Trying To Decide on Fish

arwie fishorman · 08-10-2011, 04:53 PM

Hey guys. So I'm filtering my tank water on a two-week cycle currently and as I wait I'm debating what types of fish I should get. Just looking for some friendly advice.

Here are some details about my setup: 20 gal tank, want a max of 5 to 6 fish, planted tank with sand substrate.

Just give me any suggestions, I'm open to all. Also, I am fairly new to tanking so take that into consideration.

Thank you all!

holly12 · 08-10-2011, 05:10 PM

Little confused about your two week cycle tank filtering.... have you cycled your tank and had it go through the Nitrogen Cycle? To do this you need a source of ammonia, either straight ammonia (fishless cycling) or using a hardy fish.

As for choices.... do you like lots of movement? Guppies and platies are active fish and come in a variety of beautiful colours.

Or, you could do a school of 5-6 Cory Cats (bottom feeders) and then have 1 male dwarf gourami and 1 female dwarf gourami as center piece fish. (8 fish max, but you would still be fine bio-load wise.) The Cory's will stick to the bottom of the tank and the gouramis will spend their time between the middle and top of the tank, so you'll have fish at all levels.

Pigeonfish · 08-10-2011, 05:23 PM

Holly's post is really spot on with a perfect set-up for a 20g.

arwie fishorman · 08-10-2011, 06:48 PM

Thanks for the advice. I like the look of the Cory Cats, I think I'll have at least one of them.

Are the Albino Cory Cats rare or hard to find?

susankat · 08-10-2011, 07:45 PM

Albinos are easy to find, but you do need at least 3 as they are a social fish and need company of their own kind.

arwie fishorman · 08-10-2011, 08:37 PM

You all are ridiculously helpful

holly12 · 08-11-2011, 05:19 PM

Agreed with Susan. They are easy to find, but are a schooling fish, so usually 5 or more is best, but you can probably squeak by with 3. :D

08-10-2011, 04:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
arwie fishorman Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 7 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Trying To Decide on Fish Hey guys. So I'm filtering my tank water on a two-week cycle currently and as I wait I'm debating what types of fish I should get. Just looking for some friendly advice. Here are some details about my setup: 20 gal tank, want a max of 5 to 6 fish, planted tank with sand substrate. Just give me any suggestions, I'm open to all. Also, I am fairly new to tanking so take that into consideration. Thank you all!

08-10-2011, 05:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Trying To Decide on Fish Little confused about your two week cycle tank filtering.... have you cycled your tank and had it go through the Nitrogen Cycle? To do this you need a source of ammonia, either straight ammonia (fishless cycling) or using a hardy fish. As for choices.... do you like lots of movement? Guppies and platies are active fish and come in a variety of beautiful colours. Or, you could do a school of 5-6 Cory Cats (bottom feeders) and then have 1 male dwarf gourami and 1 female dwarf gourami as center piece fish. (8 fish max, but you would still be fine bio-load wise.) The Cory's will stick to the bottom of the tank and the gouramis will spend their time between the middle and top of the tank, so you'll have fish at all levels. __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

08-10-2011, 05:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Pigeonfish Pigeonfish's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 834 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 107 Times Said "Thanks" 205 Times Was Thanked 373 Times in 345 Posts	Re: Trying To Decide on Fish Holly's post is really spot on with a perfect set-up for a 20g. __________________ my dream aquarium...

08-10-2011, 06:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
arwie fishorman Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 7 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trying To Decide on Fish Thanks for the advice. I like the look of the Cory Cats, I think I'll have at least one of them. Are the Albino Cory Cats rare or hard to find?

08-10-2011, 07:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,419 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 4,150 Times Said "Thanks" 1,611 Times Was Thanked 1,808 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: Trying To Decide on Fish Albinos are easy to find, but you do need at least 3 as they are a social fish and need company of their own kind. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

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08-10-2011, 08:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
arwie fishorman Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 7 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trying To Decide on Fish You all are ridiculously helpful

08-11-2011, 05:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Trying To Decide on Fish Agreed with Susan. They are easy to find, but are a schooling fish, so usually 5 or more is best, but you can probably squeak by with 3. :D __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

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