Small Tank Stock Help.

[Obitro]

I am only used to keeping larger fish previous tank was 4ftx2ftx2ft and had to get rid due to moving but back to setting a new tank up.
I still have a few bits and my brother has given me his old tank.
 
The tank measures 24x12x12" roughly 60litres. I was wondering what fish I can use to stock this tank? I was looking at hopefully a neon tetra group and a single fighting fish with maybe an algae eater? How many of these could I put in(obviously just one fighter) and are they compatible together?
In terms of filtration I have found one of the older tanks filters we used before filters 690l p/h so is plenty for the tank and was thinking of maybe black gravel substrate and a couple of fake plants?
 
Also; how does the cycling process change if I am using some water from my brothers tank? His tank is already set up and has been running years. Will probably be taking a few jug fulls to accelerate the tank.

 

[Goggy]

I am only used to keeping larger fish previous tank was 4ftx2ftx2ft and had to get rid due to moving but back to setting a new tank up.
I still have a few bits and my brother has given me his old tank.
 
The tank measures 24x12x12" roughly 60litres. I was wondering what fish I can use to stock this tank? I was looking at hopefully a neon tetra group and a single fighting fish with maybe an algae eater? How many of these could I put in(obviously just one fighter) and are they compatible together?
In terms of filtration I have found one of the older tanks filters we used before filters 690l p/h so is plenty for the tank and was thinking of maybe black gravel substrate and a couple of fake plants?
 
Also; how does the cycling process change if I am using some water from my brothers tank? His tank is already set up and has been running years. Will probably be taking a few jug fulls to accelerate the tank.

you could turn it into a puffer tank of some kind either a carinotetraodon puffer tank or a figure eight puffer tank
both of these options requires the puffer living individually with maybe a few tank mates (the tankmates cannot be other puffers)
i have a puffer tank with a figure eight puffer (named Erika) and 5 bumblebee gobies it is highly decorated with lots of hiding places so the tank keeps the puffers entertained,  this makes the puffer explore and roam wild in the tank completely tanking it's mind of the bumblebee gobies. i have also read that figure eight puffers kept alone could have a better relationship with it's owner. and i think all you have to do with your tank is to turn it to a suitable ph for puffers (8.2) and get rid of amonia and nitrites.
 
the tank has to be around 8.2 pH
feed the puffer frozen bloodworms
the bumblebee gobies are in my tank to partially help me clean up the mess the puffer makes (i also feed the gobies sinking pellets as well as puffer bloodworm scraps)
Hope i gave you an idea of what you wanna do! 

 

[Essjay]

Rather than use water from your brother's tank, ask him for some of his filter media - and give him some of yours in return. The bacteria we need are not found in the water but in the biofilm which is on all surfaces in the tank, especially the filter media.
 
Once you have some of his media in your filter, add some ammonia and do a fishless cycle, the method is here. Treat the media like a fish - keep it in a bag of his tank water during transport, and put it in your filter straight away. A sponge can be cut up to make it fit.
With some mature media, the cycle should go quickly and you'll be able to get a tankful of fish once it finishes.
 
 
 
Edit - forgot to ask, what do you mean by algae eater? Plecs of all sizes grow too big for a 24 inch tank, in my opinion, as do Siamese algae eaters and flying foxes. Chinese algae eaters are not only too big but can turn nasty as they age. A shoal (6+) of otocinclus would fit, but not until the tank is mature enough to have grown some algae and even then it might not grow enough for a whole shoal of them. Nerite snails are about the best algae eaters for a 60 litre tank.
Neons also do better in a mature tank, that is one that has been running for at least 6 months. They do have the reputation for dying in new tanks.

 

[Goggy]

Rather than use water from your brother's tank, ask him for some of his filter media - and give him some of yours in return. The bacteria we need are not found in the water but in the biofilm which is on all surfaces in the tank, especially the filter media.
 
Once you have some of his media in your filter, add some ammonia and do a fishless cycle, the method is here. Treat the media like a fish - keep it in a bag of his tank water during transport, and put it in your filter straight away. A sponge can be cut up to make it fit.
With some mature media, the cycle should go quickly and you'll be able to get a tankful of fish once it finishes.
 
 
 
Edit - forgot to ask, what do you mean by algae eater? Plecs of all sizes grow too big for a 24 inch tank, in my opinion, as do Siamese algae eaters and flying foxes. Chinese algae eaters are not only too big but can turn nasty as they age. A shoal (6+) of otocinclus would fit, but not until the tank is mature enough to have grown some algae and even then it might not grow enough for a whole shoal of them. Nerite snails are about the best algae eaters for a 60 litre tank.
Neons also do better in a mature tank, that is one that has been running for at least 6 months. They do have the reputation for dying in new tanks.

Pretty sure a zebra pleco or otoclincus cat could do well in his tank