20 Gal High Betta Tank

Hey everyone this is my very first post. I wanted to get an idea of how stocked I am going to be when finished and if this plan is worth moving forward with.

My tank is:
24"x12"x16" 20 gallon high tank

Filter:
Marineland Penguin 150b

Heater:
Aqueon Pro Heater 200W

Tank is currently cycled (had a started from a friend). I change water every 2 - 3 days (approximately 15 - 25%)

My temps sits between 78 - 80 degrees


Currently I have:
1X Betta (He's settled in and has not picked on any of the other fish, tends to swim around by himself)
1X Albino Cory
3X Panda Cory's (Had 4 but 1 got stuck under decorations, I have since remodeled that portion of the tank)
6X Harlequin Rasboras
1X ghost shrimp
Lots and lots of plants

List of plants:
Banana plant
Elodea
Java Moss
Java Fern
Anunbias (sp?)
And a few other plants

I have 1 large piece of driftwood and 1 small piece.

I was checking out aqadvisor(I know some people don't like it), so I figured I would ask the community.

List I was thinking:
1X albino Cat cory
1X Betta
4X panda Cat cory
8X harlequin Rasboras
5X cherry Shrimp(over estimating what I want)
5x Neon Tetras

With this list right here the results I get from aqadvisor is:
our aquarium filtration capacity for above selected species is 113%.
Recommended water change schedule: 25% per week.
Your aquarium stocking level is 88%.

Please help me out with your thoughts/ideas or if I should just stay with what I have. Any information helps.

 

Welcome to fishlore!
I'd up each cory type to 6 each. You'd still have room, as most of those fish have low bioloads. I'd also get 6 neons instead of 5.

 

Yeah, you can't keep just one of any species of cory. They need to be in groups of at least 5 per species. I wouldn't recommend keeping anything with the betta, though. Bettas need their own tanks, keeping them in communities is risky business and definitely for experienced betta keepers only. Also a betta will eat your shrimp and probably your neon tetras.

 

If I stocked my tank like...

1x betta
6x albino corys
6x panda cory's
8x harlequin rasboras
6x neon tetras
some cherry red shrimp

would that be overstocked?

 

I would leave out the panda corys, they prefer a much cooler temperature than the Betta.
Keep an eye on the Betta for signs of aggression, imo they're really best kept by themselves.

 

Yeah definitely, I've been watching him quite a bit and making sure he hasn't been picking on the other fish. He generally swims in and around the decorations minding his own business.

I thought Cory's would be fine in 78 - 80 temps and can adapt to it. I do know when breeding them they like really low temps.

 

78-80 is too high for most corys, they can tolerate higher temps for periods but not permanently.
Corys are a long lived fish but keeping them at too high a temperature can shorten their lives

 

Welcome to Fishlore. Please get used to the idea that you will be stricken by MTS, Multiple Tank Syndrome. It is an incurable disease. It is chronic and contagious if you hang around here. I see it in your cards. Your first excuse for the next tank is Betta.

As junebug said, having Betta in a community tank is a risky business. When you say you are "watching" your Betta, it really does not mean anything. You are not in front of the tank 24/7. Bettas are highly intelligent and very sneaky. They know when you are away or asleep and that is when they will strike. They can kill every fish in your tank and mortally wound themselves in the process.

Today, Saturday is the last day for Petco's dollar per gallon sale, you can get a 10 gallon for $10. The next PETCO sale is in April.

As to cories, I am partial to Ałbino Cories, but Coradee is the real expert on them. When you have a chance check out the Fishlore archives for the sticky she compiled for us.

Setting up the first tank is a very exciting time. Enjoy!

 

@Coradee what would be an optimal temperature for the Panda Cories and Albino Cories? (i'm sorry I haven't had time to sift through your old posts )

Jomolager Ill make sure to check out those archives on the Cories. That's funny that you mention multiple tank syndrome. I'm actually also in the process of setting up a 125 gallon angelfish tank as well. Currently i'm focused on setting up this small 20 gallon Betta shared tank

Any other thoughts/ideas/concerns with setting up a shared Betta tank? I do have a spare tank for the Betta I can setup no problem. I would, however, like to have a shared tank with the Betta being the 'Center piece'.

 

Pandas would prefer it no higher than 24C, 75F,albinos can tolerate it a bit higher but they'd be good at the same temp.

 

Any other thoughts/ideas/concerns with setting up a shared Betta tank? I do have a spare tank for the Betta I can setup no problem. I would, however, like to have a shared tank with the Betta being the 'Center piece'.

We have all told you this is a bad idea... in addition to the reasons Coradee mentioned regarding temperature, Bettas *do not* need or want or do well with tankmates.

He needs his own tank. Please do not put him into a community. It will not end well for anyone.

 

I used to keep cherry shrimp with a Betta, and they promptly became snacks for him once they were discovered. I now have a tank dedicated solely to Cherry shrimp. They breed better when they're on their own anyway.


Vincent Wang

 

@Coradee what would be an optimal temperature for the Panda Cories and Albino Cories? (i'm sorry I haven't had time to sift through your old posts )

Jomolager Ill make sure to check out those archives on the Cories. That's funny that you mention multiple tank syndrome. I'm actually also in the process of setting up a 125 gallon angelfish tank as well. Currently i'm focused on setting up this small 20 gallon Betta shared tank

Any other thoughts/ideas/concerns with setting up a shared Betta tank? I do have a spare tank for the Betta I can setup no problem. I would, however, like to have a shared tank with the Betta being the 'Center piece'.

Betta needs higher temperature than Cories.

 

Bettas also prefer long tanks as opposed to tall tanks. The taller the tank the longer/harder it is for them to surface for air

 

I personally wouldn't do anything other than pygmy/dwarf cories in a 20H. that does not have a lot of bottom space for the bigger varieties to poke around. I tried it, when I was first starting to keep fish, 5 years ago....and quickly learned they are really active. they were much better in my 75.

The betta thing.....it is hit or miss. all you can do is have a spare tank ready, for the betta, when and if he decides to be bad.

 

I started off the same as you 20 gallon high betta tank. I made some dumb decisions when it came to tank mates which led me to getting another tank for my betta. I knew nothing about fish keeping at the time. I had 2 angels with my betta which was fine at first except they would eat very aggressive which turned my betta aggressive. Other than they were fine until one day I saw my betta and 1 of the angels going at it, it was time to move him.

The tank mates you have listed should be fine with you betta, but since you have a 20 gallon high I would pick 1 species of Cory and keep 5-6 since the bottom space is limited.
Your shrimp could be eaten, if not will prolly be harassed constantly.
The neons are fast enough to kept their distance. I kept mine with neons, never had a problem.

He is now in a tank with only some otos and a clown pleco and everything is peaceful.

 

Bettas can be fine in community tanks if there is enough space and they do not nip at anyone. I see Bettas often in large community tanks with the right combination it can be healthy environment for all.

 

Bettas can be fine in community tanks if there is enough space and they do not nip at anyone. I see Bettas often in large community tanks with the right combination it can be healthy environment for all.

Typically, no. In a large community tank they can still attack any fish....... especially other anabantids, fish with flowing fins, etc.