Planning On Getting A 10-20 Gallon Tank...need Help Choosing...

[Goober]

Hello everybody...Thanks to all you people who directed me in the right direction on Upgrading to a bigger tank if I wanted more fish...Well obviously my 3 gallon tank that I have right now only can house my Betta...So I've decided that I want to get a tank 10-20 gallons...I'm still wondering if there would be any tips from you guys like wether to buy a 10 or a 20 gallon tank...have a heater...and stuff like that ...o and i would like to have some supplies to keep my fish healthy and make my aquarium looking good...Can some of you guys tell me good stores to get it at ( that are well known in the U.S). Please also add some good fish that the 20 gallon tank can hold...Most likely im prooably gonna get somethin in the middle like a 17 or a 15 gallon tank so please don't think that its a full 20 gallons just rounding it up to my prediction......

You can e-mail me also my e-mail and AIM screen name is at the bottom if you guys have any tips...Thanks!

 

[GSD]

Regarding the tank-the bigger the better basically.I hear walmart has cheap setups.although ive never been.

it depends what sort of fish you like.I suggest cories for bottom feeders but theres hundereds of types of fish,and also depends how experienced you are.

 

[modernhamlet]

Hello everybody...Thanks to all you people who directed me in the right direction on Upgrading to a bigger tank if I wanted more fish...Well obviously my 3 gallon tank that I have right now only can house my Betta...So I've decided that I want to get a tank 10-20 gallons...I'm still wondering if there would be any tips from you guys like wether to buy a 10 or a 20 gallon tank...have a heater...and stuff like that ...o and i would like to have some supplies to keep my fish healthy and make my aquarium looking good...Can some of you guys tell me good stores to get it at ( that are well known in the U.S). Please also add some good fish that the 20 gallon tank can hold...Most likely im prooably gonna get somethin in the middle like a 17 or a 15 gallon tank so please don't think that its a full 20 gallons just rounding it up to my prediction......

You can e-mail me also my e-mail and AIM screen name is at the bottom if you guys have any tips...Thanks!

The cost difference to set up a 20g tank vs. a 10g tank is negligable. If you have the space, take the 20g. The difference in what you can stock in a 20g long and a 10g... or even a 15g... can be substantial.

 

[houndour]

The cost difference to set up a 20g tank vs. a 10g tank is negligable. If you have the space, take the 20g. The difference in what you can stock in a 20g long and a 10g... or even a 15g... can be substantial.

I agree. I would get as close to a 20 gall as you can. Ideas: tetras, gouramis, corydoras, livebearers, small botia, blue rams. Best to choose what fish you like then we'll tell you if the stocking plan is suitable and if they are compatible.

Avoid red tail black shark, plecs, clown loach, silver/bala sharks.

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, here in the US most square tanks found at petstores are 10 or 20 gallon, there's not a lot of 15s around unless you go to odd shapes like hexagons or something like that. Where in the US do you live? The most common "chain" petstores which are decent for buying equipment would be petsmart or petco. Its different in every locality as to which one is larger and offers more selection, but where I'm from its petsmart. I'd be comfortable buying my hardware from there.

That being said, I wouldnt buy fish from those stores if you paid me. Their tanks (at least where i'm from at both stores) are cheaply constructed, often intercommunicated, cheaply filtered, and just not healthy. That translates to poor fish health before you even get them home. If I were you I'd look up some local petstores in your yellow pages and check those out first. There's usually a couple really good shops that are locally owned and run in most cities which have much better quality fish. I get all my fish from a local store called Markheim Pets since they actually care about their tanks. However, sometimes I'll go elsewhere for hardware purchases as they aren't the cheapest in that department.

As far as reccomendations go, I'd grab a 20 gallon if I could as the price isnt much different between the two and you can stock lots more in a 20 than a 10. Also, try and go for somewhat of a standard size (24" or 20" long cause in the future if something breaks replacement parts are easier to find that way . You can also save a bunch if you buy bundled products or kits which have everything you need to start (filter, heater, substrate, plants, lights, hood, etc).

I agree with the fish reccomendations here, perhaps also a dwarf gourami or ottos once the tank is a little established might help