20 Gallon Tank Some Questions For A First Timer

Hello, I'm just starting my first fish tank, a 20 gallon (long) tank. I've just got everything set up, and I'm about to start the first cycle. I've put in the proper amount of API Stress Coat to dechlorinate the water and get rid of the chloramines. That being said, how long generally should I wait for the water to be properly decholirnated before adding the bacteria mix? I've heard that decholination with it should be instant but I want to be sure before adding the mixture.

Furthermore, I'm taking this time while the cycle gets going to plan out what my first fish will be. I want to start with easy fish, such as Danios, Mollies, etcetra. I know that you don't want to add too many fish at once or else you risk an Ammonia spike. From my research it seems like the consensus is no more than 3 fish.

At first I was considering Danios as a start due to a fish store clerk suggesting them as being very hardy and good starters. However, I've seen it suggested you want to keep them in schools of at least 5. So I'm worried about introducing 5 fish at once, or only introducing 3 and stressing out the Danio.

So that leaves me with a conundrum, what fish should I start with to kind of weather the early cycles? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Yes dechlorinator works immediately amd adding the 5 danios is just fine. But wait on the any more for about 3 weeks or so in my opinion. Welcome to fishlore!! So happy you're doing a fishless cycle.

 

Welcome to Fishlore!!!

 

ApI strescoat is ok - but I think seachem prime is better. I wait 20mins after adding dechlorinator (prime) before adding the bacteria. The bottle says waiting 15mins is ideal. But I'm sure there's not any harm either way. I would start with the 3 danios then 2-3wks later go back and get 2 more danios and a centerpiece fish..

 

ApI strescoat is ok - but I think seachem prime is better. I wait 20mins after adding dechlorinator (prime) before adding the bacteria. The bottle says waiting 15mins is ideal. But I'm sure there's not any harm either way. I would start with the 3 danios then 2-3wks later go back and get 2 more danios and a centerpiece fish..

Yeah, for the Centerpiece I was thinking of a Dwarf Goumari, I love the way they look, but I know they can have health issues, from what I've read. Mollies are also on the table, or possibly Swordfish. It's a 20 gallon tank so, plenty of room for good stock beyond the Zebras. I'll cross that bridge when I get it to it, thanks for the advice!

 

Per the MSDS of API stress coat it is ONLY aloe vera polysaccharide mucus. It has nothing in it which will remove chlorine or chloramine. Several people in other forums have killed fish when they used this to dechlorinate their water. Use Prime, Safe or any of the many dechlorinators that have sodium thiosulfate in them.

 

Just my personal opinion, but I would honestly advise against mollies. They produce a lot of waste and breed like crazy.

 

Imo adding 5 danios at the same time would be fine but you could just add 3 then the other 2 later to be safe. Also if your thinking dwarf gourami maybe a honey gourami or a Bolivian ram. Good luck

 

I used de-chlorinate instantly with no seen problems and the fish never tend to ask weird afterwords either.

My friend has a 20 gallon also and got a bunch of school fish types also! They just added part of the school (2-4 at once) and the fish didn't add terribly bad. The whole min school thing is minimum for long term health and de stressing the fish but a week not being in a school won't be that bad. As long as they aren't being exposed to anything terrible stressful (predator/aggressive fish main one), they should be fine not being in an ideal school 24/7. Fish will probably be stressed so just try to minimize stress and you will mostly be good. My friend had no problems with the fish while adding them slowly and that was with bloodfin tetras, zebra danios and cherry barbs (all school fish and all spend week or more being in semI schools of 2-4 before getting full school)

Heads up about mollie, they breed like crazy so beware if you get any females they might already be prego and if mixed genders then lots of breeding/unplanned babies. No guarantee thee babies will live but that's just potenial fish you can care for.
I never had mollies but I think they are hard to gender differ?

I had guppies and same with mollies, females might already be prego and lots of breeding in mix gender tank (actually, I think this is all live bearers fish?). BUT its really easy to tell males and females guppies apart if you know what to look for (also males tend to be the pretty/colorful one while females then to be consider boring to most).
Guppies are pretty hardy and really pretty, if you get males guppies only, those can be gorgeous. But make sure if getting males only to get a good handful or 2! They aren't extremely aggressive to my knowledge (only had a mix gender tank so based off reading) but I read that if you get a bunch, that will decrease aggression because each fish would have to fight more and more fish to become top dog if you have 5 to 10 male guppies (not sure on exact number needed for peaceful attitude) instead of say fight the only other 1 or 2 guppies in the tank. Very important if getting just male guppies to get no females guppies (or female mollies probably since I heard of guppy/molly inbreeding or really any livebearer fish)