how is my tank? newbie questions

[Lindsey]

I have a 20 gallon with a Whisper 20 filter, 15 watt lighting and a heater. I do partial water changes and vacuum the gravel once a week. To treat my water I use Tetra Algae Control and TetraAqua AquaSafe. Are there any other basics I am missing? Should I get an air pump? (I am not quite sure I understand what they do). What plants are good for low lighting and are also easy to maintain?

As far as food goes I currently feed all of my fish Aqua Dine.

In my tank I have:
2 loaches
3 corydoras
4 bloodfin tetras
4 endlers

Any and all tips on how I can improve my tank are welcome!

[trashion]

Don't bother with the algae control, it's probably useless, and it will probably just stress your fish to have it constantly in there. Just keep up the WCs and don't leave your lights on too long

I'd pick either cories OR loaches, as your tank probably doesn't have enough room for a big enough group of both. What kinds of loaches and cories have you got? That will determine what you can have in your tank

I'd add maybe 2 more bloodfin tetras to your school of them, they're happier in larger groups.

Other than that, sounds good! Great job on keeping up a good water change schedule!

You could probably keep java fern or anubias in your lighting. They may not flourish, but they will grow slowly.

[Lindsey]

Thanks, those were the two plants that I was looking at so I will definitely pick some up next time I am at the local fish store. I have kuhli loaches and bronze and albino corys.

Another thing that I didn't mention is that I only have gravel at the bottom of my tank. Will the anubias and fern grow in that or do I need to get some driftwood to attach it to?

[trashion]

I'd get some driftwood. Though, you can plant the roots of the java fern or anubias, I've found they will grow that way, as long as you leave the hard, stem-like part at the bottom of the stems (this is the rhizome) above the gravel.

Your best bet, IMO, is to go with the kuhli loaches or to pick 1 type of cory. For example, get 6 kuhlis and return all the cories, or get 6-8 of 1 type of cory and return the other type and the kuhlis. I just don't think there's enough room on the bottom of a 20 for two healthy schools of schooling bottomfeeders.