help meeeeeeeeee!!!

[nero66]

thank for the info, i guess i will get a 20 then after i rearange my desk. and just so i know what is the most common smallest cory catfish and what comunity fish go good with it and what other fish will work with it?

[nero66]

and what kind of fish food to get & what kind of testing kits

[fishn00b]

I can't really tell you what the smallest cory catfish is. I do know that pretty much every community fish should be able to live with them (ie tetras, dwarf gouramis, swordtails, etc).

For fish food, you would want to get a variety of flake, brine shrimp, and perhaps vegtables from time to time. Look up information on the specific fish that you are getting in your tank and you can find the food that they like. You will probably have happier fish if you switch up their food every day so that they have something different to eat (plus they will have better colors).

As for the testing kit, here on the forum a lot of people recommend the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Brand (butchered that name) master test kit. In the kit I would imagine you would get liquid tests for pH, high pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, kH, gH, and perhaps something else. Although these kits usually run approximately 25 - 30 dollars and might put you over your budget.

[JustOneMore20]

just so i know what is the most common smallest cory catfish and what comunity fish go good with it and what other fish will work with it

It all depends on your area and what's available. In my area none of the smaller cories (pygmy, habrosus, and panda) are readily available. I've been able to locate pandas at a couple places, but not the other two. False Juliis (corydoras trilineatus) are pretty small and are pretty common here.

I think you should go look at your local fish stores and see what kinds they have. Also check out the tetras and rasboras and see what your options are. We could name off fish all day, but if you can't get them, it doesn't help you much.

Most kinds of tetras will work with cories. I will name a few: neons, black neons, glowlights, rummynose, head and tailight, von rios (flames), black phantom, and lemons. That isn't all the different kinds though. Harlequin, lambchop, and scissortail rasboras are also some options.

I would get the 20g (long) if you have room. It has more surface area so it would be better than the high. I would see what kinds of fish are available in your area. For the 20g I would choose one type of schooling fish (tetras or rasboras) and have about 10 of that kind. You can choose your cory type and have 8-10 depending on what type you choose. I would pick some type of centerpiece fish: bolivian ram or some type of gourami.

Once we know what kind of fish you are interested in and can get, then we can tell you what is compatible.

[nero66]

i know this is a weird Q but how does a gravel vacuum works?

[Sprite42]

LOL, it works like a siphon. Use a turkey baster (NOT your mouth) to get the suction going.

[nero66]

thanks that ceared some stuff up

[nero66]

sorryspelling error

[fish_doc]

With a gravel vac you push the rigid plastic tube into the gravel and the suction created by the water flow up the tube will pull debris out of the gravel up the tube and out of the tank. Plus it is healthy to loosen the gravel ocasionally. Just be sure to alternate sides of the tank and only vaccum about 1/2 the tank at a time. By only doing part of the gravel during each cleaning you help keep the benefical bacteria in the aquarium while pulling out the bad stuff.

[nero66]

thanks again

[nero66]

[quote=JustOneMore20]I would get the 20g (long) if you have room. It has more surface area so it would be better than the high. I would see what kinds of fish are available in your area. For the 20g I would choose one type of schooling fish (tetras or rasboras) and have about 10 of that kind. You can choose your cory type and have 8-10 depending on what type you choose. I would pick some type of centerpiece fish: bolivian ram or some type of gourami.

*****what type of gourami would be best?

[JustOneMore20]

If you go with the 20g, then you could have a dwarf gourami, a honey gourami, chocolate gourami, thick lipped gourami, or sparkling gourami (need a planted tank, with fish of similar size). The sparkling gourami stays really small...that's why it needs to be kept with fish more its size (1.5 in).

I would go with the honey gourami, if it was my tank. It stays small (about 2 inches) and is more peaceful than the dwarf gourami. I would pick only one type though because in an unplanted tank, gouramis can be aggressive towards one another.

[nero66]

well im going to plant it. any common fast growing plants you know of?

[fishn00b]

You can get some Apongeton bulbs from Walmart... they sprout pretty quickly. I have some Anarchis in the back of my tank and that grows really fast. Also some people have said that Water Wisteria grows like weeds as well. All these are beginner plants and usually don't need CO2 injections or fertilizer.

Keep in mind though that a 20 gallon long is a lot more expensive then a regular 20 gallon that comes in a kit from Walmart. This is why I didn't suggest it. I'm not positive but I'm pretty sure the 20 gallon long will run you around 50 - 70 dollars for just the tank itself... then you have to buy the hood, filter, heater, and whatever else you need all on your own.

[nero66]

thanks ill check them out

and the tank kit i guess ill get the normal size 20gal

[JustOneMore20]

I'm pretty sure the 20 gallon long will run you around 50 - 70 dollars for just the tank itself

It depends on the fish stores around you.

I got my 29g...just the tank, for $35. I think the 20L tank was about $30 or maybe it was $35. I got mine at PetSmart.

I don't get the kits because I like to choose my own filters, heaters, lighting and other equipment. I don't like the whisper filters that come in the kits. Its really up to you what to get. It all depends on how much you have to spend. To plant a 20g tank with medium light plants, you will need to upgrade the lighting....which will cost more $$. Or you can stick to low light plants like java fern, anubias, and java moss.

Wisteria is a good fast growing plant to start out with. It does like medium light though, so it will grow slower when you have less light.

When you buy the kit, it is good that it comes with a hood and lights already. But, if its a 20H then the light won't penetrate to the bottom that well, and having less light already, you have to stick to the low light plants.

I'm not trying to scare you away from planting the tank. Live plants look sooo much better than fake ones. It also improves your water quality. I'm just warning you that you will probably want the medium light plants because there are more to choose from and some are prettier than java fern and anubias. It takes more money to plant a tank, most of the time. I know it has me. You have to buy higher watt lights to get the plants you want, especially in a bigger tank.

If you went with the 10g kit, then you could get the one that has incandescent lights (not fluorescent) and change out the bulbs. That is the cheapest tank to get good lighting on. I grow medium and low light plants in my 10g. But then your stocking is more limited.

Its up to you though....decisions, decisions.

[nero66]

i just checked the closest pet shop for corys. only because it was closing it -2 min

spotted 2.49
emerald 4.49
pepper 3.49
green 2.49
albino 2.49

I'm going with green because the price and color choice and they were youngest

i did not get a good look at the other fish so if you recommend any name like three different types o.k

[nero66]

and for the tank kit stuff im o.k with that limited choice. its my first tank come on.

[nero66]

of plants i mean

[nero66]

if the scissortail rasboras are the ones with the split tails im geting those to but, how many?