UMCheez

I just wanted to say that this site is great!

I used to keep a 40 gallon with my dad when I was younger, and I wish I had known half this stuff back then.

Anyway I am getting back into it and am starting up a 20 gallon high for now. I am waiting for some equipment to come in (Tuesday) before I can fully set it up, but I thought I would get some ideas while I wait.

I have a AquaClear 50 so the tank should be well filtered and it will also be heated. I bought a bottle of Tetra Safe Start today to start up my tank, but I plan on waiting a few days and testing the water before I add any fish. I also have a black gravel substrate. I almost went sand but was afraid of the clean-up. The tank is not planted just some fake plants and rocks.

So for stock I thought about something like this:
1 Dwarf Gourami (I was set on a Flame, but I saw both at Petland today and I almost like the regular one better, this will be added last probably)
5-6 Schooling fish
4-6 Bottom Feeders

For the schooling fish I was thinking either cardinal tetras, rummy nose tetras, cherry barbs, or harlequin rasbora. Any recommendations on these or any other good fish? I would like some decent schooling and some good activity would be a plus.

The bottom feeders is where I really need the most help. I was looking at corys or kuhli loaches, but I am open to anything else. Does anyone have an recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

bolivianbaby

Your stocking list sounds fabulous! I really like rummynose tetras. I think they would add a lot of flash and activity to your tank. I have no experience with kuhli loaches, but I have false julii corys and they are a lot of fun to watch. Other active cory types are the albino corys and peppered corys. My peppered corys are still babies, so I really have to look for them in the tank.

Lucy

Welcome to FishLore
I'm with BB. Your stocking list sounds really good. I really like my Cardinals. They're active and give a nice splash of color.
Have you looked at Pygmy Cories? They super cute and since they stay small, you could add more than if you got regular size cories.

I hope you consider cycling your tank with out fish.
Here are Four Methods of Fish Less Cycling

Good luck and share some pics when you're up and running!

UMCheez

Thank you both for the advice!

I didn't know about the pygmy corys. I will have to look for them, but it seems like they are somewhat harder to find. I might go with either peppered or panda corys if I can't find any.

I think I was pretty much down to cardinals or rummy nose for the schooling fish. So hard to make a decision!

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!!!
it is a great site with a ton of info and amazing members to help out(2 of them already have!) ..and all free of charge!!!! LOL

Im a believer in the TSS although lucy gave you some great links also

im going out on the limb tho and add that the schoolers you are looking at, like more of a horizontal space and not so much a taller space....id go for an angel, your gourami, and maybe a nice school of cories for the bottom (gotta be different ya know ) goodluck !

click

Welcome to fishLore! Hope you like it here.
I beg to differ, the members here get paid in pics. So we're looking forward for pics with your new tank.

UMCheez

Well looks like my cycle is actually progressing now that I added a raw shrimp a week ago. I went to check the ammonia last night and it was down to about .25ppm from 4ppm. I still have not seen a nitrite which strikes me as odd. Nitrates at about 20.

Anyway I am back at looking at some stocking. I put this into AqAdvisor and it shows about a 21% weekly water change with a stock level of 77%. Now going by the inches rule this would seem overstocked. So which is correct?



1 x Dwarf Gourami = 1 * 2-3in
6 x Harlequin Rasbora = 6 * 2in
6 x False Julii Cory = 6 * 2in
Total: 3 + 12 + 12 = 27 inches (worst case)

I know Shawnie said the schooling fish might like a longer tank, but everything I have seen says 10+ gallon is ok. Would Harlequin Rasboras be ok in a 20 gallon? I was thinking about the angel fish thing, but don't they get kind of big for a 20 gallon?