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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Brand-New Tank- Stocking Questions
Hello there! I am brand new to both the forums and fishkeeping, and I have just bought myself a 20 gallon tank. I've read about the fishless cycling process, and just added my ammonia (along with some plants) to the tank yesterday to get it started. I'm a bit worried that I added too much ammonia because i'm getting readings of about 7 PPM, but hopefully it will be okay. Onto my stocking questions!
I have been having a lot of fun planning out my new tank and what will go into it. As I said, it is a 20 gallon tank, with low lighting and an Aquaclear power filter rated up to 30 gallons. Smooth gravel substrate. I have some anacharis and anubias plants in there, and will be getting some java moss. Here are my stocking plans:
1 betta
10 Black neon tetras
4 Otos
6 Panda Cories
How does that look, in terms of bioload and fish getting along? Any comments and advice would be appreciated. Thanks for reading!  | 
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Didgeridoo  Hello there! I am brand new to both the forums and fishkeeping, and I have just bought myself a 20 gallon tank. I've read about the fishless cycling process, and just added my ammonia (along with some plants) to the tank yesterday to get it started. I'm a bit worried that I added too much ammonia because i'm getting readings of about 7 ppm, but hopefully it will be okay. Onto my stocking questions!
I have been having a lot of fun planning out my new tank and what will go into it. As I said, it is a 20 gallon tank, with low lighting and an Aquaclear power filter rated up to 30 gallons. Smooth gravel substrate. I have some anacharis and anubias plants in there, and will be getting some java moss. Here are my stocking plans:
1 Betta
10 Black neon tetras
4 Otos
6 Panda Cories
How does that look, in terms of bioload and fish getting along? Any comments and advice would be appreciated. Thanks for reading! | A 20 gallon tank and 21 fish. If the fish grow more then an inch you have a problem. | |
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Hi, Welcome to Fishlore! Your tank set-up sounds great and it's good to hear you've researched before buying. Cycling the tank fishless can be a long process but it's the best way to go. Only 1 thing I feel I should point out-Betta's don't make good community fish usually, I stress usually though as sometimes they can be fine. If you really want a Betta then I would advise getting him last, as they are territorial and won't like other fish added to 'their' tank. | 
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| the betta isnt a good idea, as the tetras are fin-nippers, and bettas really do best in their own tanks. also, youre a bit overstocked, id say choose between the otos and the cories, and get six of whichever you like best.
welcome to fishlore! | |
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| cories get up to 2.5 inches each, btw | |
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Betta's can be community fish, it all depends on the Betta. I've kept them with Neons and Corys before with no problems whatsoever. | |
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| agreed, but you'd need somewhere to put him if things didnt work out. ive had it go 50/50 keeping bettas with corycats, two were fine, the other two attacked | |
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Don’t worry about ammonia. Don’t add more until the reading drops to 4ppm and then try to maintain that level.
I’m not to sure about the betta being compatible with your wish list. Leaving the betta out of the tank your plan would put 35” of fish in a 20 gallon tank which is too much. Plan on about 1” of fish per gallon. This isn’t a hard rule but a generally guideline.
The sizes are…
Black neon tetras 1.5”
Otos 2”
Panda Cories 2”
You could likely get away the above combination but you would certainly need to cut back on the numbers. | |
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Thank you everyone for all of the replies! I was going off suggestions from a different forum, and didn't consider the full grown sizes.
Hmm... how about something more like
1 betta
8 Black Neon Tetras
6 Otos?
I would really like to keep the betta in if possible, and if he doesn't work out in the tank I have a friend with a currently-empty 10 gallon who would be willing to take him. I've heard they usually do okay with tetras and otos, I hope that's true. I'll have to keep a close eye on them at first... I'm also willing to cut back on tetras and otos of course, but I'm not sure how many they need to be comfortable in a school.
Thanks again everyone! I'm still a couple weeks away from getting fish because of the cycling, so fortunately that gives me plenty of time to gather info and listen to advice- this is very helpful!
Last edited by Didgeridoo; January 8th, 2009 at 04:34 AM.
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Didgeridoo Thank you everyone for all of the replies! I was going off suggestions from a different forum, and didn't consider the full grown sizes.
Hmm... how about something more like
1 betta
8 Black Neon Tetras
6 Otos?
I would really like to keep the betta in if possible, and if he doesn't work out in the tank I have a friend with a currently-empty 10 gallon who would be willing to take him. I've heard they usually do okay with tetras and otos, I hope that's true. I'll have to keep a close eye on them at first...
Thanks again everyone! I'm still a couple weeks away from getting fish because of the cycling, so fortunately that gives me plenty of time to gather info and listen to advice- this is very helpful! | Those stocking levels are fine. If it were me, I'd get the Betta, as long as you have somewhere to put him if it doesn't work out. On another note, have you considered a different centerpiece fish like a Gourami or Ram? | |
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Thank you Nick. I would be willing to consider another centerpiece fish if it would work out better for the tank dwellers, but I'm very unfamiliar with a lot of fish species. Could you please give me a little more information about what a 'ram' is? i think i know what a gourami looks and behaves like, but I'm not sure about a ram. | |
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| A Ram is a type of dwarf cichlid that is very colourful and compatible with most community fish. If you go to the homepage you will be able to see pictures and a description in the fish database. There are differant types of gourami too, the dwarf ones are very pretty fish and would be ideal for a 20gal. | |
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Maybe 1 or 2 Otos......
Quote:
Originally Posted by Didgeridoo Thank you everyone for all of the replies! I was going off suggestions from a different forum, and didn't consider the full grown sizes.
Hmm... how about something more like
1 Betta
8 Black Neon Tetras
6 Otos? | Maybe 1 or 2 Otos for a 20 gallon | |
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Bum
| Good suggestions, Nick! I think I will try the betta first (introducing him last of the tankmates). If he doesn't get along, I'll give him to my friend and get a Blue Ram.
Drew, Thank you for the input! But I thought that Otos needed groups of at least 3-4 to be happy? Or am I thinking of Corys? | |
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| corys generally like groups of four or five, not 100% sure about the otos | |
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| No your right. Oto's prefer groups 0f 3 or more. | |
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January 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| You are right........
Quote:
Originally Posted by Didgeridoo Good suggestions, Nick! I think I will try the betta first (introducing him last of the tankmates). If he doesn't get along, I'll give him to my friend and get a Blue Ram.
Drew, Thank you for the input! But I thought that Otos needed groups of at least 3-4 to be happy? Or am I thinking of Corys? | You are right. I was thinking Plecos. Good thing this is a group effort. | |
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