My 20 Gal. Long Tank

I have a 20 gal. tank from petco from the $1 per gallon sale. I'm thinking of using blasted sand as a substrate and want to put live plants.
The fish that I want to put in the tank:
Some Tetra or Rasbora (Silver Tip tetras or neon blue tetras sound good)
KhoulI loaches for leftover food
Honey gourami for the centerpiece
German or Bolivian Ram (They seem cool and I think would look cool with gourami)
Maybe an Apistogramma or some other schooling fish
I still don't know which filter and am open to suggestions.
Thank you for reading!

 

I have a 20 gal. tank from petco from the $1 per gallon sale. I'm thinking of using blasted sand as a substrate and want to put live plants.
The fish that I want to put in the tank:
Some Tetra or Rasbora (Silver Tip tetras or neon blue tetras sound good)
KhoulI loaches for leftover food
Honey gourami for the centerpiece
German or Bolivian Ram (They seem cool and I think would look cool with gourami)
Maybe an Apistogramma or some other schooling fish
I still don't know which filter and am open to suggestions.
Thank you for reading!

A HOB or even a sponge filter or two will suffice for a 20. A canister is unnecessary.

 

Hi, if you wanted both dwarf cichlids and gourami your best bet would be 3 honey gourami + pair of bolivian rams. plus schooling fish.

German blue rams do best in heat.

 

I’ve heard gourami and cichlids don’t mix but I have limited experience with that combo

 

On certain occasions they don't but Bolivians are peaceful for a cichlid and honey gouramis are also peaceful (for a gourami) so they are a good combo. Best of both worlds

 

Oh good to know maybe I’ll give the rams a try

 

german blue rams have my vote!