I just got a 20 gallon tank off of freecycle, but the thing is, it has a 10 gallon footprint! I like having live plants in my tank, but what kind of lighting would I need to keep them alive that far away from the bulbs? Should I put hood lights as well as an outside light in the back, or would that be unnecessary?
I'm also worried a bit about enough oxygen getting in there for the fish with such a small surface to water ratio. Will a 20 gallon pump work alright, or do I need something special for this? I'm only using it for guppies, and I'm not planning on super stocking it.
2007-04-15 12:35:16 · 5 answers · asked by greydrakkon 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
By the way, stupid answers get reported, thanks ya dope.
2007-04-15 12:43:48 · update #1
Sounds like you know a thing or two about tanks already. The extra height for the volume will give you a smaller surface area for oxygen exchange, so you shouldn't stock as heavily as a 20 standard or long (unless you're keeping only male guppies, they'll do their best to stock the tank for you!).
I'd see your biggest problem being one of filtration/oxygenation near the bottom of the tank. This is a situation where I like to use an undergravel filter - by pulling the water throught the filter plate, then up the tube, you'd get better circulation. This might be a problem with having plants, though. An airstone will provide some water movement, but a small submersible pump or powerhead aimed downward will help the circulation more and should create enough current to keep detritus moving so your filter can pick it up. Otherwise, see if you can find (or make) a long extension for the uptake for your filter.
As far as the plants, the added height and reduced width (of tank and lighting) could affect your plants growth. At any rate, they'll grow towards the light so may start to look "leggy". As higher leaves block the lower ones, the bottom leaves will die off. How this might look would depend on the plants you keep. Rosette plants or those producing leaves from the bottom (Anubias, swords, Java fern, vallisneria) will just get longer stems if they need more light. If you have plants that grow leaves along the stems (ludwegia, bacopa, cambomba, rotala), the lower leaves will die off and you'll end up with stems at the bottom and leaves just at the top. If you don't have plants you're going to use in the tank already, you can choose plants suitable for a taller tank with basal leaf growth (rather than stem growth), plant somewhat sparsely (so light can reach the lower leaves), and choose plants that will do better in low-light conditions.
If you don't have a light for the tank yet (or the tank doesn't come with one) I'd see about finding a compact fluorescent hood to fit the tank - or an incandescent hood with two sockets and use two screw-in compact fluorescents. There are hoods for twin "regular" fluorescent strips, but 36" is the shortest I've found, so this would be too large for your tank.
2007-04-15 19:10:16 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is another myth I wish would go away. Footprinting a tank. In short, forget about that. You may or may not need to increase your lighting however for a 20 tall, your regular light should be fine unless you over plant. No additional lights needed here.
Oxygen or should I say dissolved oxygen enters water by way of movement of water against air. i.e. Filter that dumps water into your tank, powerheads rippling across the surface, waterfalls, waves fountians etc. Allowing your tank from being TOO full, only fill your tank to just about the color ban. this will allow your filter to pour water intoyour tank creating more dissolved oxygen. Bubblers are for decoration only and do little to nothing to add air to your tank.
Good luck with your tank!
2007-04-15 17:54:12 · answer #2 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't worry about the double height. I'd simple treat it as if it were a 10 gallon. What a freaky looking tank!
http://www.elmersaquarium.com/images/103_20gal_tall.JPG
I have a friend with a 25, which looks kinda tall, then I saw a 30 extra tall...
http://www.elmersaquarium.com/images/h103_30x.jpg
These tanks are too extreme in dimensions.
2007-04-15 13:53:47 · answer #3 · answered by JJB 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Get a bubbler pump, place tank near mourning sunlight (algae can be controlled with an algae eater), and a filter pump.
Live plants do well in a plastic bucket (no fish), indirect sunlight, and a bubbler.
2007-04-15 12:42:51 · answer #4 · answered by ★Greed★ 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
no!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-04-15 12:38:30 · answer #5 · answered by Mart1n 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋