Improving my 40 Gal

[Keeandra]

This is my 40 gallon tank. Im still a little new to this hobby and I want all my fish to be happy and healthy!! So I'm creating this topic in hopes of getting insight on improving my tank. I dont have a heater though which I was told is not good. What do you guys think?

Im currently housing:

7 phantom tetras
10 neon tetras
1 bloodfin tetra
1 otocinclus catfish
2 bamboo shrimp
1 ghost shrimp
1 clown loach
And several snail species.




I am open to any suggestions! More fish...more plants...adding anything or removing anything.


Fish are friends, not food.

 

[Mr. Nowhere]

I'd add a background of some sort and deff get a heater there cheaper on amazon. I like the blue bottles tho. Are you dosing excel?

 

[Keeandra]

A background, huh? Thats a good idea and it'll change the whole look.

Is there a certain brand of heater that would be best? I know absolutely nothing about heaters. My tanks stays steady between 70-72. Ive always worried that might be too cold.

And I've never heard of dosing excel. This helps control algae?


Fish are friends, not food.

 

[FishCr8zy]

Yes definitely get a heater. All you fish are tropical and need temp 78-80+. I recommend the eheim jagger or Aqueon pro heaters. The clown loach could become a problem when it gets larger because none of the other things will grow to its size to compete for food.
If you don't want a background, I would get some background plants like vals, swords, or other tall plants.


Sent with my fingers

 

[FishCr8zy]

Excel does help control algae and is one of the cheaper ways to do it. You can use metricide as well.



Sent with my fingers

 

[Keeandra]

Thank you! I will be getting a heater real soon. And I appreciate the recommendations.

Although, my otto catfish and all my snails so a pretty good job of keeping algae at bay. I hope they continue to be enough l.


Fish are friends, not food.