20 Gallon Long - Rescue Mission

[ddavis1979]

I did my usual craigs list search and found a 20 gallon long for sale for only $20 and it included all the extras. Filter, heater, hood, light, bottle of prime, gravel vaccuum, net, ornaments, etc. Turns out this tank belonged to an old lady who passed away and has not been maintained well for a couple of months. The tanks residents included 3 glass catfish and 1 cherry barb (yeah I know, terrible stocking). There was a tremendous amount of green algae building up everywhere, and huge towers of white mold coming out of the substrate.

I have temporarily re-homed the fish in my 55 gallon and drained the tank. I have hooked up the filter in my 55 to maintain the BB, and I will start the big clean out this weekend. The fish survived the transfer so far.

My plan right now is to get the tank sparkling clean, do a sandy bottom with natural rock and driftwood and do some plants. Was thinking of doing some three lined cory cats, some head and tail light tetras, and some shrimp.

What would you all do if you had the choice?

Pictures will follow in the next few days.

I could not pass up this deal for $20.

[SueD]

Assuming everything is in good working order, I'd say that's a really great deal.

Many folks get excited when PetCo does their $1 per gallon sale (me included) and for our $20 we will get just the 20 gal tank - no filter, heater, lights, etc. So actually, as long as the tank holds water, it's a good deal.

[imma24]

The tanks residents included 3 glass catfish and 1 cherry barb (yeah I know, terrible stocking). There was a tremendous amount of green algae building up everywhere, and huge towers of white mold coming out of the substrate.

My plan right now is to get the tank sparkling clean, do a sandy bottom with natural rock and driftwood and do some plants. Was thinking of doing some three lined cory cats, some head and tail light tetras, and some shrimp.

Boy, that IS a great deal! Any possibility of adding to the cherry barbs - they enjoy larger groups - 20gal is not the type of tank to add too many different types of fish -shrimp would be good - cories need larger groups than 3 - hmmmm.

At least the fish seem to be doing well - good job!

[ddavis1979]

I am a member of a local fish keeping club and I am asking around to see if anyone already has a school of cherry barbs and want a free fish. I am hoping to re-home these guys and start fresh, but if I dont have luck with that, getting a school of cherry barbs instead of the head and tail light tetras is a real good possibility.

I have had rotten luck with tiger barbs tearing into ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp. Do you know if the cherry barbs would be equally aggressive towards the shrimp?

[Sandz]

Cherry barbs will be fine with your shrimp. Obviously if you want them reproducing have a large hiding area for them because anything will eat baby shrimp, but Cherrys should be fine in a school.

[imma24]

Yes, cherry barbs are very peaceful fish, however, I agree with Sandz that little shrimp will become meals unless they have places to hide.

Good idea to rehome those fish if you can - that will help you get fish you really want.

[ddavis1979]

So here is the tank after draining and dirty.





Then after some intense scraping and scrubbing, here we are clean!

[ddavis1979]

Also I am working on doing my own drift wood. I was lucky enough to find some very clean and dead and dry beech wood out on a forest trail, and I was even more surprised to see how beautiful the wood is below the bark.

Here are some picks af the original wood and the debarked wood. I hope it ends up doing well!

[Carapar56]

Wow!! Now that is some beautiful wood!! I'd pay for a nice piece of that XD

[ddavis1979]

Here is the tank filled and set up. The water is pretty cloudy and I am concerned that the Lowes all-purpose sand is too fine. I think I got it mixed up with Home Depot Builders Sand, so this may require some re work.