Stocking A 20 Gallon

[Astronomiii]

Hi there,


I just got a 20 gallon tank, and I really want it to look good, can anyone send me any good stocking combinations

btw, i prefer more fish, overstock than less, and I tend to like larger fish

 

[Byron]

Before we can start suffesting fish, can you provide some data on the water you have (tap presumably). The GH (general or total hardness) and pH especially, and you may be able to ascertyain this from the website of your water authority, or you can call them.

Is the 20g a standard (sometimes called high) 20g, or a long 20g? The standard is 24 inches/60 cm in length, the long is 30 inches/75cm length. This makes a difference.

Not sure what "larger" fish means to you compared to the rest of us, but anything approaching 2 inches/5 cm (or more) is not likely to be applicable here, but let's get the water and tank data pinned down.

 

[anewbie]

When people ask questions like this I usually think swordtails and guppies.

 

[Astronomiii]

Before we can start suffesting fish, can you provide some data on the water you have (tap presumably). The GH (general or total hardness) and pH especially, and you may be able to ascertyain this from the website of your water authority, or you can call them.

Is the 20g a standard (sometimes called high) 20g, or a long 20g? The standard is 24 inches/60 cm in length, the long is 30 inches/75cm length. This makes a difference.

Not sure what "larger" fish means to you compared to the rest of us, but anything approaching 2 inches/5 cm (or more) is not likely to be applicable here, but let's get the water and tank data pinned down.

Standard 20g 12x24x20

PH - 6.8

Larger fish as in not like neon tetra small

 

[Byron]

Standard 20g 12x24x20

PH - 6.8

Larger fish as in not like neon tetra small

The pH being acidic, let's assume for the moment the GH is on the soft or moderately soft/hard side. This offers many more options than would hard water, so it is still important to know the GH.

Neons are the sort of fish suited to this tank. For something larger, a trio of honey gourami (one male and two females). A whiptail catfish for something a bit unusual, the common species Rineloricaria parva while growing to 4-5 inches it is so narrow and not active swimming as to be suitable. Smaller cories for the substrate (if it is sand). Some of the pencilfish species in Nannostomus, though I'd want to know the GH as these may well be wild caught and more finnicky.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

btw, i prefer more fish, overstock than less, and I tend to like larger fish

Can you please share your aim with overstocking a tank, or by what you actually mean by 'overstock'?

 

[anewbie]

Well if he goes with pencil fishes; i'd suggest a pair of broelli apistogramma; they are robust and can take some abuse but have a lot of character. Still i'd prefer them in a 20 long but with just pencil fishes you should be able to get away with it.