Would you put any more fish in this tank?

[gale]

It's a 20gal long tank (the one in my sig) and now has 2 cherry barbs, 3 albino cory cats, and 3 mollies, and this weekend I will be getting 2-3 oto cats for the algae that is beginning to show up. Would you put more than that in it? If I happen to end up with molly fry I'll probably take them to the lfs.

hey I just noticed I'm fish crazy. Over 100 posts. woohoo!!

 

[freddyk]

I'd add a couple more barbs and a school of a small tetra or other schooling fish.

 

[clutterydrawer]

I wouldn't add more barbs cos they're not shoaling fish. another cory or two would be cool though.

 

[enchanted]

Here is the question: Are you happy with how the tank looks? Do you feel it needs more fish or do you enjoy it as is?

If you are happy with it, don't add anymore. If not and you feel it needs more fish, then what do you feel is missing? Is it color, activity, etc..?

 

[freddyk]

I wouldn't add more barbs cos they're not shoaling fish.

Umm... yes they are, though it's true that it's not detrimental to keeping them. They display excelent group behavior. They also can have a tendency to go after smaller fish as they get bigger, which is preventable by keeping groups.

 

[glolite]

Leopard danios are cool fish I've got 4 and they really liven up the atmosphere. Don't seem aggressive and they sparkle in the tank lights. Will try to post pics ASAP. PS they get prettier as they grow bigger.

 

[gale]

The reason I asked is because I have never had true schooling fish before until I got these pristella tetras and I would like another group. They are too cool the way they move almost as one. But I won't put more in my 10g (i'll be putting more tetras in that one plus a couple of ghost shrimp) so I wondered if my 20 would have room. It would be a small type like harlequin rasboras or black phantoms.

 

[freddyk]

Those Harlequins are just the type of small tetra's I was talking about gale, and I would not hesitate to put a school of 6, or even 8 in there. Cheers!

 

[sylvia]

You could add 5-6 small shoaling fish but you would be slightly over-stocked with the otos as well... Maybe skip the otos? It is possible to keep all of those fish but you would need to watch the nitrates and keep up with water changes - possibly increase them to twice a week or change more water each time. Test your water a week or so after adding the otos (if you decide to) and go from that.

 

[gale]

You could add 5-6 small shoaling fish but you would be slightly over-stocked with the otos as well... Maybe skip the otos? It is possible to keep all of those fish but you would need to watch the nitrates and keep up with water changes - possibly increase them to twice a week or change more water each time. Test your water a week or so after adding the otos (if you decide to) and go from that.

I'm beginning to get some algae so that's why I was going to get the oto's now. I know they like to be at least in groups of 2 or 3. I have a couple of snails in the tank but they never get on the walls that I noticed.

 

[freddyk]

Even with 8 more small fish and the oto's I don't see the tank as overstocked. It's barely over 1" per gallon mark, if you use that rule. In addition, the 20 long has more room for fish then a regular 20 gallon due to it's larger footprint. I am assuming, of course, that you have adequate filtratoin and do regular (bi-weekly at most) water changes.

I don't know how many plants you have,but planted tanks generally are capable of higher stocking levels without being as 'overstocked', and the plants usually love the extra nutrients

 

[gale]

Even with 8 more small fish and the oto's I don't see the tank as overstocked. It's barely over 1" per gallon mark, if you use that rule. In addition, the 20 long has more room for fish then a regular 20 gallon due to it's larger footprint. I am assuming, of course, that you have adequate filtratoin and do regular (bi-weekly at most) water changes.

I don't know how many plants you have,but planted tanks generally are capable of higher stocking levels without being as 'overstocked', and the plants usually love the extra nutrients

The plants are bunched, and I have about 8 in there. One is a floating horwort, 3 are bunched hornworts w/ weights on them, and 4 are hygrophilia bunches with somewhat established root systems (don't ask how I know this. lol). The tank has a Penguin 170 bio wheel filter and I do at least a weekly 10% water change with a 25% w/ gravel cleaning once a month. Does biweekly mean twice weekly or once every two weeks. I can never remember.

 

[thapsus]

If I were you I would:

add 2 more albino corys because they are shoaling fish.
I would find mollys new home because I think they need bigger tank and different water than others.
I would take one more cherry female so males harassment don't get too stresfull to just one female.
If I wanted something new, I would add small shoal (min. 6) of tetras, maybe cardinal tetras. Or take few cherrys more.

I would not take otos because algaes are easy to keep away by keeping the water good. Algaes hate water that is acidic, soft and has only little nitrate. Also plants are good competitors to algaes. Algaes also like long lightperiod, like 12 hours a day. Most plants get all the light they need in 8-9 hour per day.

I hope this helped a little. Good luck with your tank.

thapsus

 

[freddyk]

Bi-weekly means every other week. twice weekly water changes is excessive for most people, except for certain circumstances. No need to make the hobby a constant chore.

Thapsus, algae is very tough to keep at bay, even in a planted tank. Algae will live of levels off nutrient that would kill most plants. I personally have yet to achieve an algae free tank. Perhaps because my water is not acid? Anyway, that wasn't even the point I wanted to make. Oto's are very cool fish, endearing, and different from the other livestock in the tank. I would keep them anyway, even without algae in the tank - food can always be supplemented

 

[gwlee7]

A neat tetra to add would be the pristella. They don't get very big (about 1.75 "), are hardy and once acclimated to your tank, will sparkle like a diamond when the light hits them right. I have 6 and they like to school together and also will school with my serpae teras (another possible choice btw).

Edit: Oops just noticed in your sig that you've got pristellas. Add to them or get the serpae tetras.