Good Stocking For 20G New Tank

[agk2000]

I am going to be getting a new 20 gallon aquarium in my house, and my mom's all worried about stocking it, i want to surprise her with a good small pleco, thinking about a clown. Possibly some of the smaller barbs or something. I'm so clueless.

 

[TrainRek77]

I'm pretty sure barbs need a lot of space, you may not have enouph. I would probably read about aquarium cycling before I get worried about stocking. Read about all kinds of fish, figure out if they're compatible. Make sure you check your water parameters to ensure they are compatible with the type of fish you want to get. A bunch of people post their aquarium setup and water parameters then ask what would live peacefully in your system. It usually gets them quite a bit of feedback from some very smart people! Good Luck!

 

[DrewMuayThai]

Hmmm... I can't think of a really small barb. Barbs need lots of space. Don't worry, I'm clueless too about my fish. What about a Berneo Sucker. I'm not sure if it's a pleco, but they say it's a loach. The lil' algea eater only gets about 4 inches. To me, it resembles a mini-hifin spotted pleco. They sell these Berneo sucker critters at petco. I can't post a link right now because I'm on my petco account and it has a name on it. Sorry. Soo, any other fish? Guppies, a couple of patties... a betta... anything? GOod Luck!

 

[Man of fish]

Actually Borneo suckers only get about 2-3" but like cooler water like 65-78*. They also like very fast highly oxygenated water.
For small barbs I'd say cherry barbs might work or tiger barbs could work but they're a bit big and aggressive so not for a community but you could keep a school of tigers say 10-12 of them and then a clown pleco and maybe some shrimp, but the Tigers may pick them off

Hmmm... I can't think of a really small barb. Barbs need lots of space. Don't worry, I'm clueless too about my fish. What about a Berneo Sucker. I'm not sure if it's a pleco, but they say it's a loach. The lil' algea eater only gets about 4 inches. To me, it resembles a mini-hifin spotted pleco. They sell these Berneo sucker critters at petco. I can't post a link right now because I'm on my petco account and it has a name on it. Sorry. Soo, any other fish? Guppies, a couple of patties... a betta... anything? GOod Luck!

 

[Teacher Martyn]

Hmmm... I can't think of a really small barb. Barbs need lots of space. Don't worry, I'm clueless too about my fish. What about a Berneo Sucker. I'm not sure if it's a pleco, but they say it's a loach. The lil' algea eater only gets about 4 inches. To me, it resembles a mini-hifin spotted pleco. They sell these Berneo sucker critters at petco. I can't post a link right now because I'm on my petco account and it has a name on it. Sorry. Soo, any other fish? Guppies, a couple of patties... a betta... anything? GOod Luck!

Don't cherry barbs count as a small barb? And good with a wide range of water parameters. Good first-in fish.

 

[fluttermoth]

Cherry barbs would be ideal in a 20g, but there are lots of fish that would be suitable.

OP, how hard is your local water (ie, do you get a lot of limescale in your kettle or on your showerhead?) and what are your favourite colours?

I'd rethink the clown plec; lovely fish, but very secretive; we only see ours two or three times a year, if we're lucky

Borneo sucker/hillstream loach aren't a good choice; they're a very difficult fish to keep and really need a specialist set up.

 

[agk2000]

The parameters for the water is:
ph - 7.2
NH3/4 - 0
NO2 - 0.25
NO3 - 0
dGH - 8
dKH - 5

that should open it up for the experts (it's just toronto water)

 

[This Old Spouse]

Please read up here before you go fish shopping. It's recommended that you complete a fishless cycle, rather than put poor fish through a fish-in cycle which is very hard on them, often leading to the death of the fish which would be an unwelcome gift.

 

[agk2000]

Plus i have a Marineland penguin 150 filter. I make my own filter cartridges for it.

There are actually quite a few different fish i've used in a fish in cycle and have survived easily and lived for quite a few years. My LFS actually has a few decent people working there and recommended a few that i've used and they survived it easily. Maybe a few serpaes, who i've had survive through it before.

 

[Man of fish]

I still would do a fishless cycle unless you want to be doing 90% daily water changes

 

[This Old Spouse]

And regardless of whether the fish live or die during a fish-in cycle, there's damage being done. Plus, if you do a fishless cycle correctly, you can then add your full stocking all at once.