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20g long tank equipment / fish recommendations


Saly

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Hi!

I'm looking for suggestions for equipment mostly filters and filter setups on a 20 gallon long. I'm upgrading my 10 gallon tank.  Initially, I was planning on one HOB on one side and a sponge filter on another. I'm still wanting to put a sponge filter in so that it can be ready for a quarantine tank if needed but I'd like another form of filtration as well. Any recommendations? If an hob is suggested, where would be the best placement? And size of filter? 

I'm currently using the aquarium coop 50w heater in my 10 gallon and would like to continue using that but I think I'll have to upgrade. 

I currently have 6 danios and 3 khuli loaches. The substrate will be a mix of sand and colored gravel (my kids tank). Since I have khulis, there will be a large area of sand for them. It will also be a low tech tank, with some plants. Not sure how heavily or light I plan on planting yet but there will be some plants. Plant recommendations are welcome! 

Id like to add more fish in the future, maybe a few more khulis, and some other fish. Hillstream loach? Can they live with khulis? Any active fish recommendations are welcome as well. I had danios with endlers before and the danios always bullied the endlers when it came time for feeding. Any fish I add, id like them to be as active as the danios so they don't get out compered or bullied for food. I'm open to input. 

If you made it this far, thank you!

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Sounds nice! I'm a big fan of kuhlis, I'd definitely add to your group if possible. 

I started a 20 long late in August. Just running an ACO sponge filter and additional air stone. 

Haven't kept danios in years so no suggestions for additional fish. Lots of space available in your tank though!

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1 hour ago, Saly said:

Hi!

I'm looking for suggestions for equipment mostly filters and filter setups on a 20 gallon long. I'm upgrading my 10 gallon tank.  Initially, I was planning on one HOB on one side and a sponge filter on another. I'm still wanting to put a sponge filter in so that it can be ready for a quarantine tank if needed but I'd like another form of filtration as well. Any recommendations? If an hob is suggested, where would be the best placement? And size of filter? 

I'm currently using the aquarium coop 50w heater in my 10 gallon and would like to continue using that but I think I'll have to upgrade. 

I currently have 6 danios and 3 khuli loaches. The substrate will be a mix of sand and colored gravel (my kids tank). Since I have khulis, there will be a large area of sand for them. It will also be a low tech tank, with some plants. Not sure how heavily or light I plan on planting yet but there will be some plants. Plant recommendations are welcome! 

Id like to add more fish in the future, maybe a few more khulis, and some other fish. Hillstream loach? Can they live with khulis? Any active fish recommendations are welcome as well. I had danios with endlers before and the danios always bullied the endlers when it came time for feeding. Any fish I add, id like them to be as active as the danios so they don't get out compered or bullied for food. I'm open to input. 

If you made it this far, thank you!

So I have a ACO medium sponge filter on one side of mine, and an HOB on the other. It works well in my 20L. I'll check the model of the HOB and edit this post with that info later on as I forget right now what it is. 

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1 hour ago, TheresaM said:

Sounds nice! I'm a big fan of kuhlis, I'd definitely add to your group if possible. 

I started a 20 long late in August. Just running an ACO sponge filter and additional air stone. 

Haven't kept danios in years so no suggestions for additional fish. Lots of space available in your tank though!

I headed over to your post and I saw your tank setup. Beautiful. What size is your sponge filter? And how many khulis do you think I can have with this tank? 

 

19 minutes ago, Retrophyllum_minus said:

So I have a ACO medium sponge filter on one side of mine, and an HOB on the other. It works well in my 20L. I'll check the model of the HOB and edit this post with that info later on as I forget right now what it is. 

Cool. I'm thinking of the aqua clear 30 or 50 but leaning towards the 30 since I'll have a sponge filter in the tank too. I'm thinking the flow of the 50 may be too strong?

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26 minutes ago, Saly said:

I headed over to your post and I saw your tank setup. Beautiful. What size is your sponge filter? And how many khulis do you think I can have with this tank? 

 

Cool. I'm thinking of the aqua clear 30 or 50 but leaning towards the 30 since I'll have a sponge filter in the tank too. I'm thinking the flow of the 50 may be too strong?

Yeah, just note that aqua clears are not self priming so if you have a power outage it won't start working again unless you add water to the back again afterward and the pump may run dry until you do which can burn the motor out. 
 

I like the Marinelands myself, and that's what I'm running there but I just don't remember which model. 

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20 minutes ago, Retrophyllum_minus said:

Yeah, just note that aqua clears are not self priming so if you have a power outage it won't start working again unless you add water to the back again afterward and the pump may run dry until you do which can burn the motor out. 
 

I like the Marinelands myself, and that's what I'm running there but I just don't remember which model. 

Oh I see. What size marineland filter do you have and with your sponge filter, do you use the easy flow tubing with it? 

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1 hour ago, Saly said:

I headed over to your post and I saw your tank setup. Beautiful. What size is your sponge filter? And how many khulis do you think I can have with this tank? 

 

 

In my 20 long I have a medium. 

Depends on what else you plan to stock. In my 15g I have 9 with a honey gourami and cherry shrimp. The more your have the more activity you'll see from them. 

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2 hours ago, Saly said:

Hi!

I currently have 6 danios and 3 khuli loaches.

I’d definitely add to the kuhli loaches if you can. They like being in larger groups. 
 

for stocking levels I like the website ‘aqua advisor’. It allows you to add the tank size fish etc and gives you an idea of how many fish you can have.  It’s not everyone’s favourite but I’ve always found it really helps me with a starting point. 

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1 hour ago, Saly said:

Oh I see. What size marineland filter do you have and with your sponge filter, do you use the easy flow tubing with it? 

I actually don't use the easy flow tubing with that one. I do use it in some tanks, not in others.IMG_6636.thumb.jpeg.a17ad516de8d26c25ca9bd04ac622a87.jpeg

the habrosus corys and the apistos actually like to play in the flow sometimes. Or whatever they're doing. 
 

the Marineland is the bio wheel penguin 75 which is great, in my opinion. I also like the tetra whispers, and have one of those plus two sponge filters in my 40 breeder. 

1 hour ago, Saly said:

Oh I see. What size marineland filter do you have and with your sponge filter, do you use the easy flow tubing with it? 

But also, whether you use the easy flow tubing will depend on what you're stocking in the tank and what they prefer for flow and water movement, etc. 

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1 hour ago, Steviesfish said:

I’d definitely add to the kuhli loaches if you can. They like being in larger groups. 
 

for stocking levels I like the website ‘aqua advisor’. It allows you to add the tank size fish etc and gives you an idea of how many fish you can have.  It’s not everyone’s favourite but I’ve always found it really helps me with a starting point. 

Definitely will be adding more khulis. They're so fun. Also one of the reasons I upgraded the tank. 

Thanks for the tip about aqua advisor. I'll check it out.

1 hour ago, HelplessNewbie said:

I like your combo of hob and 1 sponge and spare sponge. If I could redo my 20 long, I would switch to a partial ugf with a sponge and a diy internal filter.

What is a ugf? And I was considering only 1 sponge and 1 hob. The sponge would be used for quarantine tanks of needed. 

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I love the 20 Long tank. It just has such a great footprint and can handle a really nice array of fish species without being too big. 

I want to try the coop sponge with the directional flow, and I think it would be really good for a 20L. With the standard straight uplift tube, it is a little difficult to get all the water movement you want since the tube is so close to the tank height. 

 

I have a 20L with two sponge filters and a fluval aquaclear, mostly for flow as it is a pleco growout tank. It works nicely.

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1 hour ago, Saly said:

What is a ugf? And I was considering only 1 sponge and 1 hob. The sponge would be used for quarantine tanks of needed. 

Under Gravel Filter. If you are interested in that, I highly recommend researching first, and trying on a smaller scale or in a test tank that you don't mind undoing or redoing. I read a lot about ugf particularly on this forum, and probably shouldn't have done it first on my largest tank (see 65g in link), but liked it a lot anyway. Nevertheless, I always set up with at least 1 more type of filtration for backup purposes. So, I still think your plan for hob and sponge is excellent.

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2 hours ago, HelplessNewbie said:

Under Gravel Filter. If you are interested in that, I highly recommend researching first, and trying on a smaller scale or in a test tank that you don't mind undoing or redoing. I read a lot about ugf particularly on this forum, and probably shouldn't have done it first on my largest tank (see 65g in link), but liked it a lot anyway. Nevertheless, I always set up with at least 1 more type of filtration for backup purposes. So, I still think your plan for hob and sponge is excellent.

Hmm that sounds interesting. I'll read up on ugf. Thank you! 

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3 hours ago, Huck said:

I love the 20 Long tank. It just has such a great footprint and can handle a really nice array of fish species without being too big. 

I want to try the coop sponge with the directional flow, and I think it would be really good for a 20L. With the standard straight uplift tube, it is a little difficult to get all the water movement you want since the tube is so close to the tank height. 

 

I have a 20L with two sponge filters and a fluval aquaclear, mostly for flow as it is a pleco growout tank. It works nicely. 

Yeah I'm considering adding the directional flow to my aco sponge filter. I got it pre - directional flow tubing. It wouldnt be too much flow at the bottom of the tank right? With the HOB and the sponge w/directional flow tube? 

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I would just do a large sponge in one corner, your small quarantine sponge in the other, and then a ton of plants. 

Here's my 20 long with just a large ACO sponge. If has 8-10 Fundulopanchax Gardneri (killifish), a pair of flag fish, and a bristle nose.

PXL_20241026_161123670.thumb.jpg.4e344277c283c079674ed54a20f3ffb5.jpg

Gardneri killifish are very active and not shy at all. They could be fun in your tank as long as you have a tight lid. 

PXL_20241013_165257354.thumb.jpg.3d3bae4278edd323e437eebc3fe94d12.jpg

 

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15 minutes ago, Schuyler said:

I would just do a large sponge in one corner, your small quarantine sponge in the other, and then a ton of plants. 

Here's my 20 long with just a large ACO sponge. If has 8-10 Fundulopanchax Gardneri (killifish), a pair of flag fish, and a bristle nose.

PXL_20241026_161123670.thumb.jpg.4e344277c283c079674ed54a20f3ffb5.jpg

Gardneri killifish are very active and not shy at all. They could be fun in your tank as long as you have a tight lid. 

PXL_20241013_165257354.thumb.jpg.3d3bae4278edd323e437eebc3fe94d12.jpg

 

Oh wow that's a cool looking tank and great looking fish. I love the wall of vals in the back. 

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I'd definitely agree on adding more kuhli's, I put 6 in my 20 long about a month ago and they seem to be doing great. They hide most of the time but do come out every day especially when feeding.

 

I have one hillstream loach and she can push the kuhli's around at feeding time but they just ignore her now. 

 

For the kuhli's I'd recommend plenty of hiding places to make them feel comfortable. Rocks, plants, wood.

 

pygmy corys? I fancy adding these soon, could add minimum 10.

 

I have Otto's but wouldn't add them to a new tank. Mine are captive bred though and will take prepared foods although they're a bit shy when it comes to feeding time.

 

 

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I am a fan of UGF and have them set up on all of my tanks.  I modify the uplift tube to run with Easy Flow lift tubes to give the tank good flow.  I also typically use something to add mechanical filtration.  I like using old school Lee’s triple flow box filters with gravel in the base for weight and ployfill for mechanical filtration.  A medium size allows an easy flow kit to friction fit on the top.

 

I do not throw the filter floss away, but simply sizzle and squeeze it gently in dechlorinated water to clean it once a month.  If feel the Less gives superior mechanical filtration, and is easier to pull out of the aquarupium without releasing all the dirt over using a bag to put the sponge fikter in trick…

 

 

as to upgrading the heater, I use a co op 50 watt heater all by itself on my 29 gallon tanks without any problem keeping up.

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