Heavily planted 20h - enough space? (stock check)

**bmwguy525** · 11-14-2011, 08:50 PM

I just finished the interior of my 20 gallon high tank, and it's about to start it's fourth week of cycling. Now it's time to really think about stocking.

Here's a picture of the setup. Heavily planted and scaped w/ lava rock and a piece of driftwood. There's about 3 cave/passthroughs and 2 cave indents.

Current ideas for stock are:
12 neon tetras
2 German blue rams
4 panda corys

Is this enough space for all of these fish? I'm thinking I might have to go down to 1 GBR and 3 corys because of the shorter 24" footprint?

If I can take on 2 GBRs, should I be looking for a M/F pair or is M/M ok?

**imma24** · 11-14-2011, 08:56 PM

I would not knock down the corys because they prefer a larger group (like tetras). I can't advise about the blue rams because I have no experience with them but the neons are a nice #.

**bmwguy525** · 11-14-2011, 09:05 PM

Is a dozen neons a nice number as in minimum or maximum for this tank? Should I think about going to 15-18?

Also if anyone can chime in on cory cats, I really like peppered corys more than pandas, but I heard peppered corys would need a longer footprint that pandas will. Any truth to that?

**MCHRKiller** · 11-14-2011, 10:34 PM

I would cut it down to 1 GBR, 2ft tanks are just not that much space when dealing with cichlids. Even in a M/F pair you may have some issues, never put two males together in less than a 4ft tank.

Here is what I would do with the stock:

12 Neons(this is a good number for the tank size)
6 Panda Cories or 10 Pygmy Cories(Pygmies would be best, but Pandas are fine)
1 GBR
1 Oto

**Cosmo23** · 11-14-2011, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by MCHRKiller

12 Neons(this is a good number for the tank size)
6 Panda Cories or 10 Pygmy Cories(Pygmies would be best, but Pandas are fine)
1 GBR
1 Oto

I agree with this-

Nice looking tank by the way

**bmwguy525** · 11-14-2011, 11:32 PM

Thanks Cosmo! I feel like I put a lot of work into those damn live plants, and I love the aquascape I've settled on. Hopefully this will be a nice open viewing stage for the tetras in the middle.

As for the catfish, thanks for the tip Killer. I actually didn't know a 20h was enough space for 6 pandas. I really wanted peppered corys at first, but can compromise with pandas. The pygmy catfish just don't "do it" for me. If the pandas will be comfortable at least, then I'm ok with keeping them. If it will be a struggle for them, then obviously I would go with pygmys.

And an oto! Never even thought of it. My tank right now is LOADED with lightweight brake flake algae. It's very much on all of my plants and rocks. Should I consider throwing the oto in ASAP? Or should I follow the same rule of thumb for other catfish, which should only be added after the tank has had a chance to really grow?

I ran the tank first week at 80-82 F, second week at 78-80 F, and have now lowered to 76-78 F, so there is plenty of algae on the plants and rock.

For the current time I was going to add some Jumbo Japonica, but I figured once I add fish those guys will be dead meat within weeks. If an oto will do the same thing and I can add him in now, I'll just do that instead.

**MCHRKiller** · 11-15-2011, 01:23 AM

I would also say that pairing the Oto with a Nerite snail or two would be a good idea, nerites create such a minimal bioload you wont have to worry about their addition. Pandas are one of the smallest species of non pygmy corydoras so a small group of them will be fine in a 20G. Another option you may consider outside of corydoras are Dwarf Zebra Hovering Loaches, they are epic little fish and you could easily stock 10 of them.

**rich311k** · 11-15-2011, 02:27 AM

I have had issues with rams and corys in small tanks. I have had many a bruised and battered cory show up dead.

The tank looks great nice work.

**Taurus** · 11-15-2011, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by rich311k

I have had issues with rams and corys in small tanks. I have had many a bruised and battered cory show up dead.

The tank looks great nice work.

Gotta agree with Rich here. I've seen it happen with a sinlge female kribensis and corys. It could happen with with a single GBR in that small footprint.

It's a risk the op should consider.

**Taurus** · 11-15-2011, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by MCHRKiller

I Another option you may consider outside of corydoras are Dwarf Zebra Hovering Loaches, they are epic little fish and you could easily stock 10 of them.

Yunnanilus cruciatus. They're just a bit more expensive than corys....$5.00 each at

http://www.msjinkzd.com/shop/product...bra-loach.html

Never have kept them, but they do look like a very cool little bottom feeder.