Advice on stocking 20Gallon long tank?

Hi there,

I converted my 20G into a dirt tank with 3 layers, dirt at the bottom, kitty litter in the middle and play sand on the top I have bought some MTS to prevent aerobic build up, I am sort of new to planted tank's, here are the specifications of the tank.

36''x12x12

2X24W HO T5 Lights (6500K Bulbs)

3x Pieces of driftwood

Hagen Aqua clear 150 - Soon to break (If you could recommend any good filter to replace UK)

Plants that I will be planting -

5 x	Gymnocoronis Spilanthoides
5 x	Glossostigma Elatinoides- Hopefully grow a nice carpet
5 x	Crypt Wendtii
1 x	African Tiger Lotus
5 x	Hygrophila Polysperma

The fish I currently have are 2-albino cory catfish, 2 bronze cory catfish and 1 Neon tetra( have never had any luck keeping these alive)

I would like to preferably fill out the tank so there is movement on all levels of the tank?

Thanks for the advice much appreciated

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Permalink Reply by Joe (TheJoeboy96) on February 21, 2012 at 3:42pm

Firstly, i wouldnt get mixed sex livebearers in that tank being well planted with driftwood, youl be over run.

Ive not got much experiance but ive done countless amounts of research.

If i were you i would get another albino cory and maybe 1-3 more bronze corys as they like to be in groups, 6/8 more neons as they definately need to be in groups, a pair of gouramis of some kind for centerpiece fish (ive seen some gouramis with nicer colour than discus), a trio of otos or a bristlenose plec and maybe some cherry/amano shrimp.

As for the filter id go for the whisper power filter 40 or the fluval u2 (remove the carbon pads). If you have enough money/plug sockets id put both on your tank.

The amount of fish ive put is maybe pushing it a little however with all of your plants and eitheir one of/both of those filters + normal water changes, your water quality will be fine :)

p.s anyone more experianced, feel free to correct me on anything.

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Permalink Reply by PDeppa on February 21, 2012 at 4:07pm

Thanks allot for the advice but I plan on removing the neon tetra and maybe cory catfish as I have never been able to keep any neon tetras alive except this one and my cory's don't seem to be schooling so I may replace them with a school of panda cory's. I am thinking to have a pair of Bolivian ram as my centre piece fish and 3-4male guppies.

2X Bolivian Rams

3-4X Male Guppies

6-Panda Cory''s

(2-3 Ottos or 1 Bristlenose pleco)

6-8 School of something that will occupy the tank

Cherry Shrimp

I know this may sound very overly stocked but I will reduce the numbers of fish if recommendatory, as for now I have no idea of what school of fish to get?