In The Future....

[Crossfire]

After my stocking troubles are over in 20 gallon is over, I'd like to rework the stocking a little. Mostly just upping the numbers of already present fish. I'm just a little concerned I am overstocking and I'll push it too far.
It's a 20 gallon long, sandy substrate, driftwood, moderatly planted, slight blackwater, plenty of hidey holes. I do 25-50% water changes weekly, and dose liquid ferts weekly.
Current Stock:

5x Harlequin Rasboras
4x Kuhli Loaches
3x Pink Jewel Tetras
2x Sparkling Gourami
2x Peacock Gobies
1x Cherry Shrimp
2x Amano Shrimp
1x Assassin Snail
1x Oto
1x Glofish


The oto and the glofish are veterans from my first, horrible, beginner tank. I plan on letting them retire in the tank, they've been through too much. I may or may not rehome the tetras, or I'll let them die off.
In the future, I will be doing

8-10x Harlequin Rasboras
2-3x Sparkling Gourami (to spread out aggression)
6x Kuhli Loaches
2x Peacock Gobies
31x Cherry Shrimp
2-4x Amano Shrimp (to reduce shyness)

Now, this is obviously pushing it for a 20 gallon. Would this be ok, with 25-50% water changes weekly? I've stuffed the filter with media, it's a Penguin 150.
Oh, and while I'm at it, my parents are clamoring for a suckermouth cat. Dad wants a whiptail cat, told him no, they get 7inches and need 55 gallons. I keep trying to tell them that plecs are nothing more than a glorified poop factory, but you know, parents So I'm required to ask, would a small plec like a BN work?

This stock change isn't going to happen right away, so there is still room for change.

 

[Crossfire]

Bump~

 

[Crossfire]

Bumpity~

 

[Crossfire]

helloooo~

 

[Crossfire]

Anyone?

 

[Baccus]

I gotta know how will you keep it at 30 cherry shrimp, LOL. Not only are they better breeders than Guppies but the variations/ mutations are addictive. Personally I would get a BN, they are peaceful and won't bother khuli loaches ) your truelove), but as they grow up with one sweep of their tail can clear the substrate.

 

[Crossfire]

I gotta know how will you keep it at 30 cherry shrimp, LOL. Not only are they better breeders than Guppies but the variations/ mutations are addictive. Personally I would get a BN, they are peaceful and won't bother khuli loaches ) your truelove), but as they grow up with one sweep of their tail can clear the substrate.

I've got Sparkling Gouramis who would love an opportunity to munch on a baby shrimp, so they'd keep the population somewhat stable

So, you're saying that with my planned stock, a BN would work? But they poop so much, won't it be a burden on the filter?

 

[thereverendturtle]

A bushynose would be fine, one of the cleaner plecos if you ask me, but you didn't and I'm telling you anyways. If you want the cherry shrimp, and I see no problem with that, start with around 15. They'll get to 30+ before you know it.

Oh, I was going to leave an answer after the first bump last nite, but I'm old and fell asleep.

 

[Baccus]

I have not found BN's to be poo machines (but snails and shrimp on the other hand ), and since you would be most likely to get a juvi BN, the filter and associated bacteria will get a chance to develop with the BN as it grows. You could also use ceramic noodles in the filter to add more area for the bacteria to colonise and I find heavy planting works well with my BN's and corys. So far my BN's have not managed to destroy or totally kill Elodea, Java moss, Fissiden, Java fern, or Amazon swords, even Parrots feather is getting a good grow on now. They did have a good go at my tiger lotus but seem to have lost the taste for that now. And the Banana lilys that I did have the rams horn snails ate to death.
I had a group of 8 sparkling gouramis and they never made a dint in my cherry shrimp population....in fact so far the only thing I have found that will be certian to eat cherry shrimp is my Husbands mothers goldfish. My goldfish however (which are in a pond and bigger than her goldie in a tank) don't seem to be avid cherry shrimp eaters.

 

[Crossfire]

Phew, that's a relief about the Sparklers
Only problem is, the place where I am ordering the shrimp from only offers bundles of 30 and 50 cherry shrimp
I've never had much luck with cherries breeding or living in my 20 gallon, so I'm hoping the big number will help compensate with the losses.

My filter is overflowing with media. One cartride, two filter sponges, a sack of ceramic rings, filter floss, and a fine particle polishing pad

So, this stocking would work? I always thought it was overkill

8-10x Harlequin Rasboras
2-3x Sparkling Gourami (to spread out aggression)
6x Kuhli Loaches
2x Peacock Gobies
1x Bristlenose
31x Cherry Shrimp (or fewer if I can get them to breed)
2-4x Amano Shrimp (to reduce shyness)

Oh, and for plants, I have amazon swords, water wisteria, java moss, java ferns, micro sword, moss ball, tiger lotus, and round pelia

 

[thereverendturtle]

Let me answer before the next bump. Yes, your stocking looks good. You're a more experienced hobbyist, so a slight, and I do mean slight, over stock will be just fine.

 

[magpie]

I talked to this person about shrimp, also highly reviewed, and she has been awesome in answering my questions via email. She doesn't have a minimum order.

http/msjinkzd.com/stocklist/

 

[Crossfire]

Let me answer before the next bump. Yes, your stocking looks good. You're a more experienced hobbyist, so a slight, and I do mean slight, over stock will be just fine.

Thanks turtle, this won't happen until all the tetras have gone to fishy heaven, but now I can't wait!
My parents are excited they can have a sucker mouth fish, but now they can't decide if they want an albino or regular or blue-eyed lemon

I talked to this person about shrimp, also highly reviewed, and she has been awesome in answering my questions via email. She doesn't have a minimum order.

http/msjinkzd.com/stocklist/

They look good! Very cheap, I like it Thanks for the tip