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My new 20 Gallon Long has been in a fishless cycle for about a month. Apart from a problem with a rusty piece of plant wire (which has been removed and the residue cleaned up) all seems to have gone well. To follow are the latest test results (I think I'm almost there!):

pH 8.0
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrites 2.0
Nitrates 40

Is this a fresh- or salt-water tank? Just curious with the pH being 8.0

-Josh

It's a freshwater tank. I plan to transfer 2 red swordtails and a rubber lipped pleco from another tank once the 20G is fully cycled. Beyond that, I'm still deciding what other fish to add. I was thinking about some cories and/or some tetras.

Harlequin Rasboras are very nice. They are very active and easy to keep.
Lemon, cardinals, neons, rummynose, and pristella tetras are all peaceful fish.

If you go with cories I would choose either pygmy or habrosus cories...since you are going to have a pleco in there.

A good stocking would be:
6-8 lemon tetras
6-8 harlies
2 swordtails
8 habrosus cories
rubber lipped pleco

That is all I would add. And it may be a little full...not sure on that. I'm sure somebody will correct me if it is overstocked.

Or if you wanted, one big school would look nicer than two. You could have 10-12 of the tetras or harlies.

*Kristin*

I really like the harlequin rasboras but I was thinking of putting together more of an Asian themed tank later this year. For that tank, I was thinking of harlies, cherry barbs and maybe a Gourami or two.

This current 20G tank, by the mere presence of the "inherited" swordtails and pleco, is meant to be more of a Central/South American themed tank. I like the lemon tetras but I was leaning more towards the black neon tetras as a nice compliment to the dark orange swordtails.

By the way, I know that 8.0 pH is considered a bit high for the tetras. Once the cycle is complete, I plan on experienting with Blackwater extract and/or peat to adjust the pH down to 7.5 or so before introducing any live fish.

The Asian tank sounds cool.

For the 20g go with the black neons. I thought about putting them in my 29g. They are a nice contrast to the red and yellow fish out there.

I would do one big school of 12. Then have the swordtails and pleco. And maybe a school of habrosus cories. That would be a great south american tank./:'

*Kristin*