20 gallon tall makeover. What should I do?

what should I do?? I am open to anything!! I can change anything. Gravel,fish,water,filter, etc.. I currently have: 6 guppies 4 big mollys 10 tetras 1 BN pleco and two plants.

 

I have a 20 gallon high. I have 11 serpae tetras, 1 female betta, and 1 female guppy. I have a sanded tank with rocks and driftwoods. However I have a Aquaclear 50 and Marineland bio-wheel 100. Will try to post pic!

 

What color sand?

 

The mollies aren't suitable for your tank, they need 29g+ and grow up to 4 inches. I'm not sure about the BN pleco, but I think they should be a larger tank as well. Someone may need to confirm this. What kind of tetras?

What are you aiming for with this tank? Replacing the blue gravel with black or white sand would make it more natural, and you could add more live plants.

 

Ok

Neon tetras

 

Neon tetras have weaker immune system. Would suggest cardinal tetras.

 

Ok I give give the mollys and tetras to my neighbor. He has big enough tanks. What would you suggest for the tank it self. I'm thinking about carpeting with some grass. (Aquarium grass)

 

IMO, I'd start with the stock and rehome the mollies and pleco. They overstock your tank quite a bit especially since they have such high bioload. If you're open to changing the substrate to sand, I highly recommend getting corys or kuhlI loaches. 8 panda corys or 8 kuhlI loaches would work.

Some taller plants in the back would fill the tank out nicely. Something like vals, water wisteria and bacopa. A background would look nice too.

ETA: If there's nothing wrong with your neons, I don't see why you'd need to rehome them.

 

Do Val's or water wisteria need co2

What does IMO mean?

 

Do Val's or water wisteria need co2

No. Vals will benefit from root tabs though.

IMO = In My Opinion

 

Ok

 

I've had way worse luck with cardinals than I ever have with neons. Just saying.

 

You can't have a carpeting plant unless you upgrade your lights. The carpeting plants won't grow right and stay on the ground. Also, most carpeting plants need co2 as well. I would just put tall plants in the back and shorter plants in the front. Maybe a small piece of driftwood in the middle on the tank. Make sure you boil it/soak it until you have clear water. If you don't soak/boil it your tank water will turn brown, it's not bad for the fish just ugly in my opinion.

 

What if the driftwood is too big to boil?

Also does dwarf sag or java moss need co2

 

What if the driftwood is too big to boil?

You can just soak it in a tub of hot water. Dump out the water the next day and repeat until the water is fairly clear. It's fine if there are still tannins leeching in the tank. They'll go away with water changes and you can put in activated carbon or Purigen to remove the discoloration if it bothers you that much.

Also does dwarf sag or java moss need co2

Neither plant needs CO2.

 

I agree with both answers from el337

I just hate the look of brown water. I think it is less of a hassle and less stress about getting the water clear again if you just soak it before hand. There's no way to get all of it, but get as much of the tannins out as possible to prevent really brown water.

 

I soaked my driftwood for a week with water changes and a month later it is STILL turning my water yellow. I prefer it clear and it's driving me nuts but I know it's not hurting the fish. So annoying. I'm about to take it out of the tank and boil the you-know-what out of it.

 

How big is your tank? Sometimes if it just turns the water yellow in the bucket you can just add it to your tank. If it is a big tank the water won't change color since now the tannins have dispersed. In the bucket it is more concentrated. After a few 50% water changes your water should be clear