Need Advice On A New Fish Selection

[slimj1983]

Hey Mates,

So for quite some time I have been interested in starting an aquarium and I finally have. I have done everything right...20 gallon tank, monitored the water before adding fish for a weeks, right equipment materials etc. Then I got the hardy zebra danios to start everything out. When they were by themselves, they would hang out on the top of the tank. Then I added two rainbow sharks and a few tetra and they all hang out at the bottom, which still looks cool but the top and middle look totally empty. Does anyone have a suggestion for a true top feeder who is not likely to spend all of its time at the bottom? Thoughts? Thanks guys!

Jim
NJ

 

[rossyt99]

How about some 'Livebearers'; Swordtails, Platies, Guppies(?) Or maybe 'Dwarf Gourami' or 'Hatchet Fish'

If u decide on Swordtails, its best to get 1Male+ 2 or more Female.

 

[Davo86]

Hey, sorry but i'm gonna go slightly off topic here, do you mean you left the tank for a week then added the danios? did you add any ammonia to cycle the tank beforehand?
Also adding two rainbow sharks isn't recommended, Ideally they should be 1 per tank with a recommended bare minimum tank size of 50G,
once they mature you'll find that they are likely to fight till one is killed.

How many Danios have you got? They are usually top swimmers and so if they are swimming close to your other fish then its likely they are in a small group and so are swimming with the others to feel more secure.

what are the numbers of tetras you have in the tank? this will give us an idea of how much space you have in the tank for other species.

Hatchet fish are an out an out top swimmer staying right at the surface.

 

[FishKing13]

Maybe get some Gourami. My favorite are the kissing and the dwarf. Good luck!

 

[slimj1983]

Yeah sorry for not being too clear on everything...I did everything that the Petco gentleman told me to do. Granted I am a beginner so I brought a book and followed those instructions..I then added the water and the filter and started to let it go. The Petco guy told me to let it filter for two weeks. He then sold me these tabs to put in...first he had me add them after the first week and then told me to add them again after I added new fish I also have gotten the water tested every week at Petco for PH levels...... Like I said I am trying to do this right. And on the rainbow shark..I did not do my research like I should have....As they are fighting. But now I know to do my research before I buy anything else.

Anyhow, I purchased six zebra danio. Originally I had four and then added two more. I also have two very small tetra and that is it. Thanks for your advice guys. It is appreciated.

Jim

 

[tim1]

You got it tested only for PH levels? You should test it for Ammonia and Nitrite levels as well, those are very important. It doesn't look like you have cycles your tank. Check out this thread.
http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...shless-Cycling/

 

[ALW]

You should realy get rid of at least one of the sharks, you might get away with having one but might outgrown the tank. what are the dimensions