Getting My First Tank!

[Poisson]

I'm getting my first tank in a few weeks.. it's gonna be a 20g and my fiance (Turkey151) is going to help me with cycling it for this first one. I just can't decide what to put in it for my first tank! Any suggestions for a beginner fish for a 20g??

[GreenTerrorNYC]

I am always a fan of community fish, guppies, platys, mollies, corys, neons, easy to maintain, and you get lots of attractive fish. They also bear fry. Which is totally cool.

I am sure others will have different opinions. But for a beginner that is what i would recommend.

Good luck. Send pics

[Poisson]

Thanks GreenTerror!
I am always a fan of community fish, guppies, platys, mollies, corys, neons, easy to maintain, and you get lots of attractive fish. They also bear fry. Which is totally cool.

I am sure others will have different opinions. But for a beginner that is what i would recommend.

Good luck. Send pics

[angelcakes]

when your ready post some pics and good luck:19: :19:

[Poisson]

will do! i'm so excited ^.^

when your ready post some pics and good luck:19: :19:

[Wild Turkey]

Make sure you dont drive your boyfriend crazy! lol j/k :)

[doug z]

Welcome to the forum!

You're in good hands with Turkey.. He'll steer you in the right direction..

Myself, I LOVE corydoras, and will plan the tank around them.. :)

My favourites are Adolphi and Pandas..

But the Pandas are the smallest, and would work best in a 20..

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I would get 6 at least.. If you get them when they are fairly small (they only get up to 1.75-2") you could add them all at once. They stick to the bottom..

I would also get one bristlenose pleco. He/she will take care of your algae, and they may not be pretty, but they grow on you.. They also don't get as big as some other plecos (4" max).

Another option is a Rubber lip pleco. They only get to 4" as well.

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Then for the middle top dwellers I would get 6-8 Cardinal tetras. They are beautiful, and only get to 2" max..

People complain that this is a hard fish to keep alive, but that's because they plop them in tap water that's got a pH of 7.5 and over. Or they don't drip acclimatize them (VERY important that you use this method, for ALL fish), or they don't feed them right (frozen daphnia, NLS small fish formula soaked in Seachem's garlic Guard).

The good thing too is ALL the fish I listed come from the same area (S. America).. So they all live in the same water parameters (pH 6.5-6.8, temp 77-78, hardness 3.0)..

What is the pH of your tap water? Do you have a test kit?

I would add the fish in the order I listed them in. (Pandas, wait 2 weeks, pleco and 6 tetras, wait 2 weeks, 2 more tetras).

What are you using for filtration?

You want a filter rated for at LEAST 40 gallons.

Let us know what you decide!

[Poisson]

i do have a test kit I will have to test it. I know that Turkey has before so I will ask him and then double check, thanks for all of the advice!


Welcome to the forum!

You're in good hands with Turkey.. He'll steer you in the right direction..

Myself, I LOVE corydoras, and will plan the tank around them.. :)

My favourites are Adolphi and Pandas..

But the Pandas are the smallest, and would work best in a 20..

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

I would get 6 at least.. If you get them when they are fairly small (they only get up to 1.75-2") you could add them all at once.They stick to the bottom..

I would also get one bristlenose pleco. He/she will take care of your algae, and they may not be pretty, but they grow on you.. They also don't get as big as some other plecos (4" max).

Another option is a Rubber lip pleco. They only get to 4" as well.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Then for the middle top dwellers I would get 6-8 Cardinal tetras. They are beautiful, and only get to 2" max..

The good thing too is ALL the fish I listed come from the same area (S. America).. So they all live in the same water parameters (pH 6.5-6.8, temp 77-78, hardness 3.0)..

What is the pH of your tap water? Do you have a test kit?

I would add the fish in the order I listed them in. (Pandas, wait 2 weeks, pleco and 6 tetras, wait 2 weeks, 2 more tetras).

What are you using for filtration?

You want a filter rated for at LEAST 40 gallons.

Let us know what you decide!

[Augus]

I love Cardinal Tetra, about 10 of them so they can group and swim together.

Alos, suggest going with live plants instead of plastic.

[doug z]

10 would be great..

But I would get 6 of the corys and cardinals to start with, and the BN..

Then if it looks like your bacteria is keeping up (you're nitrates are staying low), for sure add 4 more.. But just make sure you've had about a month of stable readings.. Also make sure you add the Cardinals last, as they do better in established tanks, so if you wait a month after you've added the corys that would be better than adding them straight off..

I agree that live plants would be great..

Anubias barteri var nana and java moss are 2 plants that are pretty hard to kill, and they do well under subdued light.

[jphonger]

congrats on the new tank!
I recommend getting a school of 7-10 zebra danio.
they will add a lot of action to a community. They are fun to watch, cheap to purchase, and are very hardy fish.
I have 7 of them living with my two dwarf gourami in a 10g, so you could get a school and have plenty of room for other community fish...
all the other suggestions are great also!

[doug z]

Ohhh..

Danios would be good, too!

Not as colourful as Cardinals, but much more active!

[pinsonpa]

I love my Cardinal Tetras so I guess I can "Second that emotion":hmm3grin2orange:

You and Turkey are engaged!?! CONGRATS to both of you:19:

Since it looks like your tank will soon be in the same place as Turkey's tanks (if not already), then you might want to consider what he already has. It will allow you to bring in something new.

If you end up stocking more small schooling fish (as opposed to fewer medium fish) you might also look into shrimp. They are quite fun to watch and will do a little tank cleaning too! I have some amano shrimp (which are fun) but if you're looking for color you might look at Cherry Shrimp or Blueberry Shrimp.

Have fun and send pics of your new set-up.

[Poisson]

hehe thank you for the congrats! we're very excited

I love my Cardinal Tetras so I guess I can "Second that emotion":hmm3grin2orange:

You and Turkey are engaged!?! CONGRATS to both of you:19:

Since it looks like your tank will soon be in the same place as Turkey's tanks (if not already), then you might want to consider what he already has. It will allow you to bring in something new.

If you end up stocking more small schooling fish (as opposed to fewer medium fish) you might also look into shrimp. They are quite fun to watch and will do a little tank cleaning too! I have some amano shrimp (which are fun) but if you're looking for color you might look at Cherry Shrimp or Blueberry Shrimp.

Have fun and send pics of your new set-up.

[Poisson]

Okay.. I'm pretty sure I've decided what I want.. I'm going to get some Glolight danios, some panda corys and some trumpet or mystery snails :P what do u guys think

[doug z]

Might want to hold off on the snails..

They can multiply quickly!!!

I would get the BN for algae control...

[pinsonpa]

What about some shrimp? I think I saw in another thread that you were asking about Blue Midget and Gold Crescent shrimp. They won't clean the glass as well as a snail but they won't multiply like snails either (and they will help with algae).

Does anyone know if the panda corys will pose a problem for shrimp?

[Wild Turkey]

What about some shrimp? I think I saw in another thread that you were asking about Blue Midget and Gold Crescent shrimp. They won't clean the glass as well as a snail but they won't multiply like snails either (and they will help with algae).

Does anyone know if the panda corys will pose a problem for shrimp?

Shrimp fry will get eaten, but i dont think adult shrimp will be a suitable meal for them. I just ordered some cherry shrimp so i will have plenty to give her if she likes. She asked me about the gold and blue shrimp but i wouldnt even know where to begin looking for them except online order,which i want to avoid doing, i figure the 30 shrimp from Algenco will play for themselves by breeding if i give them their own tank, or heavily plant it, but i refuse to pay 30 bucks worth of shipping for a few shrimps, and im sure most people would agree

[Tolley]

Maylasian trumpet snails are a great idea. And are real good cleaners.

how about 8 Glowlight danios, 8 Panda Cories, snails and then maybe look up dwarf gouramis a single male would go good in the mix!

[pinsonpa]

i hear ya turkey.

[Poisson]

i just may go with the shrimps. i'm still learning what i can put in together and i just want to do it right. and thank u everyone for all of the input ^.^

[pinsonpa]

So Glow Light Danios, some Panda Corys and some of turkey's Cherry Shrimp...I think that sounds like a swell 20 gallon set up Piosson.:19:

Be sure to put up some pics once you're all set-up!

Sorry about dropping the "swell" in there. I've always liked that word and I'm trying to bring it back:hmm3grin2orange: