Ok, Pointers for a 20 Gallon Tropical Aquarium?
Well, as some of you may know, I was going to get goldfish. But after much thought (and already having some shrimp to go along with them) I have decided to go tropical. Now, I would first like to know tropicals that are most likely going to survive the cycling process, as I do not really have the time (or patience) for fish-less cycling.
I would also like to note that I will be using water from my other established tank to hep speed things along. After cycling, I would also like some suggestions as to what else I could add to the tank (as far as fish go, I already have good decorations and silk plants in mind, including hiding places for my shrimp). So yea, first some hardy species then maybe another species or two that would go well without overloading the tank, please?
Well, to be on the safe side I am probably going to use a good amount of water from another tank. I was also thinking angelfish, but I also hear the are pretty sensitive and I wanted to start with something easy to care for. The danios may not be a bad idea.
And I am sorry, but pure ammonia isn’t readily available in my area (I live in the deep south) so fish-less cycling is pretty much impossible unless I go way upstate (something I don’t have the means to do at the moment). As for the black knife, I want my shrimps to live O.o. But thank you everyone for your suggestions so far.
Alright, I think I am going to go with Platies, maybe later adding some cory cats (who knows, maybe guppies). I could definitely use what someone thinks would be a good number of each though. keep in mind that I do want to add my 3 ghost shrimp too.
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For cycling with fish some good ones will be guppies, barbs, danios, white cloud mountain minnows, cories or platies, some tetras may be ok but overall, tetras (especially neons and cardinals) cant survive the ammonia/nitrites and need to be in a well established tank. What you add to the tank after ifs done cycling is entirely up to you (as long as you RESEARCH the fish and know if its ok) but I would advise just making it a community tank, angels wont be the best idea, they need a bigger tank than a 20 and once full grown run the risk of eating smaller fish in the tank. Whoever said you dont need to cycle a tank is an idiot, its not something you choose to do its something thats going to happen, and many fish just simply cannot survive it. Dont get a black ghost, they get 15-20” and cannot live in a 20gal, period. If you dont have a set stocking list of what you want just choose one type of fish to cycle the tank with and work on stocking ideas based on them.
Fish-cylcing is utterly cruel. Just because you don’t have the patience doesn’t mean you should be putting fish through a cycling. How would you like it if you got ammonia burns and could scarcely breathe?
You say you’re going to be using squeezing from your established tank?
As long as you feed the squeezings 2 table spoons of pure ammonia, youre aquarium will be ready in less than 2 weeks.
That’s still less time than it would take using living fish.
For decrations, I would suggest that you use live plants instead of fake ones. =)
It keeps the aquarium a lot healthier and the fish will prefer it. Plus it keeps Nitrites and Ammonia more regulated.
Also, with shrimp, living plants are a must if you expect them to live long and be healthy.
you don’t need to cycle without fish, don’t listen to anyone who says you have to use "drops" because you don’t need them. Just get some hardy fish and you will be fine, I started my 20 gal tropical aquarium with 8 tetras, starting from absolute scratch.
Hardy species… Danios are good, and from my experience silvertip tetras are impossible to kill unless you do it yourself lol.
zebra loaches are extremely hardy, they will be the last fish to die in your tank. (again personal experience)
ps- no fish died in my cycle and silk plants are a good idea. If you go live, make sure you inject co2 and have high wattage lighting (higher than whats in the kits or what comes with it)
I would only get one fish, a black ghost knife fish, preferably one over six inches so it is big enough to feast on guppies.
there is really no reasons to cycle a tank. i would put in 2 angle fish, neon tetras. really any kind of tetra. some kind of pelco. 5 years owning a pet store.
We currently have a 29 gallon and are up grading to a 55. You will love the Hobby but it takes a lot of work. If you have questions about a lot of different topics here a forum you can go on. People are really nice and helpful…GOOD LUCK! http://reefcentral.com/
Maybe cichlids or gourami’s there not actually THAT agressive and if you considered getting a fighter it’d have to be a female, males ARE agressive well you could maybe get barbs they’re VERY hardy and so are danios and rasboras.Guppys are hardy but I personally highly dislike them.Lyretails arent as hardy as the danios and rasboras ect but they’re a bit hardy and there pretty colourful.I would suggest a crayfish but theyre QUITE territorial and need like pots ect to live in.Zebra plecos are very hardy too like most plecos, only sebra ones would add a splash or white which is not normally seen in a tank and oscars are hardy but HUGE!
Hope I helped….
There are some fish that can survive a cycle:
zebra danios
Most Likly Neon tetras
Possibly guppies
They are all nice tropicals as well as nice fish.
You can get with what you want
eh 5 platies 5 guppies and 2? cory cats and maybe some tetras and danios. Hope it helps