Aquarium upgrade advice - 10g to 20g?

[newish]

I currently have a 10 gallon tank. I don't think an upgrade is imminent, but I'm entertaining some thoughts about it. It's currently on top of a fairly sturdy and bookshelf. The bookshelf is probably about 4' high and is is screwed into wall so it definitely won't tip. The tank sizes that would fit would be a 20g long, a 20g high, or a 29g that has the same footprint as the 20g long. I'm leaning towards the 20g long because it's not too high, but not sure if that's a big enough increase to be worth the effort.

I'm also looking for recommendations/warnings about where to get a tank. The Aqueon tanks are on sale right now for very reasonable prices, are those a reasonable quality or should I get something else? Where do you get lids for tanks of this size?

 

[mschmidt]

aqueon is fine. All mine are from petcosmart. The dresser should be sturdy enough for a 20 either long or tall, the 29 might be sketch, but I'm not there looking at the thing. lids from the same place as the tank, or cut your own screen or polycarbonate sheet.

10 gallons would be a small jump, and probably not worth the effort for my 100 gallon reef. but you are doubling the water volume going 10 to 20, so that is a huge difference. I would go with the 29, but that's me, and I'm tall enough to reach into the tank still.

 

[newish]

I'm considering moving from a 10g tank (my first tank since I had one as a kid) to a 20g long. I have zebra danio (including the glofish variety) and platies. I have many questions about the upgrade.

1. Equipment: I have an oversized (rated for 30g) HOB filter and 100w heater. Will this be sufficient for aeration, filtration, heat? I'm hoping yes.
2. Hardscape: I like the piles of rocks/caves look, any suggestions/inspiration? Will that be enough hiding places? What easy maintenance substrate do you recommend? I currently have some colorful neon stuff my kids picked out I could move/add to.
3: Plants: I don't think I plan to have a ton of real plants, maybe some moss or something simple. I'm not great at plants and not interested in a bunch of pruning or fertilizing or anything. What's a good minimal amount of plant setup I could use for inspiration?
4: Fish etc.: I would probably move all the fish I have to keep only one tank for the time being. I wouldn't mind more platies especially and I know the zebra danio could use a few more to feel more scholarly (i.e. like they're in a school). Should I stick to those two and just add a few more of each or is there something else to add that would make it a little more fun?

 

[Sewerrat]

Filter and heater will work in a 20 gallon fine. As far as decorations do what you enjoy as long as fish have things to interact with would be fine for those species. Can you post picture of shelf most furniture won't handle 20 gallon plus.

 

[newish]

Filter and heater will work in a 20 gallon fine. As far as decorations do what you enjoy as long as fish have things to interact with would be fine for those species. Can you post picture of shelf most furniture won't handle 20 gallon plus.

I didn't think the 20 gallon would be the problem, more was worried about the 29. My setup is actually two identical bookshelves next to each other. Each is about 4' high, 16" deep, and 2' wide and they'd be sharing the load theoretically. The sides are each 3/4" thick and the top is 1.25" thick. Would that give you pause even for the 20 gallon tank?

 

[mulletmcnasty]

Once you get the bug, 100 gallons won't be enough

 

[Fishyfreeonz]

Once you get the bug, 100 gallons won't be enough

Seriously! Last June all I wanted was a 10 gallon tank and now my 55 gallon tank looks smaller every day and I keep wondering if I can fit a 7th tank somewhere......

 

[Redshark1]

I bought my dream 6 foot tank and these days people are telling me its too small !

Yet in 1995 they were telling me it was overkill and I only needed a 3 foot !

We just have to make a judgement on the info available which thankfully is now amazing !

 

[mschmidt]

I didn't think the 20 gallon would be the problem, more was worried about the 29. My setup is actually two identical bookshelves next to each other. Each is about 4' high, 16" deep, and 2' wide and they'd be sharing the load theoretically. The sides are each 3/4" thick and the top is 1.25" thick. Would that give you pause even for the 20 gallon tank?

You're probably fine with that. If you still are questioning, ask yourself: "would I trust it if I sat on it?" 200 pounds is probably a safe estimate for the 20's weight fully loaded. Not saying you're 200+ pounds, but you're also probably not as wide as the tank so I (am not an expert) would assume it evens out over the distance.

If the shelf is solid wood, definitely strong enough, if MDF, probably.

I'm considering moving from a 10g tank (my first tank since I had one as a kid) to a 20g long. I have zebra danio (including the glofish variety) and platies. I have many questions about the upgrade.

1. Equipment: I have an oversized (rated for 30g) HOB filter and 100w heater. Will this be sufficient for aeration, filtration, heat? I'm hoping yes.

probably (the danios would love if you added a powerhead)

2. Hardscape: I like the piles of rocks/caves look, any suggestions/inspiration?

look online for African cichlid scapes. they might be a good starting point

Will that be enough hiding places?

more than likely

What easy maintenance substrate do you recommend?

play sand or black cap sandblasting sand

I currently have some colorful neon stuff my kids picked out I could move/add to.

or if you like this look, stick with it.

3: Plants: I don't think I plan to have a ton of real plants, maybe some moss or something simple. I'm not great at plants and not interested in a bunch of pruning or fertilizing or anything. What's a good minimal amount of plant setup I could use for inspiration?

bucephilandra (spelling is wrong) or anubias or java fern would be low to no maintenance if you want plants.

4: Fish etc.: I would probably move all the fish I have to keep only one tank for the time being. I wouldn't mind more platies especially and I know the zebra danio could use a few more to feel more scholarly (i.e. like they're in a school). Should I stick to those two and just add a few more of each or is there something else to add that would make it a little more fun?

danios in a 20 long with a lot of flow would be so cool! they'd dart around, in and out and around. if you want to add something different, neon or cardinal tetras, or white cloud minnows would do well too. if you want some size difference a ram, betta (if you keep the flow low) (one male or as many as 5 females, but add them at the same time and in odd numbers).

 

[newish]

or if you like this look, stick with it.

Not my favorite, lol, but my kids like the colorful look.

 

[mschmidt]

sounds like they need a reef for the neon and the fresh could be to your taste.

 

[Fishyfreeonz]

Seriously! Last June all I wanted was a 10 gallon tank and now my 55 gallon tank looks smaller every day and I keep wondering if I can fit a 7th tank somewhere......

When I wrote this I had no idea I would be driving a couple towns away Saturday to pick up an IBC tote for keeping fish in the back yard. Lol. Tank #7 is a go and it'll be 250+ gallons.

 

[newish]

When I wrote this I had no idea I would be driving a couple towns away Saturday to pick up an IBC tote for keeping fish in the back yard. Lol. Tank #7 is a go and it'll be 250+ gallons.

Lol, congrats! Tank #1a is a go here. Picked up the 20 long, will be replacing the 10g but it may be a matter of time before the 10g has something in it again. Now I just have to figure out how to do the replacement. Moving the fish, gravel, ornaments, etc while having the tank end up in the same spot as the old one seems like a 4th grade story problem but with fish-lives on the line.

 

[mschmidt]

Lol, congrats! Tank #1a is a go here. Picked up the 20 long, will be replacing the 10g but it may be a matter of time before the 10g has something in it again. Now I just have to figure out how to do the replacement. Moving the fish, gravel, ornaments, etc while having the tank end up in the same spot as the old one seems like a 4th grade story problem but with fish-lives on the line.

Three buckets:
fish in one bucket. everything else in another. if you are reusing the substrate, give it a good rinse in treated or tank water before putting it back.
the third for moving water. I wouldn't reuse too much of the old tank water, maybe a gallon for the fish bucket and about the same for the other stuff, if any at all. use the rest for rinsing the substrate.
also, congrats!