20 Gallon Aquarium Setup For Home

[Lewis Lang]

Hi. I want to set up a nice 20 gallon. What is the rule regarding how
many fishes I should keep in the tank? Are there any differences
pros/cons between a regular 20 and a 20-long? What else will I need? Is
the hood with light required? What power filter would I need? Combos of
fish that cannot stay together (I know about bettas)? Can any tropicals
live with goldfish? Any other advice?

Thanks,

Lewis

[Elaine T]

Lewis Lang wrote:
> Hi. I want to set up a nice 20 gallon. What is the rule regarding how
> many fishes I should keep in the tank? Are there any differences
> pros/cons between a regular 20 and a 20-long? What else will I need? Is
> the hood with light required? What power filter would I need? Combos of
> fish that cannot stay together (I know about bettas)? Can any tropicals
> live with goldfish? Any other advice?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Lewis
>
Why don't you start out with the FAQ at http://faq.thekrib.com/. There
are articles on filtration, lighting, some fish recommendations, and
stocking. NetMax (one of our gurus) also has a great site at
http://www.netmax.tk.

As for 20 gallon tanks, a 20 regular is deep and good for taller fish
like angels (although a 20 is kinda small for angels). A 20 long is
good for shoaling fish like tetras, barbs, and danios that like to swim
back and forth. It's also shallower so is easier to light if you want
live plants. The larger surface area of a 20 long also means that it
has more oxygen exchange and can possibly support more fish.

Some sort of canopy to stop jumping fish is a good idea. A basic hood
with a single light lets you see the aquarium and fish better. A deluxe
hood with two 20 watt flourescent bulbs will allow you to grow a lush
underwater jungle that includes about any plant you want (and/or all
sorts of interesting algae). Note that if you want plants, you need to
keep fish that don't eat or destroy them.

For a filter, my personal choice for a 20 would be an Aquaclear 200
because they're inexpensive and very flexible. Note that I've chosen
one size larger than the manufacturer recommends. You will get many
other recommendations for filters from people here, and most will work.

You will also need a 75 or 100 watt heater (100 if your house is cool,
75 if warm) if you intend to keep anything other than goldfish. Since
goldfish like cool, oxygenated water and tropicals warm, they generally
are best kept in separate tanks. As for other compatibility, start
hanging out in your local fish store to find out what you like, and post
specific questions.

Other stuff you'll need
- Gravel; the type depends on your fish and whether you want plants
- An airpump, airline, suction cup and airstone.
- Water conditioner to remove chlorine or chloramine from tap water
- Thermometer
- Plants (real or fake), decorations, bogwood, rocks, or something to
provide hiding places for the fish. Again, what you use partly depends
on the fish you intend to keep.
- pH and ammonia test kits at a minimum. Nitrite is good too.
- A very clean bucket (new is best) dedicated to fishkeeping for water
changes
- A siphon with a big tube at the end for cleaning the gravel
- Power strip with a ground fault circuit interrupter
- Plain ammonia if you want to do a fishless cycle, bacteria if not

I'm sure I've forgotten something but I'm equally sure it's in the FAQ.

Other advice: I LOVE planted tanks myself. I would go for the 20 long
and twin tube hood and stuff the tank with plants. Plants look
fantastic, improve water quality, and provide great hiding places for
the fish. I love to stock a planted tank with brightly colored fish
like fancy guppies and platies in hard water or cardinals and barbs in
soft and watch the fish swim through and around the lush plants. It's a
little bit more challenging at first because you're learning to care for
both fish and plants, but can be very rewarding in the long run.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[Elaine T]

Lewis Lang wrote:
> Hi. I want to set up a nice 20 gallon. What is the rule regarding how
> many fishes I should keep in the tank? Are there any differences
> pros/cons between a regular 20 and a 20-long? What else will I need? Is
> the hood with light required? What power filter would I need? Combos of
> fish that cannot stay together (I know about bettas)? Can any tropicals
> live with goldfish? Any other advice?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Lewis
>
Why don't you start out with the FAQ at http://faq.thekrib.com/. There
are articles on filtration, lighting, some fish recommendations, and
stocking. NetMax (one of our gurus) also has a great site at
http://www.netmax.tk.

As for 20 gallon tanks, a 20 regular is deep and good for taller fish
like angels (although a 20 is kinda small for angels). A 20 long is
good for shoaling fish like tetras, barbs, and danios that like to swim
back and forth. It's also shallower so is easier to light if you want
live plants. The larger surface area of a 20 long also means that it
has more oxygen exchange and can possibly support more fish.

Some sort of canopy to stop jumping fish is a good idea. A basic hood
with a single light lets you see the aquarium and fish better. A deluxe
hood with two 20 watt flourescent bulbs will allow you to grow a lush
underwater jungle that includes about any plant you want (and/or all
sorts of interesting algae). Note that if you want plants, you need to
keep fish that don't eat or destroy them.

For a filter, my personal choice for a 20 would be an Aquaclear 200
because they're inexpensive and very flexible. Note that I've chosen
one size larger than the manufacturer recommends. You will get many
other recommendations for filters from people here, and most will work.

You will also need a 75 or 100 watt heater (100 if your house is cool,
75 if warm) if you intend to keep anything other than goldfish. Since
goldfish like cool, oxygenated water and tropicals warm, they generally
are best kept in separate tanks. As for other compatibility, start
hanging out in your local fish store to find out what you like, and post
specific questions.

Other stuff you'll need
- Gravel; the type depends on your fish and whether you want plants
- An airpump, airline, suction cup and airstone.
- Water conditioner to remove chlorine or chloramine from tap water
- Thermometer
- Plants (real or fake), decorations, bogwood, rocks, or something to
provide hiding places for the fish. Again, what you use partly depends
on the fish you intend to keep.
- pH and ammonia test kits at a minimum. Nitrite is good too.
- A very clean bucket (new is best) dedicated to fishkeeping for water
changes
- A siphon with a big tube at the end for cleaning the gravel
- Power strip with a ground fault circuit interrupter
- Plain ammonia if you want to do a fishless cycle, bacteria if not

I'm sure I've forgotten something but I'm equally sure it's in the FAQ.

Other advice: I LOVE planted tanks myself. I would go for the 20 long
and twin tube hood and stuff the tank with plants. Plants look
fantastic, improve water quality, and provide great hiding places for
the fish. I love to stock a planted tank with brightly colored fish
like fancy guppies and platies in hard water or cardinals and barbs in
soft and watch the fish swim through and around the lush plants. It's a
little bit more challenging at first because you're learning to care for
both fish and plants, but can be very rewarding in the long run.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[Larry Blanchard]

In article >, eetmail-
says...
> You will also need a 75 or 100 watt heater (100 if your house is cool,
> 75 if warm) if you intend to keep anything other than goldfish.
>

I read that 2-3 watts per gallon was a good idea just in case the heater
failed to shut off. So I installed a 25 watt in my 10 gallon tank. It
failed the other day - I noticed it when the tank was a little over 80
degrees instead of its normal 75.

If I'd had a big heater in there I might have boiled my fish and plants
before I noticed.

I'd put a 50 watt in the tank unless it's in an completely unheated area
and a cold climate.

--
Homo sapiens is a goal, not a description

[blove]

The rule for tropicals is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water but its more of
a general guideline for people new to the hobby. A 20 long is better
because there is more room for gas exchange cuz its longer. Also fish swim
horizontaly, not vertically. I personally like the Whisper Brand
powerfilters, a whisper 20 should be fine for your tank. You will also need
a heater to keep the temperature stable. you can go with 1 100 watt heater
since its 5 wats per gallon or you can go with 2 50 watt heaters wich its
more safer cuz if one heater craps out it wont boil your fish. An aquarium
hood and light are good cuz the hood stops alot of evaporation and it keeps
the fish from jumping out and the light allows u to see the fish's colors
and if you want live plants they need it. No tropicals can go in with
goldfish. goldfish excrete alot ammonia and tropicals cant handle that,
also goldfish get huge and their rule is different, they need 10 gallons per
fancy fat goldfish and 20 gallons per long bodied comet type goldfish. They
also can exchange diseases and have different dietary needs. some advice
would be to go check out the fish selections at your local fish stores and
if you see a species you like, dont buy it yet, go home and research the
particular needs of the fish and check out its compatible tank mates. some
good sites are http://fishprofiles.com and http://badmanstropicalfish.com



"Lewis Lang" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi. I want to set up a nice 20 gallon. What is the rule regarding how
> many fishes I should keep in the tank? Are there any differences
> pros/cons between a regular 20 and a 20-long? What else will I need? Is
> the hood with light required? What power filter would I need? Combos of
> fish that cannot stay together (I know about bettas)? Can any tropicals
> live with goldfish? Any other advice?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Lewis
>

[[email protected]]

Lewis Lang wrote:
> Hi. I want to set up a nice 20 gallon. What is the rule regarding how
> many fishes I should keep in the tank? Are there any differences
> pros/cons between a regular 20 and a 20-long? What else will I need?
Is
> the hood with light required? What power filter would I need? Combos
of
> fish that cannot stay together (I know about bettas)? Can any
tropicals
> live with goldfish? Any other advice?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Lewis

The usual rule is 1 inch of tropical fish to a gallon of water, but
this rule is pretty useless. The real answer depends on how much
bio-filtration you have. Get a good water test kit to determine how
well you are doing.

The difference between a regular vs a long is the surface area exposed
to air. You want to maximize that area. Hood is necesary but not
light. Hood is necessary because some of you fish may decide to jump
out of the tank in case things get too screwed up. With the hood, they
will die a slow agonizing death instead.

I like internal filters because they are quiet. I own many units of
Fluval+.

As for combo of fish, that is impossible to answer quickly, go read a
book.

Don't keep tropical with goldfish. They require different
temperatures.

Ok, here is the advice. Since it seems like you want to spend the
least amount of effort on keeping fish, I suggest that you don't keep
any. I advise that you get a DVD of some aquarium for about $10 or $20
and play it over and over again on your TV.

[Elaine T]

wrote:

> Ok, here is the advice. Since it seems like you want to spend the
> least amount of effort on keeping fish, I suggest that you don't keep
> any. I advise that you get a DVD of some aquarium for about $10 or $20
> and play it over and over again on your TV.
>
Where on god's green earth did you read that in Lewis' post? He comes
to rec.aquaria asking very reasonable questions, and you have to mouth
off like an idiot.

PLONK!

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[js1]

On 2005-02-06, Lewis Lang > wrote:
> Hi. I want to set up a nice 20 gallon. What is the rule regarding how
> many fishes I should keep in the tank? Are there any differences
> pros/cons between a regular 20 and a 20-long? What else will I need? Is
> the hood with light required? What power filter would I need? Combos of
> fish that cannot stay together (I know about bettas)? Can any tropicals
> live with goldfish? Any other advice?
>

http://honors.montana.edu/~weif/firsttank/steps.phtml
http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/fish-popular.html
http://www.elmersaquarium.com/h701elmers_freshwater_handbook.htm


--
"I have to decide between two equally frightening options.
If I wanted to do that, I'd vote." --Duckman

[[email protected]]

> Ok, here is the advice. Since it seems like you want to spend the
> least amount of effort on keeping fish, I suggest that you don't keep
> any. I advise that you get a DVD of some aquarium for about $10 or
$20
> and play it over and over again on your TV.

Please Note: I'm a lazy fishkeeper, and proud of it. Which would you
choose: 1) a well-balanced ecosystem where water changes are not the
primary form of keeping your fish alive, or 2) a hobby (chore) that
requires 20% water changes twice a week, including the dripping on the
carpet that gets your socks wet?

Besides, I agree with Elaine, where did you get that idea anyway?