stocking 20 gal long

[zelilaa]

How should I stock a 20 gal long?

* I want to make it a planted tank- using this layout.
* I will be putting in 5 african dwarf frogs (I realize the difficulty of feeding them in a community tank)
* I LOVE redish orange colored platys, so I would like to have several painted platys or tuxedo platys, or the most common, sunset platys

 

[SeverumGuy]

All the fish you listed will do great in a planted tank. The dwarves won't grow big enough to move or uproot the plants. I would go with about 6 red platys and 6 tuxedos or another platy you like. I wouldn't go with more than 12 platys if you're going to have 5 frogs. You will also be fine getting three types of platys and just doing small schools of 4, but I feel like 6 of each is better for them and it's not too confusing with only two kinds. What plants are you interested in?

 

[zelilaa]

All the fish you listed will do great in a planted tank. The dwarves won't grow big enough to move or uproot the plants. I would go with about 6 red platys and 6 tuxedos or another platy you like. I wouldn't go with more than 12 platys if you're going to have 5 frogs. You will also be fine getting three types of platys and just doing small schools of 4, but I feel like 6 of each is better for them and it's not too confusing with only two kinds. What plants are you interested in?

Thanks Sev! I remember you
The plants I'm interested in are the ones in the layout plan, java fern, and marimo balls.

 

[SeverumGuy]

Are you marimo balls the same as the "moss" balls that they sell at petsmart? If so, they get 12" in diameter so you'll need to trim them a lot cause that'll take up a world of room in a 20g

 

[zelilaa]

I'm not sure yet. I will be buying the marimo balls online from someone because I don't want to have to get them @ Petco or Petsmart and be unsure of their true-marimo-ness. If they grow too big, I most definitley be trimming them! They will be staying under 5 inches long. Always.

 

[ChizerBunoi]

When the marimo balls get out of shape, just take them out and spin them around in the palm of your hand. If they get too big, just split them.