My new 20 gallon extra high build log

Kuhlifan

Kuhlifan

AC Members
Mar 28, 2007
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Ohio
After lots of planning and collecting, I'm starting the process of setting up a new 20 gallon extra high tank. I'm going for a natural look with a gorgeous piece of driftwood I found at a little mom and pop life fish store and a pool filter sand substrate. I'm hoping to do live plants as well, but I don't know with the extra height how well they'll do with the light hood I have.

For stocking, I'm going to transplant the fish from my wife's 10 gallon she keeps in her kindergarten class. That will be three guppies, two zebra danios, one dwarf gourami, four red minor tetras and common pleco. I know the pleco will eventually get too big for even a 20, but I didn't know it was bad to get one when we bought it. I hope to have a larger tank set up in a few years to handle him when he outgrows the 20. Additionally, I want to get some malaysian trumpet snails to keep the sand stirred and some sort of bottom feeder, I'm thinking probably a group of maybe six black kuhlis or cories of some sort.

I was also wondering about a "centerpiece" fish. I can't find anything that seems suitable. I've read that there are some types of cichlid that would be peaceful enough to have in a setup like this, but I don't know if that's true or not. I'm not even sure what type if cichlid they were talking about to begin with.

Here are a few pictures of the equipment.

DSC_0001.JPG DSC_0002.JPG DSC_0003.JPG
 
Nice tank and an intresting peice of wood. I would consider rehomeing the pleco while he is still small, they are poo machines and even at a small size they can be to much of a bio load for a small tank.
I also wouldn't put any cichlids in there as 20g isn't suitable for most cichlids apart from rams and shellies.
 
The pleco may get too big in less than a year, they can grow really fast. If you can't add a bigger tank within a year, consider trading him to the fish store for credit or a pleco that stays small.
 
I might check with some of the local pet stores to see if they take returns or trade-ins. We've had him about two years, and he's not too big yet, about four inches maybe. He's still small enough to hide in a medium sized decoration in the 10 gallon.
 
The tank I'm taking from is my wife's 10 gallon in her classroom. It needs to be broken down completely and cleaned out, not to mention that I feel bad every year leaving the fish there without daily care. Once I move the fish out and reclean it and get it cycled back up again, some will most likely go back for the beginning of school in the fall. That will leave the 20 gallon more open.

I have no bottom feeders as it stands right now, so I want something like a kuhli or corie. I also have an oversized filter, and I typically do water changes weekly, so I'm not too worried about crowding. The danios never leave the top inch of water and the guppies/gourami/tetras kind of hover around wherever. The bottom needs a little action :)
 
I would say you will be fully stocked with the original population you mentioned. If you lose the Pleco you could get some small cories for the bottom. 20 gallon high tanks aren't conducive for heavy fish loads.
Great piece of driftwood by the way.
 
That is a nicely shaped tank. What are the dimensions of it?
 
Kuhlifan said:
The tank I'm taking from is my wife's 10 gallon in her classroom. It needs to be broken down completely and cleaned out, not to mention that I feel bad every year leaving the fish there without daily care. Once I move the fish out and reclean it and get it cycled back up again, some will most likely go back for the beginning of school in the fall. That will leave the 20 gallon more open.

I have no bottom feeders as it stands right now, so I want something like a kuhli or corie. I also have an oversized filter, and I typically do water changes weekly, so I'm not too worried about crowding. The danios never leave the top inch of water and the guppies/gourami/tetras kind of hover around wherever. The bottom needs a little action :)
Click to expand...

Kuhli and corys are shoaling fish and need to be kept in groups of 5 or more.
 
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