Looking for Recommendations

[Klane]

We will be buying the 20 gallon tank this weekend. Other than the Zebra
Danios (I'm thinking a total of 6 or 8) what would be something to add.
I would like a little color if possible.

Also, what about algae eaters and bottom feeders? I haven't had a
problem with the SpongeBob tank, but it doesn't have lights or a
heater, both of which I'm guessing increases the incidence of algae.

If I decide to put in a few plants, should I have some sand in the
bottom to hold them or would the gravel be enough? What are some that
are easy care and that fish tend to enjoy for eating/hiding behind.

I'm also thinking about using the SpongeBob tank for an isolation tank
before I add new fish to the large aquarium. Later on I'm planning on
maybe putting a Betta in it. It has some silk plants but should I use
real? What about some kind of bottom feeder with it?

I guess I should just break down and get a book or something.

Thanks again,
Klane

[Steve]

Klane wrote:
> We will be buying the 20 gallon tank this weekend. Other than the Zebra
> Danios (I'm thinking a total of 6 or 8) what would be something to add.
> I would like a little color if possible.
>
> Also, what about algae eaters and bottom feeders? I haven't had a
> problem with the SpongeBob tank, but it doesn't have lights or a
> heater, both of which I'm guessing increases the incidence of algae.
>
> If I decide to put in a few plants, should I have some sand in the
> bottom to hold them or would the gravel be enough? What are some that
> are easy care and that fish tend to enjoy for eating/hiding behind.
>
> I'm also thinking about using the SpongeBob tank for an isolation tank
> before I add new fish to the large aquarium. Later on I'm planning on
> maybe putting a Betta in it. It has some silk plants but should I use
> real? What about some kind of bottom feeder with it?
>
> I guess I should just break down and get a book or something.
>
> Thanks again,
> Klane
>
Hi,
The book is a good idea!

Are you getting a "long" or "tall" 20-gal? The long aquarium will give
more swimming room and ultimately allow more fish. For zebra danios the
long aquarium will be better: more swimming room.

Live plants are great, and I'd advise getting a lot of bunch plants
right away, and maybe some Vallisneria. It's best to plant the aquarium
"completely" at once. The plants will use up nutrients, and algae will
be less of an issue. If you go with plants you'll need plenty of
fluorescent light: 30-40 watts, meaning a dual-tube hood or fixture;
it's possible to make your own to save costs. Indirect daylight plus one
fluorescent will also let you grow plants, but contolling algae may be
more tricky (can use paper to block light...).

For plants I'd recommend "eco-complete" substrate, "flourite" or other
plant-specific commercial substrate. Get enough for a 2-inch or greater
thickness to make room for plant roots. There'll be no need for special
fertilizers in the first month or two.

Setting up the aquarium: I'd recommend setting it up with substrate,
plants, the few fish you have, and any filter material, silk plants and
Sponge Bob from your existing tank. Use the old gravel too, if the
colour doesn't clash. These last items are to transfer helpful bacteria
into your new aquarium. Then, after a few weeks when your helpful
bacteria are established, begin to slowly add more fish. Add a few one
weekend, then more a week or two later.

More zebra danios would be great, to make a nice school. It might be all
you'll want for a while. Then, to add colour a few red platies might be
nice, although they're from another part of the world. If you want to
avoid livebearer babies, perhaps get some harlequin rasboras or cherry
barbs instead. For cleanup and algae duties, some snails may be fine at
first. Later you could add a group of 3 or more corydoras catfish, or,
instead, one SMALL (adult size) sucker mouth catfish such as
"bristlenose" or "clown plec".

Good luck!
Steve

[Larry]

On 2 Jul 2005 10:42:33 -0700, "Klane" > wrote:

>We will be buying the 20 gallon tank this weekend. Other than the Zebra
>Danios (I'm thinking a total of 6 or 8) what would be something to add.
>I would like a little color if possible.

Probably some colourful tetras- lots to choose from. Cichlids - tank
might be a tad small for these although I have 3 Bolivians rams, a
yellow lab and 2 keyholes plus an assortment of other smaller fish.

I'd definitely recommend the Bolivan rams. They have all the colours
in them and they are peaceful fish. The keyhole cichlids are also
peaceful.
>
>Also, what about algae eaters and bottom feeders? I haven't had a
>problem with the SpongeBob tank, but it doesn't have lights or a
>heater, both of which I'm guessing increases the incidence of algae.

I love the four Panda Corys(bottom feeders) I have. They are sooooo
cute and stay smallish.
>
>If I decide to put in a few plants, should I have some sand in the
>bottom to hold them or would the gravel be enough? What are some that
>are easy care and that fish tend to enjoy for eating/hiding behind.

Small gravel works great. Just take the plants out of the black pot
and dig them in. This will mean you have to monitor the iron,
phosphates and light amounts. A 30 -40 w canopy will keep plants
healthy. One Siamese Algae eater if and when you find the algae
starting to grow would work. As most members recommend, make sure the
black stripe goes right to the end if of the tail so you don't get a
different type by mistake.
>
>I'm also thinking about using the SpongeBob tank for an isolation tank
>before I add new fish to the large aquarium. Later on I'm planning on
>maybe putting a Betta in it. It has some silk plants but should I use
>real? What about some kind of bottom feeder with it?

Betas doesn't care either way if plants are real or not. I have a
Cory and a few Ottos in for company. No problems so far.
>
>I guess I should just break down and get a book or something.

Internet sites are good but you'll get lots of good advice right here
;-}
>
>Thanks again,
>Klane


All the best Klane.

Larry

[NetMax]

"teri" > wrote in message
...
>
>>We will be buying the 20 gallon tank this weekend. Other than the Zebra
>>Danios (I'm thinking a total of 6 or 8) what would be something to add.
>>I would like a little color if possible.
> Been there, doing that...
> You are faster than me though. I started with a three gallon in early
> April (did check out the sponge bob - for me though, not the
> grandchild... :-) ), and it took until last weekend to set up the 20
> gallon. Of course that was one week after the 3 gallon finally cycled
> :-(. But I have the same goals in mind, colorful. So far I would
> recommend the platys, they are easy for beginners, and come in all
> kinds of colors. I am real happy with the three I have right now.
> The danios aren't colorful enough for me, but their activity would be
> nice. I am going to start adding cherry barbs next, then harlequin
> rasboras, and go from there.
> Good luck, I would like to hear how it is going.
> Teri

I know this will fly in the face of convention, but I found Cherry barbs
a bit too aggressive and pack oriented for my liking, however it might
have been my own doing.

I'd opened the store with about 100 Cherry barbs in a commercially
filtered 20g, and they didn't sell well at all, so needing the retail
space, I put them all into a 60g plant tank. A year and a half later, I
seemed to still have all of them (might have sold a dozen), so I got to
see how they dominated the tank. Occasionally I would drop other fish in
with them, such as Paradise fish, and the Cherrys were not the best
tank-mates. Perhaps it's my fault as I set up the scenario allowing a
large amount of shoaling fish to become/think and know that they were
dominant, so they maintained status quo with their numbers. Probably
many tetra species (ie: Buenos Aires, Black Skirts, Red Phantoms etc)
would do the same in the right conditions. It was just... unusual to
watch a *pack* of Cherrys behaving that way.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[NetMax]

"Steve" > wrote in message
...
> lgb wrote:
>
>> I have no experience with cherry barbs, but I do remember reading in
>> more than one place that they could be agressive fin nippers.
>
> That's tiger barbs which are nippy, and likely some others. Perhaps
> there's confusion with rosy barbs?
>
> Cherry barbs have been written up as very peaceful (shy, solitary
> according to Baensch). I had cherry barbs in small schools without
> problems. They were quite peaceful, long-lived, and they even
> reproduced in a planted 15-gal aquarium. I had 2 + generations of them.
>
> Netmax's experience does not fit with mine, but he had a very large
> quantity of cherry barbs. For what it's worth :) .
>
> Steve

I agree with Steve that the behaviour was probably not representative of
your typical home aquarium. These fish come from the family cyprinidae
which appears to be a bit of a catch-all, including danios, barbs,
rasboras and sharks such as the rainbow and red-tail (quite a span of
behaviours).

If you only look at the Puntius genus (which includes Cherry barbs and
Tiger barbs), you could generally say that other than the Tiger barbs,
the rest are a well deserved group. Specifically however, there are
several which fit the description of not being model citizens ;~) such as
Puntius dunckeri, binotatus, everetti, ticto, unitaeniatus and especially
filamentosus. While few of these actually make there way into the
average pet shop, your meek mild Cherry barb does have some black sheep
in the family ;~).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[lgb]

In article >,
says...
> I know this will fly in the face of convention, but I found Cherry barbs
> a bit too aggressive and pack oriented for my liking, however it might
> have been my own doing.
>
I have no experience with cherry barbs, but I do remember reading in
more than one place that they could be agressive fin nippers.

--
BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever

[lgb]

In article >,
says...
> > I have no experience with cherry barbs, but I do remember reading in
> > more than one place that they could be agressive fin nippers.
>
> That's tiger barbs which are nippy, and likely some others. Perhaps
> there's confusion with rosy barbs?
>
You're right - blame my senior memory :-).

--
BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever