How many things does it take for a fish tank to be TOO full?
by Aquaboy on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 | 3 Comments
I need expert advice here.
I have a twenty gallon aquarium with 2 fake plants and 3 small decorations. It looks like it needs more though. I was planning to get 3 LIVE plants and a school of small fish. I already have 3 fish though. 2 Black skirt tetras and 1 Red minor tetra(Jewel tetra). Would it be too cramped? What do I need to get if I can’t get these things?
For a 20g, that’s not nearly cramped. Switch out the fakes for lives–it’ll make the tank much healthier by soaking up excess waste, like when you do a water change. (Water changes still needed, but live plants help a lot.) The decorations are more for you than anything, unless they’re bubblers. In that case, keep them for oxygenating the air.
For plants, I’d suggest Java Moss, Java Fern, and Amazon Swords. Very pretty, but easy upkeep (though you’ll probably have to cut back the java moss if it takes over).
Go ahead and get a school of neon tetras or a group of guppies. It’ll look really nice.
You have plenty of room. The black skirts need to school. Two is NOT a school. Three plump females and two little males make a little school. Have equal number of males and females or let females outnumber males by 1 as it seems males will follow females and no female needs 2-3 males bugging her day and night. The same can be said for the jewel/serpae tetras, a school of 5-6 is what you need.
I’d stay in the tetra theme and consider 5-6 black neons maybe 5-6 red eye tetras as you seem to have a preference for the larger tetras and little neon tetras might feel a little intimidated, especially if they were in a school of less than 8. You need a lot more plants, real or fake than what you have now. I have a 25 (same foot print as a 20 high, just deeper) with a little open space, no less than 15 assorted plastic plants a small rock cave and 6 black skirts, 6 black neons, 6 red eyes and 4 bronze cories. I wouldn’t call it crowded. Most of those fish are 3-4 years old. If I have one die every 18-24 months, that’s a lot, though most of these fish are now near the end of their NATURAL lifespans and I could see an increase in deaths at some points.
First of all, black skirts and jewel tetras need to be in schools of AT LEAST five. A school of six or so small fish would not be a problem in a 20.
After you get your school of six or so other fish, and you have schools of five or more of the jewel tetras and the black skirts, you tank will be pretty much to its limits.
I suggest neon tetras for the school of small fish you’re adding to the tank. Their blue lines reflect the tank lights, making them look like little neon bars. It’s truly spectacular against a dark background.
For plants I would recommend Amazon sword plants, Java moss (will eventually take over your tank), Java fern, Valis (I think it’s like Valissneria or something, someone please correct me), and bacopa. These are all relatively easy to take care of, and really only need tank lights on from whenever you wake up to when you got to bed to survive and thrive.
Have fun picking!