Idea for a 20 gal

[ccg]

Hello,

I was moving my sister and brother in law this weekend and got a pretty good deal on some smaller tanks. The previous owners of the house just left 2 tanks behind! Funny thing is my brother in law was pissed they left all this stuff in his new garage and was happy that I was taking it.

Anyhow, I got a 10 and and a 20 gallon tank, with heaters and lights. - No filters.

The 10 gal is my new hospital tank, and the 20 is going to be a home for some cory's. I plan on using pool filter sand for the bottom, along with some nice flat rocks I have to make caves and hiding places for them.

I am new to owning corys, so what is a good kind to get? I like fish that are active. Also, I need some pointers on how to "clean" my sand before hand. How many corys can I house in a 20 gallon?

 

[Torrean]

hmm i don't know anything about cleaning sand but If I had to formulate a sand cleaning apparatus i would get a big bucket and a t-shirt. put the sand in the bucket and fill it with water. Stir with a big stick. Put t-shirt over bucket and hold TIGHTLY then dump water through t-shirt CAREFULLY. Repeat until water is clean and t-shirt is black.

good deal btw

 

[sylvia]

You are going to get filters for the tanks though right? And then fishless cycle (read links in sig. if necessary) before adding any fish. You could keep about 8 cories in the tank but keep in mind that they occupy the lower area so space would be limmited - what that means is basically that you are better off keeping closer to 5 cories. Bronze (also albino variety), bronze and blackfin cories are species I have found to be quite hardy. Pygmy cories are quite nice too and much smaller so you could keep up to 15 total (without other fish) and they occupy the middle layers as well as the bottom so space isn't as much of an issue. I would avoid fragile cories like pandas if you have never kept them before. Oh and you can mix species just make sure there's at least 2 of the same species in the group (prefferably 4 of the same species).

 

[ccg]

I am going to use an aqua clear 200 that is rated for a 50 gal tank, it is currently running on an estalished tank right now, so I am assuming this will speed up the cycle lots.

I need more info on sand, everyone says make sure you "clean" it first, I am not sure on how to go about doing that.

I have owend a pair of albino cories before and liekd them very much. The space will be limited so I won't beable to get to many, but even 5 will be nice.

 

[Macracantha]

The sand or gravel just needs a good washing...keep running water through the gravel/sand until the water runs out clean...aggitating it with a stck or hands speeds it up...can be done in a bucket bit at a time under tap or hose!