New tank questions

[steeler1]

+ 1 to cermet.

[jeffs99dime]

Is the tank a 20 standard or a 20 long? The footprints of the tanks make a difference especially for bottom dwellers.

[Limming]

Its a 20 standard so I'm going to dial back the number of cories to 4 or 5. I've read that for plants like java fern the fish waste is enough food for them. Is this a ok way to go if I don't have too many plants? I'm trying to make it look as good as possible on a poor college student budget. Also I don't have my test kit yet but my tank has been cycling for a few days now and the water has gotten cloudy today. Is this a good sign that the tank is cycling?

[ijankrom]

but my tank has been cycling for a few days now and the water has gotten cloudy today. Is this a good sign that the tank is cycling?

First, unless you seeded the filter with existing already established filter media of equivalent size, you are likely not "cycled". And with a fish cycle you NEED to get your water tested IMMEDIATELY. Find a place that can test for free for quick results and start saving your lunch money.

You need to read Lady Hobbs sticky thread on fish cycle, your tank needs time to establish the beneficial bacteria to convert deadly levels of Ammonia and Nitrites.

Forget the plants right now, focus on saving your fish.

[Limming]

First, unless you seeded the filter with existing filter media of equivalent size, you are likely not "cycled". And with a fish cycle you NEED to get your water tested IMMEDIATELY. Find a place that can test for free for quick results and start saving your lunch money.

You need to read Lady Hobbs sticky thread on fish cycle, your tank needs time to establish the beneficial bacteria to convert deadly levels of Ammonia and Nitrites.

I don't have any fish yet. I just didn't want to wait for a week till the kit came to set up the tank and start. I'm doing a fishless cycle that has been running for 6 days now.

[ijankrom]

Sorry soooo maaannnyyy posts here. I thought when you mentioned cutting back on the cories you already had some. So I don't get anyone else confused or you, I'm going to unsubscribe to this thread (there's already plenty of other users to assist you). Good luck

[Limming]

Sorry soooo maaannnyyy posts here. I thought when you mentioned cutting back on the cories you already had some. So I don't get anyone else confused or you, I'm going to unsubscribe to this thread (there's already plenty of other users to assist you). Good luck

Haha no problem in hind sight that was a bad way to say it. Thanks for the help.

[Limming]

I've been monitoring the cories at the LFS that I'm planning on stocking today I noticed that 5 of them were huddled together in one of the corners barely moving. I am I correct in assuming that these are sick with something and shouldn't be bough?

[ameliaaahx]

Honestly I wouldn't get cories in a regular 20g. I have a 25g with quite a small footprint and I personally think it's too small for cories, especially if you've seen how big they actually get.

If you're going planted, why not go with some shrimp? There are some beautiful varieties around -- Cherry Red, Yellow Crystal, Red Crystal, Pearl Blue, etc. There are also pygmy cories, as mentioned earlier. These would be more suited to your footprint.

[Limming]

Ok, how easy are shrimp to maintain and would they work well with tetra?