Hi,

I've setup a 20 gallon Long a week ago now and it has been 20 years since the last time. It's great to have it again. It's fresh water with live plants, a HOB filter and a heater.

So far I've only added 3 Albino Corys, a Betta and a couple Chinese Algae Eater. I know the Algae Eater is much too big but they are a mere 1/2 inch long now and will trade them in when time comes. I plan on having Cardinal Tetras and others that will live happily together eventually.

Question is: if I use an air pump safely above the water line in a cabinet, will I still need to use a check vale? I'm concerned that it will take away from the psi.

Also, if I have enough live plants (my first attempt) isn't it so that I would not need to disturb the surface any more than what the HOB filter does as is? Hence, no need for the pump unless it's for decoration.

Thanks for the forum.

Selvan

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20 gallon long est. Oct 2009
Flora: 10% Duckweed, Amazon Swords, Java Ferns, Java Moss, Anacharis & Anubias.
Fauna: 18 Cardinals, 8 Pygmy Corys, 6 male Endlers, 3 Otos, & 3 Ghost Shrimp
Filter: AquaClear 50 with foam, fiber, & 2 biomax bags

Welcome to the site!
I know this doesn't answer your questions-but you say the tanks was set-up a week ago...if that is true, than the fish you have in there could easily die very quickly. in other words-is the tank cycled?

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I'm so sorry I haven't been on the forum in so long! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten this lovely website! I moved to a different county back in May 2011 and started high school in a totally different school district. So I'm still adjusting and studying hard, and don't presently have any aquariums. But once I do, I'll be right back on this forum!

welcome to the site and what petlover said is true

no cylcing=pet loss

most of the time, but sometimes you get lucky

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Celebrating 500 posts



Planted 20 gallon
2 emerald corydoras
2 gold barbs
2 cherry barbs
4 swordtails
2 platies
1 balloon mollies

Well, I guess I'm lucky cause it's exactly one week tonight and all seem happy as can be. I don't know but maybe having a 1.5" Fancy Tail Goldfish in there alone for the first four days helped speed it up.

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20 gallon long est. Oct 2009
Flora: 10% Duckweed, Amazon Swords, Java Ferns, Java Moss, Anacharis & Anubias.
Fauna: 18 Cardinals, 8 Pygmy Corys, 6 male Endlers, 3 Otos, & 3 Ghost Shrimp
Filter: AquaClear 50 with foam, fiber, & 2 biomax bags

Maybe...but idk

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Celebrating 500 posts



Planted 20 gallon
2 emerald corydoras
2 gold barbs
2 cherry barbs
4 swordtails
2 platies
1 balloon mollies

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Doc

Dr Hank's 200 gallon Reef Tank
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f46/drhanks-tank-3440.html

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

I don't know either, but I guess these are pretty hardy fish too.

So, wht about the check-valve?

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20 gallon long est. Oct 2009
Flora: 10% Duckweed, Amazon Swords, Java Ferns, Java Moss, Anacharis & Anubias.
Fauna: 18 Cardinals, 8 Pygmy Corys, 6 male Endlers, 3 Otos, & 3 Ghost Shrimp
Filter: AquaClear 50 with foam, fiber, & 2 biomax bags

Well since everybody is to concerned about you tank setup method , technically if the air pump is above the tank is should not back siphon or no gravity no siphon, get it. Hope that help. Also many people still think there are RULES to cycleing and setup of tank well now dayz with the cycleing addative, used equipment, live sand and gravel there are many exception.<=)

I want to mention to you that I had a small CAE in with one of my Betta, and when he got a little bigger, he actually killed the Betta...
now, it could just be that the one I had was EXTRA mean, but, from what I read about them they all seem to become extremely aggressive.
As far as cycling your tank, well, time will tell. It might just do a 'mini cycle', and you do have some pretty tough fish in there... I hope that you have no casualties

Thanks for the reassurance on the air pump. With any luck it'll be delivered in a few days.

I want to trade in the two CAE's, they are too aggressive as is, for snails but am beginning to realize that gone are the days where you could sell them back for half what they sell them for currently.

Guess I'll be listing them on Craigs List.

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20 gallon long est. Oct 2009
Flora: 10% Duckweed, Amazon Swords, Java Ferns, Java Moss, Anacharis & Anubias.
Fauna: 18 Cardinals, 8 Pygmy Corys, 6 male Endlers, 3 Otos, & 3 Ghost Shrimp
Filter: AquaClear 50 with foam, fiber, & 2 biomax bags

I ended up giving my CAE away, because it was destroying fish in every tank I put it in. There are some people, with bigger, more aggressive fish that want them, maybe one of them will answer your craigs listing. They are quick little buggers, I chased the one I had in my 29 gallon tank around for a good half hour before I finally netted him. My other fish scatter at the sight of the net, now!

welcome to our forum..ya you can use it safely..no problem...

Thanks for the welcome.

To my surprise I found a LFS that does buy back fish at half price so off they went.

Also, instead of the snails, I think I'm going for a couple Oto's instead and I've studied the differences between them and the CAE.

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20 gallon long est. Oct 2009
Flora: 10% Duckweed, Amazon Swords, Java Ferns, Java Moss, Anacharis & Anubias.
Fauna: 18 Cardinals, 8 Pygmy Corys, 6 male Endlers, 3 Otos, & 3 Ghost Shrimp
Filter: AquaClear 50 with foam, fiber, & 2 biomax bags

Welcome

In planted tanks it is possible to add fish almost immediately after setup with no ammonia or nitrite spikes. And all the fish live. But to be safe what I do is let the live plants condition the tank for a week then add a very small amount of fish and don't add food for a week. Then do a more normal amount of fish and start very light feeding.

But still if you had sufficient fast growing plants like anacharis it is possible for the fish to experience no stress even if they are added almost at startup.

On the question of the air pump, if the pump is above the tank they is no need for a check valve. In fact I don't trust check valves and always put the air pump above the tank.

But then I haven't used an air pump in over 20 years. And no mechanical filters since the late 70's.

Just my .02

And welcome.

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

beaslbob,

I am totally impressed! I don't think I could ever be bold enough to get to the point of not even using a filter system and also do without water changes.

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20 gallon long est. Oct 2009
Flora: 10% Duckweed, Amazon Swords, Java Ferns, Java Moss, Anacharis & Anubias.
Fauna: 18 Cardinals, 8 Pygmy Corys, 6 male Endlers, 3 Otos, & 3 Ghost Shrimp
Filter: AquaClear 50 with foam, fiber, & 2 biomax bags

Thanks. I was nervious when I first started this method. But then my first planted tank ran for over 7 years with descendants from the original cycle fish.

And you can use filters and do water changes as well.

what is important is to find something you are comfortable with and which results in a healthy tank.


my .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

Hi and thanks for the posts.

What do you all think about this community with a hob filter and 50% water changes weekly?

Planted 20g long with lots of hiding places
7 cardinals
6 endlers (3 pairs)
6 dwarf cories (if I can them)
6 otos
2 ghost shrimp

I'm thinking I'm at max if all fry are removed immediately.

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20 gallon long est. Oct 2009
Flora: 10% Duckweed, Amazon Swords, Java Ferns, Java Moss, Anacharis & Anubias.
Fauna: 18 Cardinals, 8 Pygmy Corys, 6 male Endlers, 3 Otos, & 3 Ghost Shrimp
Filter: AquaClear 50 with foam, fiber, & 2 biomax bags

Hi again and sorry for the trouble but I think I've finally come to a finish with my setup. Could you please have a look at my signature and give me some feedback.

Thanks.

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20 gallon long est. Oct 2009
Flora: 10% Duckweed, Amazon Swords, Java Ferns, Java Moss, Anacharis & Anubias.
Fauna: 18 Cardinals, 8 Pygmy Corys, 6 male Endlers, 3 Otos, & 3 Ghost Shrimp
Filter: AquaClear 50 with foam, fiber, & 2 biomax bags

Looks good to me. I would use some peat moss covered with sand in the substrate for the cardinals. If anything like neno tetras I have found peat moss is necessary.

Personally I would add some small vals (corkscrew?) with the plants.

I have very limited experience with shrimp but a couble have survived in one tank.


I think you have a great idea and setup. best of luck.


well except I feel the water changes are unnecessary.

I you don't think a tank can thrive without filters try a 1-2g jar plant it and see how it does.


my .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

Thanks a bunch!

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20 gallon long est. Oct 2009
Flora: 10% Duckweed, Amazon Swords, Java Ferns, Java Moss, Anacharis & Anubias.
Fauna: 18 Cardinals, 8 Pygmy Corys, 6 male Endlers, 3 Otos, & 3 Ghost Shrimp
Filter: AquaClear 50 with foam, fiber, & 2 biomax bags