My new tank

[RexyTexel]

I've finally purchased my 20 gallon long fishtank. It isn't up yet so I'm just doing some planning. It'll have to be cycled but luckily I'm using the same filter that's on my 10 gallon so the media will already have loads of bacteria in it. Anyway...

I can't figure out what type of biotope I want to do for this tank. I have one male betta in the 10 gallon who's moving over into the 20. There's also...
-Two albino cory cats who will be re-homed
-Blue apple snail(who's huge now) who will be placed in another one of my tanks because my 20 will be moderately planted and I don't want the snail tearing my plants up as he did in my 10 gallon.
-A handful of ghost shrimp. I think I've counted about 7? maybe 6? I'm concerned about them. I'm not sure what to do with them when I'm switching over tanks. I don't want them to die when I take them from one tank to another. I've had them since they were quite small and they've all grown significantly.

I have some driftwood that I've recently bought and am about to start soaking but it's small so it wont take up a huge portion of the tank. What other objects can I put in as far as...rocks or wood? I don't use ornaments because I like natural looking tanks, though there are natural looking ornaments they look too painted for me. I was thinking some sort of rocks so I can stack up but I can't find any except river stones. What about some sort of lava rock?

Also I have a HOB filter but are sponge filters any better or worst?

Thanks for any and all input/advice. I've been doing lots of research on planted aquariums and aquariums in general. This forum has really inspired me.

 

[unwritten law]

If you have an adequate HOB, the sponge isn't needed. Also depending on the design it won't look to natural in your natural tank. I would add all that you listed above plus a school of something, (tetra, rasbora, etc). I'd just try and find some free rocks or real cheap ones at a home improvement store.

 

[1077]

I have found some neat rock at home improvement stores . Slate,and flagstone are in my tanks. Large pieces can be broken but I would take care to round off sharp edges considering the fins on Betta. Prolly wouldn't select lava rock for that reason.

 

[robinanne]

congratulations on the new tank! this is such a fun time. cant wait to see what it looks like when its all done i guess you don't like the look of river rock? what are you going to use for the bottom sand or gravel? of all the new tetras i got lately i like the rummy noses the best. i think they look like little trout. they would look good in a natural tank.

 

[RexyTexel]

If you have an adequate HOB, the sponge isn't needed. Also depending on the design it won't look to natural in your natural tank. I would add all that you listed above plus a school of something, (tetra, rasbora, etc). I'd just try and find some free rocks or real cheap ones at a home improvement store.

Hmm yeah I didn't think about that. I just gave it thought more for my ghost shrimp because they seem to like to sit on those things and nibble on the small organisms. I was definitely thinking of some sort of school. I don't really set up aquariums to over fill with fish. I just enjoy the aesthetic properties of them.

I have found some neat rock at home improvement stores . Slate,and flagstone are in my tanks. Large pieces can be broken but I would take care to round off sharp edges considering the fins on Betta. Prolly wouldn't select lava rock for that reason.

Slate sounds like a good choice. Flagstone looks like a nice choice too. I just Googled it and I really like all the colors you can get. I didn't even think of the sharp edges and the betta fins. That's good to consider.

congratulations on the new tank! this is such a fun time. cant wait to see what it looks like when its all done i guess you don't like the look of river rock? what are you going to use for the bottom sand or gravel? of all the new tetras i got lately i like the rummy noses the best. i think they look like little trout. they would look good in a natural tank.

Yeah I'll post pictures when I get it all finished. I actually have some river rock in my three tanks now. It's not too bad but I guess I have a low creativity level with these things because I can't think of anything to do with it besides just placing it in the substrate. If you have any ideas let me know. I picked up a big bag(60lbs) of very very fine gravel for like $4 from Home Depot. The gravel is the perfect size. I did consider Rummy Nose because I really like the way they look.