Sil's 20L transition

[Silbar]

A little background: I bought this 20L last year when it was on sale. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to stock it with so it sat on my desk at home, empty, for several months. Last November I thought we were going to remodel my bedroom and master bath. I had a 20G in the bedroom with Green Neons and Red Wag Platys that I had to move so I set up the 20L and re-homed the neons and platys temporarily. Well, life gave me other home repairs to do so the bathroom/bedroom went on hold. Which was OK because it gave me a chance to think about my stocking of both tanks for the future.

Then I made the rash decision to get a Betta once I saw him in the store. I placed him in the 20L along with the neons and platys. He got along OK but seemed bothered by the platys. Since the bedroom was on hold, I re-setup the 20G in the bedroom and moved the platys to it.
That now leaves the betta and green neons in the 20L. I will soon be setting up a 10G to re-home the betta and green neons so this will now leave the 20L to be re scaped and stocked with something more suited.

Recently I posted in another thread about the issue I had with my betta being hard to see when he is in the corners. Today I realized that the Current USA Satellite+ that is on this tank was actually sized for the 20G, so the lights do not cover the full length of the tank and thus leaves darker corners/sides.
So far my plan will be to get a longer Satellite+ for the 20L. That should take care of this problem. Keep the AC50 HOB.
I want to remove the substrate that is in it now (pea size gravel and dime size river rocks) and replace it with Caribsea Torpedo Beach. It will be a planted tank with some type of driftwood.
My stocking thoughts: Definitely want Green Neons and Candy Canes since I am in love with them. I also want some type of dwarf or pygmy cory and hopefully add some RCS. If stocking allows I would like to try some Chilies.
I still need to set up the 10G first so it will be a bit before this tank gets done. I just wanted to start a journal for any future questions and feed back until then, so that I can stop high jacking other people's threads.

[Slaphppy7]

New journal, cool!...I'm subscribed.

Plans sound great, but I'm afraid the Candy Canes may find the chilis to be quite delicious.

[Silbar]

New journal, cool!...I'm subscribed.

Plans sound great, but I'm afraid the Candy Canes may find the chilis to be quite delicious.

Then I probably won't be able to add any shrimp either? I thought that several people here had RCS in their community tanks along with fish their size (candy canes). Nothing is set in stone so I am open to any and all suggestions.

[Silbar]

I love the candy canes that I have in my 75G. Their behavior and antics are so fun to watch. Since this tank is on my home office desk I want something that will be enjoyable to watch as I sit there during the day. So I am set on those and the green neons. Other than these I am open to suggestions.

[Slaphppy7]

Shrimp should be fine, because they'll have hideouts....but a tiny fish swimming by may be too tempting for a decent sized tetra....I have rosy tetras, which are very similar to CC's, and they leave the shrimp alone

If you want chilis, I'd keep them with other nanos, or maybe even your betta, like I do...depending on his temperament, they should be fine...but you know how bettas are!

[Silbar]

Good suggestion and reasoning, Matt. Before I try any RCS I will definitely provide hideouts for them.

[Boundava]

Yeah the chilis are smaller in size than the shrimp, close to in length but a lot thinner. I think they would be considered a tasty snack as well by larger tetras.

You can go espei rasboras, or ember tetras, both have larger bodies for their length. think of them as grains of rice, the chilis are the wild rice (long brown/black one bottom left )and the espei/embers are more like arborio rice (the white chubby/squat ones above them)
Easier to fit the wild rice in a mouth of a CC than the arborio.
5990514-variety-of-rice-grain-on-art-canvas-three-seeds-from-each-kind-including-white-and-brown.jpg

[Silbar]

Great diagram and explanation. Actually, I had been looking at the Ember tetra. I think Aqadvisor told me I would be over stocked if I added them but I do think it is a possibility to add these. I like the coloring so that is why I thought the Chilies would do better (less bio-load). I would like to find something that would look good with the candy canes, green neons and corys.

[Boundava]

overstocked by how much? If it's 120-135% then don't sweat it, if its around/over 180% then I would probably re think it.

[Silbar]

I just checked and it actually gave an 85% stock. That's even better. Maybe I added something else last time that put me over. So I have more options. This is is good news!