New 20 Gallon Long And 2 Tank Rescape Opinions

Hello fish people!
I recently set up a 20 gallon long last week and rescaped 2 older tanks I had. I would just like some thoughts and opinions because I'm just terrible at scaping in general and it's hard for me to make something I'm satisfied with.
Here's my low tech 20 gallon long, stocked with 8 Corydora Aeneus Albino, with 1 Blue Mustard VT that's been tail biting (sigh, he had such long and beautiful fins, but it's warranted cause he was due for a trim anyways because his fins were longer than his own body) with Micro Sword, Dwarf Sagittaria, Java Fern, Java moss, Rotala Rotundifolia 'Ceylon', bolbitis, and Rotala Rotundifolia 'H'ra'. There's pieces of hornwood, river rocks, sand, gravel, eco-complete, and catappa leaves. The light fixture is a 30 inch Nicrew I got on Amazon.


This is my rescaped low tech divided 10 gallon standard, stocked with 1 HMPK red, STPK koi, and a masked turquoise VT recovering from a nasty attack from my demonic mustard. There's Anubias Nana, a crypt I forgot the name of, Ludwigia, Java Fern, and Hygrophila Difformis. It's decorated with a bunch of Spiderwood, 5 lbs of Yamaya rubble, Catappa leaves, and eco-complete as substrate.


And finally, last but not least, my low tech 20 gallon tall, stocked with 9 neon tetra, a single fancy guppy, and a masked lavender CT female. There's Java Fern, Hygrophila Difformis, Rotala Rotundifolia 'H'ra', Marislea Crenata, Marislea Quadrifolia, and Micro Sword. There's 10 lbs of Seiryu rock, and Eco-complete mixed with gravel.


Unfortunately, I thought my marislea had all failed miserably in this tank, but just discovered a bunch of adorable hope-inspiring shoots growing up from the substrate.


All my leftover clippings too small to plant/stay in place in the eco- complete are in my 2.5 gallon grow out tank.


Questions and advice are greatly appreciated!
Also, do I have any more space for more fish? If so, give me some suggestions and ideas. I love fish with plenty of personality, patience, and hardiness. (I have grumpy bettas in all 3 tanks.) I would like some extra color though.

 

I like them all! The only thing I would recommend is adding a little something to the empty side of your 20 gal. I know the rules of aquascaping say to have your decorations on one side and gradually slope downwards to almost nothing on the other side to create an aesthetically pleasing gradient, but that side looks a little TOO empty. The blankness draws attention away from the pretty plants and driftwood on the other side. Maybe a few rocks or a small piece of driftwood?

But your tanks look really good! I love the natural setup and all the nice plants.

 

I like them all! The only thing I would recommend is adding a little something to the empty side of your 20 gal. I know the rules of aquascaping say to have your decorations on one side and gradually slope downwards to almost nothing on the other side to create an aesthetically pleasing gradient, but that side looks a little TOO empty. The blankness draws attention away from the pretty plants and driftwood on the other side. Maybe a few rocks or a small piece of driftwood?

But your tanks look really good! I love the natural setup and all the nice plants.

Thanks! I was trying to stick to the rule of thirds but also have an empty space for my cories to fraternize in the soft sand. I might end up putting some more rocks or driftwood later. I'm still a bit iffy about my 20 tall, but I think I iust need to be more patient to wait for all of my carpeting plants to spread.

 

I assumed that's what the sand was for. I think the cories will still be able to get their sand fix with a few small things around!

And I like your 20 tall. I generally prefer long tanks to tall ones but your is actually very nice. You may want to consider getting your guppy a few friends, as they're a schooling fish who like other guppies around.

 

I assumed that's what the sand was for. I think the cories will still be able to get their sand fix with a few small things around!

And I like your 20 tall. I generally prefer long tanks to tall ones but your is actually very nice. You may want to consider getting your guppy a few friends, as they're a schooling fish who like other guppies around.

Hmm. I generally always have thought that guppies and other livebearers were more like casual shoalers, but I could be wrong. I might end up getting him several friends. (Will of course stick to same sex or I will have a farm in no time)

 

lol I have guppies and they have babies constantly. But they also eat them shortly after they're born, so I rarely have ones that survive to maturity.

 

lol I have guppies and they have babies constantly. But they also eat them shortly after they're born, so I rarely have ones that survive to maturity.

Well, maybe a girlfriend then.
I have bred guppies before so it probably won't be too difficult.
Any stocking suggestions for the other tanks or am I fine?

 

I don't see any problems, but I think you could add something else to your 20 long as long as it isn't too bright or flashy. On a related note, I'm very surprised the betta in your 20 high hasn't given you any trouble with your guppy. Male guppies look like, well, minI bettas, and it has been my experience that the betta wants nothing like that in its tank.

 

I don't see any problems, but I think you could add something else to your 20 long as long as it isn't too bright or flashy. On a related note, I'm very surprised the betta in your 20 high hasn't given you any trouble with your guppy. Male guppies look like, well, minI bettas, and it has been my experience that the betta wants nothing like that in its tank.

Actually, the betta in the 20 tall is a CT female. She's very bossy and constantly chases the guppy out of her territory. However she's complacent enough to let the guppy eat and in some way he's her buddy that she's known for the last year.

 

Well that's good! I made the mistake of mixing bettas and guppies once and my betta was not thrilled about it. He was a male, so obviously he was a bit more territorial than a female would be.

 

Well that's good! I made the mistake of mixing bettas and guppies once and my betta was not thrilled about it. He was a male, so obviously he was a bit more territorial than a female would be.

Oh god well that must have ended horribly...

 

Fortunately for the guppies, he was a very old betta and died only a few days after I added them. So none of the guppies were injured, just chased around a bit!

 

Fortunately for the guppies, he was a very old betta and died only a few days after I added them. So none of the guppies were injured, just chased around a bit!

At least he had some fun before he passed

 

That he did...

I'll be rescaping my 20 and 10 gallon tanks soon and have decided to go with sand substrate for the 20.

 

That he did...

I'll be rescaping my 20 and 10 gallon tanks soon and have decided to go with sand substrate for the 20.

Cool! What is in your stock that requires sand?

 

I have a school of cories and have decided that they would greatly prefer sand to gravel. The other fish are guppies, and they don't seem to have a preference. So I think they'll be happy with whatever lol

 

I have a school of cories and have decided that they would greatly prefer sand to gravel. The other fish are guppies, and they don't seem to have a preference. So I think they'll be happy with whatever lol

As advice, vacuum the surface of your substrate often. I personally do not keep guppies and cories in the same tank because of the amount of waste guppies create. Because it’s sand, waste will stay on the top instead of sinking through the cracks of gravel. The cories will have more exposure to waste and increase their chance of getting a bacterial infection or weaken their barbels. So, careful.

 

Don't worry I always make sure to keep my tanks clean. If I notice a lot of waste built up on the sand I will definitely clean it up as soon as possible. I love my little cories and will do whatever it takes to keep them healthy.

 

Don't worry I always make sure to keep my tanks clean. If I notice a lot of waste built up on the sand I will definitely clean it up as soon as possible. I love my little cories and will do whatever it takes to keep them healthy.

Cories might just be my favorite fish. The first several days I got them for the first time was just me watching them constantly. I wished I could hug them because I found them awfully cute with their whiskers and beady blinking eyes. I am actually going to get a tattoo in a couple months and maybe get corydoras on my arm. I can’t decide between fish or a goat head. The goat head has a more significant meaning to me though...

 

I also have a fish tattoo, a butterfly telescope goldfish. And I agree, Cories are adorable little dudes.