20 Gallon Tank- Tips/ Advice/ Sugesstions/ anything

[zebra935]

Hello,

I have a somewhat new tank and am looking for some tips, advice.
It is a 20 gallon freshwater with:
Plants:
Anacharis
2 Fake plants

Fish:
3 Albino Cory Cats
1 Dwarf Gourami
5 Zebra Danios

It is still cycling, but my Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates are all under control.

It has a Marineland heater, Topfin filter (came with kit), Air pump connected to a small bubble wall which is in my fame driftwood/rock thong that i got from Petsmart (bubbles come out the holes), a light, and gravel.

Im willing to take any suggestions.

Thanks.

EDIT: Just added some rocks that I hand washed in freshwater, soaked in saltwater for 2.5 days, and then washed in freshwater again before putting them in

[Lady Hobbs]

Add no more fish until the tank has totally finished cycling with what you already have then add fish slowly.....like a couple ever 2 weeks but not sure what more you'd want in there. 1 gourami is enough. Maybe a couple platies or some neons or glowlight tetra's?

[mermaidwannabe]

Ditto. Wait with getting more fish until after it has cycled.

Do daily water changes during the cycling period, and vacuum your gravel.

Always dechlorinate any new water you put into the tank.

Keep your filter clean.

Invest in a good test kit (I assume you have one, as you said your parameters are under control).

After your tank has cycled, if you want more color, you can get glo-fish danios in bright reds, oranges, or greenish yellows.

But only add two or three tiny fish every two weeks, or one larger fish every three to four weeks.

If you're going to heavily stock the tank, an additional filter would be advisable, especially if your nitrates get out of control. If they stay stable within the safe zone, don't worry about it.

After the tank has cycled, you need only do water changes once or twice a week, but do vacuum your gravel along with them.

You'll only need to test the water, after the cycle completes, if you see something amiss. During the cycle, test it every day.

Is your Anacharis floating or planted? I would suggest lots of live floating plants to keep your ammonia and nitrates in check. If your lighting is low to mediums, some good specimens would be hornwort, water sprite, anacharis or java moss. These will also provide additional food for your fish.

I would also suggest a pre-filter sponge over the intake of your filter to keep out strands of java moss.

Moss balls that rest on the substrate are cool to look at and also will eat the nitrates.

Just a few suggestions...

Oh, and avoid over-feeding ...

-- mermaidwannabe

[zebra935]

Ditto. Wait with getting more fish until after it has cycled.

Do daily water changes during the cycling period, and vacuum your gravel.
I was under the impression that i was not to change the water during the cycling period
Always dechlorinate any new water you put into the tank.
I do
Keep your filter clean.

Invest in a good test kit (I assume you have one, as you said your parameters are under control).

After your tank has cycled, if you want more color, you can get glo-fish danios in bright reds, oranges, or greenish yellows.

But only add two or three tiny fish every two weeks, or one larger fish every three to four weeks.

If you're going to heavily stock the tank, an additional filter would be advisable, especially if your nitrates get out of control. If they stay stable within the safe zone, don't worry about it.
I dont plan on heavily stocking
After the tank has cycled, you need only do water changes once or twice a week, but do vacuum your gravel along with them.

You'll only need to test the water, after the cycle completes, if you see something amiss. During the cycle, test it every day.

Is your Anacharis floating or planted? I would suggest lots of live floating plants to keep your ammonia and nitrates in check. If your lighting is low to mediums, some good specimens would be hornwort, water sprite, anacharis or java moss. These will also provide additional food for your fish.
It is planted. I am on a budget so plants can not be bought very often
I would also suggest a pre-filter sponge over the intake of your filter to keep out strands of java moss.

Moss balls that rest on the substrate are cool to look at and also will eat the nitrates.

Just a few suggestions...

Oh, and avoid over-feeding ...

-- mermaidwannabe
Replies to the suggestions.....

[sp00f]

you should actually change the water more frequently than usual while it is cycling, so you remove excess ammonia and nitrites, because you don't yet have enough bacteria to handle them on their own. I cycled my 20g with fish and changed out about 2 gallons per day until the levels were all good, but I preseeded so you may want to do a few more per day than that. I don't know about the gourami but the other fish ought to be fine while cycling, just don't add any more until the levels are stable.

[mermaidwannabe]

It's easier on the fish and much more humane if you change your water daily during the cycling process. Otherwise, your fish might not survive it.

-- mermaid