Any suggestion for my 20 gallon long?

[stripedbass]

Set up my first apisto tank about 2 months ago and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. Not looking to breed them now. Just wondering what people think of tank set up, water parameters, stocking, lighting, plants, etc. Thinking about putting some more amanos and maybe some more plants in the front. Any suggestions are welcome I am still relatively new to this.

20 Gallon long
78 degrees
ph- 6.8
kh- 53 ppm/ 3kh
gh- 89 ppm/ 5 dgh

Stocking
1m 1f apistogramma cacatuoides
4 panada cory
6 xray/pristella tetra
2 otocinclus
2 nerite snails
1 amano shrimp


View attachment IMG_5905.jpegView attachment IMG_5902.jpeg

View attachment IMG_5903.jpeg

 

[MacZ]

Much more sight breakers, which means wood or rocks about 10-15cm high, with no chance of looking underneath or around it. Otherwise the male will be able to chase the female to exhaustion and death, while vice versa if they spawn she might be just as aggressive to the male.

I would have taken sand as the substrate. a. because these fish like to chew sand as their main mode of feeding, b. because soil messes with your water parameters (depending on your sourcewater) and you have far to few plants for this stuff to be really useful.

When it comes to stocking: In such a small tank the combination of Apistogramma and Corydoraoid catfish is all but ideal. Brooding females will be relentless because the catfish do not get the concept of territories. Ask Mike Wise, that might cost a cat fish or two an eye.

I would also put in more leaf litter (slowly, because to much at once can cause Oxigen depletion) and Floating plants. The latter for cover and to stabilize your tank, because you have far too little plant mass for this stocking.

That's my immediate reaction.

Edit: And forget about the Amanos.

 

[MacZ]

1m 1f apistogramma cacatuoides
4 panada cory
6 xray/pristella tetra
2 otocinclus
2 nerite snails
1 amano shrimp

Additionally: Expect the Otocinclus and snails to starve. The tank has barely enough aufwuchs (mix of algae and biofilms) to sustain them and they are a pain in the behind to feed supplementary. They rarely go for artificial foods.

I personally would return the Hoplisoma panda and the female Apistogramma and stock up the tetras to 12 instead.

 

[stripedbass]

Thanks for the info. what foreground and floating plants would you recommend?

 

[MacZ]

Floaters: Any. Salvinia, Phyllanthus, Limnobium, Azolla...
Foreground: None, the fish need access to the substrate. More leaf litter instead.

 

[Mike Wise]

Whether or not you want the apistos to breed there is a very good chance that they will try. The end result is often a highly stressed bunch of fish, aggression and death. I would, as MacZ suggested, remove the female if you want a community tank. Remove the pandas (and possibly the pristellas) if you want a breeding tank. Everyone here knows my mantra: a community tank is not a breeding tank (especially in a small tank).

 

[stripedbass]

Whether or not you want the apistos to breed there is a very good chance that they will try. The end result is often a highly stressed bunch of fish, aggression and death. I would, as MacZ suggested, remove the female if you want a community tank. Remove the pandas (and possibly the pristellas) if you want a breeding tank. Everyone here knows my mantra: a community tank is not a breeding tank (especially in a small tank).

@MacZ @Mike Wise Thank you both for your reply’s. I will remove the tetras, pandas, and amano (only there briefly for a bit of algae control). Are otos okay? After I remove all of these other fish i’d like to add pencil fish. These would be the best option if i wanted other fish in the tank correct? which species? Other than this i will add more leaf litter, hard scape, and floating and a few rooted plants. Any other suggestions?

 

[MacZ]

Are otos okay?

If the Apistos breed they are vulnerable to the aggression of the female.

After I remove all of these other fish i’d like to add pencil fish. These would be the best option if i wanted other fish in the tank correct? which species?

Correct. Make sure they are not small enough to fit in the male's mouth. Otherwise your choice.

 

[anewbie]

If the Apistos breed they are vulnerable to the aggression of the female.

Even non breeding my female a. wolli would attack them at the top of the tank on floating leaves when it was over her territory.

 

[MacZ]

Even non breeding my female a. wolli would attack them at the top of the tank on floating leaves when it was over her territory.

yikes!