My girlfriend's parents know how much I love tanks and have known that I wanted to step up from my 5 gallon hex. Well they picked me up a 20 gallon hex at a garage sell for $10. The only problem is it aparently came as a kit so it is set up to be a certain way but the old way is way to outdated. There is some major work ahead. Any way I was lookin in to the things I need and I think I can salvage the hood but I will need a filtration and heating system. I am looking at Top Fin Power Filter 30 or the Emperor Power Filter 280 for filtration. And for heating I am looking at Rena Cal Top Light Excel 100 Watt Heater or a Marineland® Visi-Therm® Stealth Submersible Aquarium Heaters 100 watt. I also want to put two dwarf gourami's and maybe two khuli loaches for the bottom but as far as that I am open to suggestions. I would like some schooling fish. I love my black neon tetras in my five gallon hex but want to go with something new. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also does any one have a link to the site where they show you different ways to set up fish. Thanks.
New 20 Gallon Hex!!!!
- Thread starter jondub
- Start date
In my opinion, all gouramis are wonderful to have. Maybe some female bettas?
By setting up fish, I'm assuming you're talking about compatiblility. If you are this is the place you want to go:
Freshwater & Brackish Compatibility Chart
Keeping Tropical Fish and Goldfish in Aquariums, Fish Bowls, and Ponds.
Ultra low prices on aquarium supplies and equipment
Some links to sites about fish, hope they help.
Best wishes on your new tank!
By setting up fish, I'm assuming you're talking about compatiblility. If you are this is the place you want to go:
Freshwater & Brackish Compatibility Chart
Keeping Tropical Fish and Goldfish in Aquariums, Fish Bowls, and Ponds.
Ultra low prices on aquarium supplies and equipment
Some links to sites about fish, hope they help.
Best wishes on your new tank!
Hexes can be tricky to stock (and aquascape) due to their low surface area to height ratio. A dwarf gourami or pair would be a good fit since they will use the entire tank and you may wish to consider some harlequin rasboras (Froggy's fav! 
) or, perhaps, some cherry barbs or other smaller, more mellow barbs. Some small, milder tetras (i.e., lemons, ember, blue, glowlight) or, if you're not absolutely set on schooling fish, livebearers (Endlers, gups, platies) would also be a consideration. The kuhlis will also be good fish, tho you may wish to get at least 3.
My 20 hex came with the undergravel filter, which I trashed, and a hood/light set up. (it was free on the side of the road!) One problem I ran into with mine was fitting a filter in the available slot without cutting it. When I was using it on this tank, my Aquaclear 50 was really wedged in! LOL! I currently have a Whisper 40i on it with a mob of sunset variatus platies and miscellaneous plants that didn't have homes. It's main use is as my qt tank.
) or, perhaps, some cherry barbs or other smaller, more mellow barbs. Some small, milder tetras (i.e., lemons, ember, blue, glowlight) or, if you're not absolutely set on schooling fish, livebearers (Endlers, gups, platies) would also be a consideration. The kuhlis will also be good fish, tho you may wish to get at least 3.My 20 hex came with the undergravel filter, which I trashed, and a hood/light set up. (it was free on the side of the road!) One problem I ran into with mine was fitting a filter in the available slot without cutting it. When I was using it on this tank, my Aquaclear 50 was really wedged in! LOL! I currently have a Whisper 40i on it with a mob of sunset variatus platies and miscellaneous plants that didn't have homes. It's main use is as my qt tank.
Seleya said:
Hexes can be tricky to stock (and aquascape) due to their low surface area to height ratio. A dwarf gourami or pair would be a good fit since they will use the entire tank and you may wish to consider some harlequin rasboras (Froggy's fav! ) or, perhaps, some cherry barbs or other smaller, more mellow barbs. Some small, milder tetras (i.e., lemons, ember, blue, glowlight) or, if you're not absolutely set on schooling fish, livebearers (Endlers, gups, platies) would also be a consideration. The kuhlis will also be good fish, tho you may wish to get at least 3.
My 20 hex came with the undergravel filter, which I trashed, and a hood/light set up. (it was free on the side of the road!) One problem I ran into with mine was fitting a filter in the available slot without cutting it. When I was using it on this tank, my Aquaclear 50 was really wedged in! LOL! I currently have a Whisper 40i on it with a mob of sunset variatus platies and miscellaneous plants that didn't have homes. It's main use is as my qt tank.
) or, perhaps, some cherry barbs or other smaller, more mellow barbs. Some small, milder tetras (i.e., lemons, ember, blue, glowlight) or, if you're not absolutely set on schooling fish, livebearers (Endlers, gups, platies) would also be a consideration. The kuhlis will also be good fish, tho you may wish to get at least 3.My 20 hex came with the undergravel filter, which I trashed, and a hood/light set up. (it was free on the side of the road!) One problem I ran into with mine was fitting a filter in the available slot without cutting it. When I was using it on this tank, my Aquaclear 50 was really wedged in! LOL! I currently have a Whisper 40i on it with a mob of sunset variatus platies and miscellaneous plants that didn't have homes. It's main use is as my qt tank.
The 40i works great -- it's an in-tank filter but doesn't take up too much room and you just put it in before putting the hood on. You can change the media with the hood on, however. A smaller Aquaclear might work in the available slot but the 50 (actually, I believe it may have been the 70 -- measure the slot and the filters before you buy) sure was a tight fit and a submersible heater is a whole lot easier than squeezing one in as well. (yes, I don't like cutting beyond the guides either) I don't think a suitably powered Whisper will fit but don't remember ever trying.
When I used it just as a stocked tank, I found some interesting driftwood to angle up the tank and planted some val in a couple spots in the back (to hide the equipment and provide a backdrop).
Your stocking idea sounds good. It depends in part on which tetra species you choose as to how many you can have. It should be really stunning.
When I used it just as a stocked tank, I found some interesting driftwood to angle up the tank and planted some val in a couple spots in the back (to hide the equipment and provide a backdrop).
Your stocking idea sounds good. It depends in part on which tetra species you choose as to how many you can have. It should be really stunning.