'm thinking this for lighting, Star_Rider, what do you think...WAY more watts than 2 per gl, but will this do?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13733&pcatid=13733
130 watts and 24'" long will fit the 20gl High perfectly.
thoughts?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13733&pcatid=13733
130 watts and 24'" long will fit the 20gl High perfectly.
thoughts?
Hey romaric, just going to give you some info on the list:
Black Skirt Tetra: Grows to 2-2.5", enjoys schools of 6+, nips. Do not place with angelfish, bettas, guppies, or other long finned fish.
Callistus Tetra: Haven't heard of this one, I'd skip it if you can't get a comfirmation on what it is, but someone here probably knows what it is.
RTS: Not recommended. Grows to 4.5-5" min, so it's already quite big for the tank. They also get to be some of the most agressive fish out there, and would murder any bottom-dwellers.
Convicts: These guys grow to 6", and are an extremely agressive cichlids, barely able to be crammed into a 30g. They'd rip apart almost any community fish I know of.
Mono: Another bad one. These get huge, and salt water (high end brackish is okay), need schools, and, really, should be kept in a very large tank (over 300g min).
Guppies: Perfect starting fish, the best out there. Tough as a nail and pretty, too. Recommended you get males only, they're prolific breeders and also known as the "Millions Fish". Females can bear young many times after seeing a male, even if he's gone. Females are larger, and have shorter fins and a lot less colour than males. Very cheap fish, sometimes 2$ or less. High end "show" guppies can get pricey, 20-25$ sometimes. Guppies reach 1.5" for males, 1" or so without the tail, and females 1.5-2".
Cardinals: Another great biginner, these fish should be kept in schools of 6-8 minimum, and usually swim in a tight swarm. Very colourful and pretty hardy. Get somewhere around 1-1.5", and are usually cheap.
Harlies: These rasboras I do not know a great deal about. I know they are pretty hardy, get around 1.5", and are common and cheap, and I guess that's all I really need to say, lol.
Some suggestions:
Lemon/Neon/Blk neon/Glowlight tetras: All of these very around the length of 1.5", and school like the Cardinals. Usually cheap.
Cories: Some of my favorite fish, peppered = 2-2.5", panda = < 2", bronze = 2.5-3", albino = 2-3" (depending on weather they're peppered or bronze). Always cheap (got mine at a sale in New Minas once for 3 or 4 for 12$, good deal) and can only hurt pellets and fish food.
Otos: Don't exceed 3 in a 20g, add when the tank is established. Good algae eaters that get 1.5-2" and look pretty cute too. Cheap.
Black Skirt Tetra: Grows to 2-2.5", enjoys schools of 6+, nips. Do not place with angelfish, bettas, guppies, or other long finned fish.
Callistus Tetra: Haven't heard of this one, I'd skip it if you can't get a comfirmation on what it is, but someone here probably knows what it is.
RTS: Not recommended. Grows to 4.5-5" min, so it's already quite big for the tank. They also get to be some of the most agressive fish out there, and would murder any bottom-dwellers.
Convicts: These guys grow to 6", and are an extremely agressive cichlids, barely able to be crammed into a 30g. They'd rip apart almost any community fish I know of.
Mono: Another bad one. These get huge, and salt water (high end brackish is okay), need schools, and, really, should be kept in a very large tank (over 300g min).
Guppies: Perfect starting fish, the best out there. Tough as a nail and pretty, too. Recommended you get males only, they're prolific breeders and also known as the "Millions Fish". Females can bear young many times after seeing a male, even if he's gone. Females are larger, and have shorter fins and a lot less colour than males. Very cheap fish, sometimes 2$ or less. High end "show" guppies can get pricey, 20-25$ sometimes. Guppies reach 1.5" for males, 1" or so without the tail, and females 1.5-2".
Cardinals: Another great biginner, these fish should be kept in schools of 6-8 minimum, and usually swim in a tight swarm. Very colourful and pretty hardy. Get somewhere around 1-1.5", and are usually cheap.
Harlies: These rasboras I do not know a great deal about. I know they are pretty hardy, get around 1.5", and are common and cheap, and I guess that's all I really need to say, lol.
Some suggestions:
Lemon/Neon/Blk neon/Glowlight tetras: All of these very around the length of 1.5", and school like the Cardinals. Usually cheap.
Cories: Some of my favorite fish, peppered = 2-2.5", panda = < 2", bronze = 2.5-3", albino = 2-3" (depending on weather they're peppered or bronze). Always cheap (got mine at a sale in New Minas once for 3 or 4 for 12$, good deal) and can only hurt pellets and fish food.
Otos: Don't exceed 3 in a 20g, add when the tank is established. Good algae eaters that get 1.5-2" and look pretty cute too. Cheap.
Hi Dwarf Puffers, thank you for all the wonderful advice.
Lucky for me, I loved the Guppies and Cardinals right away, so I think I'll go with those two. Awesome that they are great started fish, and I like the way the look to!!
Thank you!
Lucky for me, I loved the Guppies and Cardinals right away, so I think I'll go with those two. Awesome that they are great started fish, and I like the way the look to!!
Thank you!
