20 gallon stocking suggestions

[Anonyfish]

Hi, I was just looking for some stocking suggestions for a 20 gallon (90 litres) low tech planted tank.

So far I am thinking of getting the following (open to suggestions if not suitable):
- 1x Kribensis - I would like two to keep each other company, but I am concerned about aggression during breeding in a relatively small tank.
- 10x Kubotai Rasboras.

I was just looking for suggestions for bottom feeders and algae eaters for the tank.

I was thinking either Kuhli Loaches or some cory’s (though I have not had Kuhli Loaches before), and then possibly some Oto’s for algae.

I would like shrimp, but I’m fairly sure the Kuhli loach would be after then.

Would love to hear any suggestions on the above fish or any alternatives, and just wondering how many of each fish I should get.

 

[CassCats]

Shrimp would be fine with kuhlis, but kribensis in a 20g with bottom dwellers would not work out, too small of a tank. It would have to be one or the other in a tank that size. Krib would eat the shrimp as far as I am aware as well.


What is your GH and pH?

 

[Back in the fold]

I had a dream about Kuhlii Loaches last night . I wonder if I’m going to get some . I like Kuhlii Loaches . In my dream I was putting them in an aquarium with my bare hand and watching to see that another fish in there didn’t mistake them for worms before they got to the bottom . Dreams are weird .

 

[anewbie]

If you stick with kubotai and kribs you could keep two (m/f) kribs as the kubotai are pretty much surface dwellers - the only real issue is the 20 long is pretty shallow and you would be better off with a 29 for greater separation. But yea any bottom fish like kuhli would be attacked by the kribs and quite frankly kribs are a large fish for a 20 long - i think yoiu would be better off with the smaller a. borelli. Again you could go with just a male or perhaps try two. As for lonely - fishes don't get lonely in the same sense as people - there are social structures where schoolers feel more secure in a large group - but that isn't quite the same thing.
-
If you do go with kuhli - i'd dropt he dwarf cichild all together though you could mix in some nice pymy cory or green neon tetra. This is my 20 which has just c. hastatus (20) and green neon tetra (15):

And proof of life:

(the blurry green streak is a green neon tetra )

 

[Essjay]

@Anonyfish As you are in the UK and tanks here are not the same dimensions as American tanks, it would be helpful if you could tell us the dimensions of your tank, please.
For example, a 90 litre Fluval Roma is 60 cm/24 inches long x 35 cm/14 inches wide x 50 cm/20 inches tall.

And I note that 90 litres = 23.8 US gallons, the 20 gallons in post #1 are Imperial gallons as 90 litres = 19.8 Imperial gallons.

 

[gwand]

US Gallon:
Defined as 231 cubic inches.
Equal to 3.78541 liters.

Imperial Gallon:
Defined as 4.54609 liters.
Approximately 20% larger than a US gallon.

 

[Essjay]

An Imperial gallon is 8 pints.
1 pint is the volume of 20 ounces of water. "A pint of water weighs a pound and a quarter"

 

[anewbie]

You know it is bad enough that everyone has a different language; why do they have to also have different measurements. And yes the tank dimensions are important because if it is closer to what we consider a 20 high then it will be too small for the very active surface fishes kubotai rasbora of which i have around 50 laying around here and there and you would want a more passive swimmer like ember tetra.

 

[Anonyfish]

Very sorry I haven’t got back to all your helpful responses. Been a mad week in work and personal life.

Just as an update, I was going to breakdown my current tank, to then put up the new tank that is 90 litres, I am however keeping my current tank which is 80x35x40cm (110 litres)

I went to the fish store today, and have decided I will likely give any cichlids a swerve and stick with corys/Kuhli’s and a few tetras or rasboras, with maybe a pair of honey Gourami’s as my centre piece fish. Seems less risk of overstocking and aggression.

 

[Anonyfish]

Shrimp would be fine with kuhlis, but kribensis in a 20g with bottom dwellers would not work out, too small of a tank. It would have to be one or the other in a tank that size. Krib would eat the shrimp as far as I am aware as well.


What is your GH and pH?

Thanks for the response! Really appreciate that and will avoid the kribs in this tank I think.

I have to admit I haven’t tested parameters (other than ammonia, nitrate and nitrite), for a while as my tank has been well established for 3 years and is very under stocked, but I believe my ph was usually around 6.8-7. Can’t recall my GH but in my area the water is soft to medium.

 

[Anonyfish]

I had a dream about Kuhlii Loaches last night . I wonder if I’m going to get some . I like Kuhlii Loaches . In my dream I was putting them in an aquarium with my bare hand and watching to see that another fish in there didn’t mistake them for worms before they got to the bottom . Dreams are weird .

Sorry for late response, but clearly this is a sign for me to get Kuhli’s.

 

[Anonyfish]

If you stick with kubotai and kribs you could keep two (m/f) kribs as the kubotai are pretty much surface dwellers - the only real issue is the 20 long is pretty shallow and you would be better off with a 29 for greater separation. But yea any bottom fish like kuhli would be attacked by the kribs and quite frankly kribs are a large fish for a 20 long - i think yoiu would be better off with the smaller a. borelli. Again you could go with just a male or perhaps try two. As for lonely - fishes don't get lonely in the same sense as people - there are social structures where schoolers feel more secure in a large group - but that isn't quite the same thing.
-
If you do go with kuhli - i'd dropt he dwarf cichild all together though you could mix in some nice pymy cory or green neon tetra. This is my 20 which has just c. hastatus (20) and green neon tetra (15):

View attachment 353684
And proof of life:
View attachment 353688
(the blurry green streak is a green neon tetra )

Thank you very much for the information. I am going to take your advice and a steer clear of kribs (and probably any cichlids) and stick with a schooling fish, some Kuhli’s and some cory’s. Seems a safe option given the tank size.

Your tank is stunning btw, strong river bed vibes.