20 Gallon Tank My Childrens 20G Color Frenzy

[Alex1900]

Since my Daugher was insistant on the glo...The store suggested 1 more of each, and 2 Glo and 2 catfish to finish off the tank...

there are other colorful fish you can consider. platies, swortails, guppies, mollies, ect. naturally colorful.

 

[Kareninpa]

It is the same way with nerite snails, even though they can't hatch in freshwater the nerite snails still lay eggs, even though the eggs might not be fertile it still happens.

Never thought about them not being fertile...

How long have you had this Assissan snail

About a month or so

there are other colorful fish you can consider. platies, swortails, guppies, mollies, ect. naturally colorful.

My kids actually love the candy cane tetras... They are so beautiful and look so different than they did at the store..

And they love the orange shrimp too..

 

[Kareninpa]

Does this look like a baby?!

 

[richiep]

Thats a baby snail but not an assissan

 

[Kareninpa]

Thats a baby snail but not an assissan

What kind of snail does that look like?

 

[richiep]

Somewhere along the lines of a mud snailvbut I'm not really sure

 

[Kareninpa]

Thank you! I swear we get new creatures daily!

 

[Kareninpa]

Anyone know why my one shrimp would be losing color?

 

[Kareninpa]

We did some Landscape rearranging!

 

[Kareninpa]

On how can I get rid of the algea.. I feel like it’s gotten really bad since we moved the tank…

 

[airfix2]

On how can I get rid of the algea.. I feel like it’s gotten really bad since we moved the tank…

decrease light time. also algae scrapers are good.

 

[Kareninpa]

decrease light time. also algae scrapers are good.

Any particular ones better than others?

 

[Blacksheep1]

I like the razor blade ones personally

 

[StarGirl]

I like the razor blade ones personally

I seriously dislike the magna-floats. They take foreverrrr.

 

[Blacksheep1]

I seriously dislike the magna-floats. They take foreverrrr.

And they leave little lines

 

[Kareninpa]

Ok so I need some help.. we came home from vacation (2weeks) and one of the red and the orange shrimp had died (looks like it's been several days, the orange shrimp was in half and the red one looked kind of like a pile of red cotton) and there is so much algea in the tank (see pictures). We have the light on a timer from 8am-8pm. Now we did find out my husband's uncle who was looking after the fish and feeding them only did it once a day so my husband is wondering if the candy cane tetras might have went after the shrimp since at times they tend to get aggressive when they are hungry.

The catfish we got are not really doing much as far as algea clean up.

I also did an ammonia test and here are the results.

Any idea what the heck is going on?

 

[Flyfisha]

The timer is on for 12 hours, that’s far to long . Reduce it to a maximum of 8. Seven hours is my choice.

The catfish = I see none in the picture but wonder if you have corydoras? They do not eat algae, they are micro predators that in the wild eat worms and bugs etc under leaf litter. They never eat algae.

Feeding once a day 6 days a week is more than enough food.

As I recall one shrimp was a caridina , the red and white expensive shrimp. That was never going to survive long term as they have very specific water quality needs.

You lost the red cherry shrimp and have an algae issue. I wonder if to much food was added?

Shrimp have been a live food culture in the hobby for many years. Only in recent times was to idea of keeping shrimp to look at in separate tanks thought of. Keeping shrimp with any fish is always going to be unreliable . The tetras are not being aggressive they are doing what is natural. In order to have colonies of CHERRY shrimp in a tank with fish you need a lot more hiding places and can still expect shrimp and/or their young to be a natural food source .The Java moss I see in the picture just needs time to grow into a large ball. Some tetras eat moss. Particularly the new growth.

When hungry the tetras would have eaten all the shrimp carcass in seconds. The fact any bodies were in the tank suggests the fish are not hungry. They may still have played at hunting ,played rough with the shrimp and like a domestic cat not really known what to do.

What is going on.
“Nature is red in tooth and claw”

Ending on a bright note.
With any luck some tiny baby shrimp have hatched in the tank are growing bigger out of sight today . That would be a pleasant surprise.

 

[SamMe]

On how can I get rid of the algea.. I feel like it’s gotten really bad since we moved the t

On how can I get rid of the algea.. I feel like it’s gotten really bad since we moved the tank…

Old credit or debit cards make great algae scrapers.

 

[Kareninpa]

The timer is on for 12 hours, that’s far to long . Reduce it to a maximum of 8. Seven hours is my choice.

The catfish = I see none in the picture but wonder if you have corydoras? They do not eat algae, they are micro predators that in the wild eat worms and bugs etc under leaf litter. They never eat algae.

Feeding once a day 6 days a week is more than enough food.

As I recall one shrimp was a caridina , the red and white expensive shrimp. That was never going to survive long term as they have very specific water quality needs.

You lost the red cherry shrimp and have an algae issue. I wonder if to much food was added?

Shrimp have been a live food culture in the hobby for many years. Only in recent times was to idea of keeping shrimp to look at in separate tanks thought of. Keeping shrimp with any fish is always going to be unreliable . The tetras are not being aggressive they are doing what is natural. In order to have colonies of CHERRY shrimp in a tank with fish you need a lot more hiding places and can still expect shrimp and/or their young to be a natural food source .The Java moss I see in the picture just needs time to grow into a large ball. Some tetras eat moss. Particularly the new growth.

When hungry the tetras would have eaten all the shrimp carcass in seconds. The fact any bodies were in the tank suggests the fish are not hungry. They may still have played at hunting ,played rough with the shrimp and like a domestic cat not really known what to do.

What is going on.
“Nature is red in tooth and claw”

Ending on a bright note.
With any luck some tiny baby shrimp have hatched in the tank are growing bigger out of sight today . That would be a pleasant surprise.

Honestly I would have expected the expensive shrimp to go first but that one is still alive.. and one of the Cherry shrimp.. here is a picture of the catfish we got that we were told were algea eaters. We will probably move the shrimp into a smaller tank as we were going to give my daughter a shrimp only tank for Christmas and this might be our push to do it sooner..

As far as feeding, we have been feeding small pinches twice daily… Is that too much?!

I feel like I’ve learned so much yet still know nothing…

Here are the Otocinclus catfish we got..
And the moss
And upclose of the algea

 

[StarGirl]

I feel like I’ve learned so much yet still know nothing…

Haha the thought of most people on Fishlore!

Yes the Ottos will eat algae. It looks like a bit more than they would be able to eat.

All of my rocks get algae on them too. Scrape the 3 viewing sides and leave the back glass for the ottos.

I agree 12 hours is too long if you are getting this much algae.

I feed once a day. They act like they are starving to death but they are fine.

 

[Kareninpa]

Haha the thought of most people on Fishlore!

I feed once a day. They act like they are starving to death but they are fine.

I feel like as soon as I think I’m getting the hang of things.. my tank goes “hah here’s something new for you now”

and yes!!! They literally almost jump out of the water in the morning to eat which is why I started feeding twice a day Little amounts.. those little buggers..

ok so now I need advice, what is everyone’s recommendations on where to go from here?

 

[Flyfisha]

Oh wow that’s a beautiful bunch of moss . That’s something to be proud of. Definitely a great place for cherry shrimp.

Ahh ottos. Yes they are algae eaters, unfortunately most often they never learn to eat anything but algae.

Two small pinches a day is ok as long as in total it’s still only a pinch . Clearly “ a pinch “ is an indeterminate amount and very difficult to explain to your husband’s uncle in terms of volume.

I am very guilty of feeding multiple times a day myself. It’s a hard habit to stop.

Don’t worry about the algae on the rock . If it’s offensive to your eyes you could pull the rock out and scrub it with a NEW kitchen scourer. No soap.

My fish also act like they are starving.

You ask for advice.
I say the ottos needs are that they will only eat algae. If you do clean some of the rocks do as stargirl suggests and only clean the front portion.

 

[StarGirl]

I feel like as soon as I think I’m getting the hang of things.. my tank goes “hah here’s something new for you now

Yep the joys of fish keeping. They keep you on your toes. What you have been getting in your tank happens with the addition of real plants. Snails, hydra etc. I have learned to not panic and go with the flow. (Except with hydra ) Once you have pest snails you pretty much just have to deal. IMO. They dont hurt your tank at all.

 

[Kareninpa]

Thank you both so much!

 

[JustAFishServant]

Yep the joys of fish keeping. They keep you on your toes. What you have been getting in your tank happens with the addition of real plants. Snails, hydra etc. I have learned to not panic and go with the flow. (Except with hydra ) Once you have pest snails you pretty much just have to deal. IMO. They dont hurt your tank at all.

I had hydra in a purposefully unmaintained tank (an ecosphere); they were one of my favorite creatures I've kept to date. I wish they didn't die off after only 6 months

(Note: this ecosphere has evolved throughout its 2 years so far. During the era of the hydra, it also had flat ramshorn snails, TONS of infusoria, copepods, detritus mites, detritus worms, 4 species of algae, cholla, and plants like dwarf sag, egeria, english ivy, purple waffle, lucky bamboo, pothos, pennywort, parrot's feather, creeping jenny and salvinia.)

Why are folks so often adverse to hydra?

 

[StarGirl]

I had hydra in a purposefully unmaintained tank (an ecosphere); they were one of my favorite creatures I've kept to date. I wish they didn't die off after only 6 months

(Note: this ecosphere has evolved throughout its 2 years so far. During the era of the hydra, it also had flat ramshorn snails, TONS of infusoria, copepods, detritus mites, detritus worms, 4 species of algae, cholla, and plants like dwarf sag, egeria, english ivy, purple waffle, lucky bamboo, pothos, pennywort, parrot's feather, creeping jenny and salvinia.)

Why are folks so often adverse to hydra?

Because they have the ability to kill things where the others you mentioned cannot. If there are no fish or shrimp they would be fine.

 

[briangcc1997]

I read in the beginning that your kids were interested in a pleco for the tank. I see many members advised against it. Have you considered adding a clown pleco? Two tone brown with interesting striping. They are on the smaller end of the pleco spectrum (grow to about 3-4") and can be kept in a 20 gallon. Just be prepared that it may hide for a majority of the time. I'd make a game out of it - find the pleco!

This is probably something you won't find at a chain fish store, look to a good mom & pop fish store instead and be sure of what you are getting.

IF, and that's a mighty big IF, you are prepared to upgrade to bigger tanks, then you could start with a baby pleco and grow him/her out. That opens your options up to a bunch of different and colorful plecos. Then, as the pleco gets bigger, move to a bigger tank. Again, you have to be prepared - space, $$, etc - to do so.

This is how we got my kids into fish keeping - doing the research ahead of time, showing them pics, etc. We started with a 2-3" albino sailfin that is currently 10" long in a 55 gallon tank. A 125 is in the works to house him and a few other behemoths...

 

[Kareninpa]

I read in the beginning that your kids were interested in a pleco for the tank. I see many members advised against it. Have you considered adding a clown pleco? Two tone brown with interesting striping. They are on the smaller end of the pleco spectrum (grow to about 3-4") and can be kept in a 20 gallon. Just be prepared that it may hide for a majority of the time. I'd make a game out of it - find the pleco!

This is probably something you won't find at a chain fish store, look to a good mom & pop fish store instead and be sure of what you are getting.

IF, and that's a mighty big IF, you are prepared to upgrade to bigger tanks, then you could start with a baby pleco and grow him/her out. That opens your options up to a bunch of different and colorful plecos. Then, as the pleco gets bigger, move to a bigger tank. Again, you have to be prepared - space, $$, etc - to do so.

This is how we got my kids into fish keeping - doing the research ahead of time, showing them pics, etc. We started with a 2-3" albino sailfin that is currently 10" long in a 55 gallon tank. A 125 is in the works to house him and a few other behemoths...

For now we don’t really have room for a bigger tank.

This has been the place we go to for all of our fish needs
Elmer's Aquarium | Pittsburgh Area Aquarium Specialty Store

 

[briangcc1997]

Looks like a nice mom & pop store. I'd look for a clown as it will live in the 20 without any needs to upgrade if you're still looking to add to the tank.

I was mentioning the ability to upgrade as a chance to open up options on other plecos. I personally have... blue phantom, orange seam, 3 different bn - albino longfin/chocolate/yellow, king tiger, galaxy, and an albino sailfin. But I have several tanks and the space to upgrade.

**Good thing I never ventured into Pitt during my college years otherwise I'd have had a tank in my dorm room. GCC grad

 

[Kareninpa]

Looks like a nice mom & pop store. I'd look for a clown as it will live in the 20 without any needs to upgrade if you're still looking to add to the tank.

I was mentioning the ability to upgrade as a chance to open up options on other plecos. I personally have... blue phantom, orange seam, 3 different bn - albino longfin/chocolate/yellow, king tiger, galaxy, and an albino sailfin. But I have several tanks and the space to upgrade.

**Good thing I never ventured into Pitt during my college years otherwise I'd have had a tank in my dorm room. GCC grad

So we went to the store and they had sold out of the clowns.. But my husband fell in love with the bristlenose placo and we decided to try him.. my husband named him Pete to keep along with the Disney theme my kids started.

We also got a 5 gallon tank and will start setting that up so it can cycle.
I think we have the tank at capacity now and we’re really happy with it!

 

[briangcc1997]

Nice! Might have to upsize at some point but you’ll love the character of them. Son’s yellow blue eye bn is out constantly.

 

[SamMe]

Great choice, they are terrific algae eaters. My albino bn is always out and is my 2 yr old granddaughter's favorite fish in the 55. I have a regular colored one like yours in my 29 and it is out quite a lot as well,

 

[StarGirl]

He will be fine in your 29g. Hopefully you got one like SamMe 's BN. Mine doesnt clean any algae.....shes lazy. lol

 

[TClare]

Mine doesn't either and I very rarely see her.

 

[Fisch]

Mine is not big on the algea front neither, he prefers to wait for his favorite food, which is Zucchini skin. Driftwood is his second choice.

 

[EnderRen]

My daughter really wants the Glofish in the tank next.. we were trying to figure out what else to add as far as decor.. we want to eventually have a Pleco but someone suggested snails instead..

Be careful with plecos, they get really big! For a twenty gallon long I would recommend a clown pleco or a bristle nose pleco.

 

[Flyfisha]

I am pretty sure looking at the pictures that’s a female BN pleco?
Slightly smaller with only bristle on the lower lid. Possibly a little more shy that a male .

Hey Kareinpa it’s always recommended to have a small bit of driftwood with BN. They chew on it as a necessary part of digestion and hide under a well shaded chunk.

 

[Kareninpa]

Great choice, they are terrific algae eaters. My albino bn is always out and is my 2 yr old granddaughter's favorite fish in the 55. I have a regular colored one like yours in my 29 and it is out quite a lot as well,

Almost got an albino

He will be fine in your 29g. Hopefully you got one like SamMe 's BN. Mine doesnt clean any algae.....shes lazy. lol

I’ll take s picture tomorrow.. wait till you guys see what this thing and only 8 hrs of night a day has done to the tank!

I am pretty sure looking at the pictures that’s a female BN pleco?
Slightly smaller with only bristle on the lower lid. Possibly a little more shy that a male .

Hey Kareinpa it’s always recommended to have a small bit of driftwood with BN. They chew on it as a necessary part of digestion and hide under a well shaded chunk.

I saw it hanging on our driftwood the other day.. thought maybe we should get one more piece..

 

[Kareninpa]

So here’s an updated picture of the tank!!

I got another picture of “Pete” who might actually be “Clara” lol.

Also unfortunately we lost our candy cane shrimp.. looks like she was trying to molt and no cigar.. found her in the same spot the orange one was in when we found it.. although this one was fully intact.

Also found a new snail.. This wouldn’t be a baby assassin would it?

 

[Blacksheep1]

Looks like it is !

 

[Kareninpa]

Apparently our “Thor” is a she and must have been pregnant when we got her… Because well.. We have TONS of baby assassin snails….

 

[StarGirl]

Well you did have a whole lot of egg sacks going on a while ago.

 

[Silverleaf209]

Apparently our “Thor” is a she and must have been pregnant when we got her… Because well.. We have TONS of baby assassin snails….

Wow, I didn't think they would hatch! Good luck with your babies though!

 

[Kareninpa]

Wow, I didn't think they would hatch! Good luck with your babies though!

The store actually said they would buy them from us if they hatched.. so, maybe we will get something out of it lol.

 

[Silverleaf209]

The store actually said they would buy them from us if they hatched.. so, maybe we will get something out of it lol.

Thats nice! My local store does that with guppies.

 

[Kareninpa]

Update: We noticed the green shrimp we bought when we got the bristlenose was starting to get a light stripe down its back and after speaking with Kelly at Elmers she gave me this liquid that is supposed to help with molting and we put it in last night (picture of said liquid below).
This afternoon when I went to feed the fish, I saw at least 4 baby blue shrimp in the Java moss..

We finally got all the rest of the stuff needed to start our 5 gallon shrimp only tank yesterday and how ironic that we now have some babies to fill that tank when it is cycled.. if they survive not being eaten by the tetras.

 

[Flyfisha]

Thanks for the update Kareninpa.
It’s always nice to hear of those little milestones.

Last week it was no great surprise to see a single baby corydoras had raised itself in a grow out tank of juvenile Bolivian rams I have been power feeding for the last couple of months. Today on closer inspection I saw at least 4 tiny corydoras now confident enough to move around in the open , they must have been living under moss?

With any luck you will have more juvenile shrimp in the tank once you start pulling everything out to catch them

 

[StarGirl]

Update: We noticed the green shrimp we bought when we got the bristlenose was starting to get a light stripe down its back and after speaking with Kelly at Elmers she gave me this liquid that is supposed to help with molting and we put it in last night (picture of said liquid below).
This afternoon when I went to feed the fish, I saw at least 4 baby blue shrimp in the Java moss..

We finally got all the rest of the stuff needed to start our 5 gallon shrimp only tank yesterday and how ironic that we now have some babies to fill that tank when it is cycled.. if they survive not being eaten by the tetras.

Is the brown stripe going down the shrimps back? That a racing stripe.. lol not a bad thing. A molt issue will be a white ring around the shoulder area. Like the shell is separating.

Can you get a pic?

 

[Kareninpa]

Is the brown stripe going down the shrimps back? That a racing stripe.. lol not a bad thing. A molt issue will be a white ring around the shoulder area. Like the shell is separating.

Can you get a pic?

I’ll work on that today.. The same thing happened to the red one that died… so I was concerned it was some type of disease.
Here is the best I can get of the green one currently…

 

[StarGirl]

I’ll work on that today.. The same thing happened to the red one that died… so I was concerned it was some type of disease.
Here is the best I can get of the green one currently…

I really cant tell. But if you google "cherry shrimp racing stripe" It will show you some stripes to see if it is the same. It usually means its a older female. Some kind of genetic trait.