Is this a good Tank Set up?

[fishkid64]

Hi, I'am 14 and new to this aquarium thing, even though i have been doing it since last year almost exactly. My dad does help me out a ton because he used to have a 55 Gal. Saltwater tank which he got rid of because I wasn't into it back then But he does know a lot about fish and Aquariums. But i do want some other people's opinion on my current 20 Gal. Long Setup. No, i'am sorry i don't have any pics, but i will describe it the best i can to you.

20 Gal. Long

3 Zebra Danio's
2 Blue Gourmies
1 Red-tail Shark(only about 1 1/2 long)
5 Tiger Barbs
2 Female Red Swordtails
1 Oto(plan to get 2-4 more someone please comment on how many)

I have an Undergravel Filter with the tube going out and the bubbles coming up. Sorry, i'am not really sure what that is called if someone could tell me i would really appreciate it.

I Also have a Penguin 300 Bio-wheel filter I know it is kind of big but it was from my dad's 55 Gal. Saltwater tank.

I have Blue rocks, and i mixed in some crushed coral to make it look cool, and it hasn't really raised the pH balance or anything.

I have a Visa-Therm 300 Watt Heater. Tank Temperature at 75-76 Degrees.

I have Live Plants which are, 3 Amazon Swords, and 4 Anarchies.

Last, i have a Full Deluxe Hood with a newly bought 20 watt Hagen "Power-Glo" Fluorescent Bulb.

Well, That is all that i Can think of Right now, if there is any other information that you need please ask, and please comment, i am open to anything.
Sorry it is such a long post but Please, Please Comment on my tank.

Thanks a million! *twirlysmi

 

[FroggyFox]

For a 20G tank that sounds very overcrowded. When you plan a tank you want to look at the adult size of the fish, not their current size...so when you dont do research on the specific fish to find out their adult size, you can run into some troubles.

The usual rule for a tank your size is that you have space for about 20 inches of adult fish, as long as those fish dont go over about 3 or 4 inches or are aggressive or overly territorial.

Your barbs for instance are notorious fin nippers, but with a group they are better at focusing on each other. Those get to what? 3 inches+ as adults

Danios are a great mix with tiger barbs...although they too like to be in a larger group. They usually get to be about 2 inches.

1 oto should be fine in a 20, they usually keep to themselves so the other fish probably wont bother him. If you notice a buildup of brown algae in your tank you might get one more later on...but its probably not necessary right now. Ottos shouldnt get over an inch or two.

Good call keeping two female swordtails with no males...although the other fast moving "nippy" fish might annoy the swords. They get to 3 inches or so as adults.

Blue Gouramis...if they are true blue gouramis, they'll get up to about 4 inches each. Gouramis are kinda tempramental sometimes and usually get annoyed by fast moving fish or their own kind. The usual suggestion is to either keep one gourami or a group of them.

Red tail shark - can get up to 6 inches or so...and gets kinda "cranky" as it gets older and larger. See what people have said about them and the description on their profile here http://www.myfishtank.net/freshwaterprofiles.php?profile=45

So, just from that rundown...you have approximately 40 inches of fish. My personal opinion is that you have a nice start to an active setup with the tiger barbs and the danios with the RTBS. I think if it were my tank I'd take the gouramis and the swordtails back. Now with just the danios the tiger barbs, the otto and the RTBS you're still over your inches...but it looks like you have adequete filtration and if you do your regular water changes and cleaning, I think it would be ok. Since its a long tank there's more room for the active swimmers.

Wow a 300 watt heater for a 20G? Kinda overkill...but ok temperature sounds good, everything sounds cool except that its overstocked (IMO) wish we could see a picture of it.

 

[NoDeltaH2O]

Yeah, you've got too many fish and will run into problems later on (in the not too distant future). Fish stores are usually willing to take fish back if you explain to them why you need to do it. Do you have any test kits to find out what your water parameters are? Maybe you could get a deluxe kit that includes pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, KH, and GH. It is always good to know what the water is like so you know when you need to change water. I bet that with this many fish your water gets dirty pretty quickly, but no way to tell if you can't test it.

It's also always good to have a complete algae clean up crew. In all of my clean tanks I have multiple types of algae eaters. In my one algae infested tank I have only a sinlge algae eating fish.

• Otos eat brown algae
• Amano Shrimp at Black Brush algae, hair algae, and the normal soft green algae
• Siamese Algae Eaters eat Black Brush Algae.
• Florida FlagFish eat green hair algae.
• Swordtails also eat black brush algae and green filamentous algae.
• Chinese Algae Eaters eat soft algae constantly, but they're not popular.

 

[revfred]

IMO, while you may be overstocked according to the 1"/g "rule of thumb" ... if you are running both the UGF and the Penguin 300, doing weekly gravel vacuuming and 20-25% water changes, you should be able to carry that bioload without too much difficulty. It will be some time before those fish reach their max length.

I would get a test kit and do some daily for awhile. If the readings are stable go to weekly and finally 2x/mo readings. Keep a log.

Some caution w/ the RTS. They can be nippy before they mature. Great looking fish but problematic.

Sounds like a very attractive tank. The sword plants really soak up the nutrients via their roots, and the UGF doesn't help, but I think with some plant tabs you would be OK. But with the bioload I wouldn't cut down on the filtration. The fact that you have a 20G long does increase the surface area.

 

[fishkid64]

I do have a test kit, i have the Freshwater master test kit, ever since i got it in about January or febuary, the readings have been, pH-8.0, Ammonia-0, Nitrite-0, and Nitrate-10, Which to me seems a little low, is it? Thanks everyone, I have a spare 15 Gal. laying around, so what if i put, the Swordtails, and the, yes true blue guormies, into that 15 gal, and maybe get another algae eater and put that into there too, Would that be okay?

 

[FroggyFox]

Sure yeah, that sounds like a plan Besides...it's a good excuse to cut down on some potential crowding and set up a new tank!! You could take your time getting it cycled and planting it too if you wanted and then move the fish (since they're already settled in where they are right now and you're not having any problems).

 

[phOOey]

that could be ok for temp. housing but your blue gourami's have the potential to grow to 6 inches and i think that a 15g might be a bit cramped for them, maybe trade them for a smaller type of gourami.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

You want your ammonia and nitrites to stay at zero, and the nitrates to stay at under 20, so your levels are great. As long as the pH is steady, the number isn't that important.

 

[fishkid64]

ok I Put the 15 gal. together, and it is currently cycling, Does anyone have any tips for me, like when to tell if your tank is cycled?

 

[FroggyFox]

your tank is cycled when it can turn 5ppm of ammonia into nitrate in less than 24 hours. Why dont you check out this thread?

http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/showthread.php?t=19357 specifically Iggy's cycle thread

 

[fishkid64]

hey i'am going to try and take some pics, but how do you do it, because i don't have a digital camera, but i do have a scanner, could someone please explain this process to me.

Thanks you so much for all your help everyone!!