Setting Up a new 20g tank

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tittusc11

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 29, 2013
27
0
1
Apex, NC
Hey!
I got a 20g fish tank when I was dating my ex boyfriend, and he was the fish expert.
We aren't together anymore so I'm kind of doing this all by myself now.
I plan on getting 2 Bolivian Rams and 3 Lace Synodontis Catfish.
what kind of food and decorations should I get?
 
for decoration you should get what you like. I prefer wood and live plants for a natural look.
with those fish you'll want sinking pellets or flakes. tropical or cichlid varieties. there are many types of food with a lot of opinions on them, and most will work, but if you provide a variety you won't need to worry if your food may not have something essential. personally I use hikari, nls, and omega one pellets and several frozen foods on occasion.
but before you do that, or add fish, you need to cycle the tank.
 
I got omega one super color cichlid pellets for the rams and top fin algae thins for the catfish. I was looking at stuff at petsmart for decoration. I kind of like the wood look but my ex boyfriend had driftwood and it was just so big. but I know the catfish like to hide so I might get some plants. I just know I want something that the fish can hide in. it's one of the more square looking 20g than the longer kind.
 
I personally like the natural wood/rock/plant look myself and in a 20 tall you should be able to find a few decent pieces. Decorating really comes down to what you prefer but yeah the fish would be happy to have hiding places or places to chill out during the day.


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it's lookin good! I got the tank from a guy on craigslist, and he gave me a filter, heater, alot of things with it. I also have an airpump and I don't know much about those, but it's not a decoration. do I put it at the top of the tank?
 
You can postion the pump above or below.use airline tubing and a check valve.buy any kind of air stone you like

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What kind of filter did the guy give you? I would make sure it's rated for at least a 40 gallon as a single 20 gallon filter should be used on a 10gallon.

You should check the Ph of your tap water. Some fish are hardy enough to adapt and thrive in parameters out of their ideal range but I've heard rams are not those kinds of fish.



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As for decorations personally I go for the more natural look of driftwood and live plants(live plants I can't keep because my fish just eat them up). Petsmart doesn't have anything besides real mopani wood and that stuff grows a gooey substance when soaking in water and just looks gross. Petco has presoaked pieces of malaysian driftwood but who knows what other contaminants come along with their water if you don't sanitize a piece. I would find a local pet store that specializes in fish as they would have more of a selection of driftwood. I personally love malaysian driftwood.

Oh and also don't worry. Mfk can be your new bf. :D

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haha thanks. I got everything for the tank and stuff. I just have to get the lace catfish. I don't really know any pet stores in raleigh, nc. I planned on going to greenville, nc because there is a store I trust there and will definitely have the catfish. I just wish there was some place closer that sold them.
 
tittusc11 said:
haha thanks. I got everything for the tank and stuff. I just have to get the lace catfish. I don't really know any pet stores in raleigh, nc. I planned on going to greenville, nc because there is a store I trust there and will definitely have the catfish. I just wish there was some place closer that sold them.
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There's a really nice aquarium shop in Cary called the Fish Room (1259 Kildaire Farm Rd,Cary, NC 27511, (919) 535-3107)

Been there quite a few times. Not sure if they have exactly what you're looking for, but close enough to Apex to check them out. Staff seems very knowledable too. Good luck with the tank, and don't forget to post some pics.
 
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