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Aquariums: Trying to do right by my fish this time (20g stocking advice)


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Hello, everyone!

I have a 20 gallon tank with a HOB filter rated around 680 L/h. The tank is planted, with wood and plenty of hiding spots. I had some issues in the past with overstocking and subsequent instability that I’ve since managed to fix, so I’m trying to be more careful now and not repeat that.

I’ve kept this tank stable for months and I understand things a lot better than when I first set it up. Back then I got carried away and too excited, and I don’t want to make that mistake again.

Current parameters:

Ammonia: 0

Nitrite: 0

pH: ~7.0 (ranges 6.8–7.2)

GH: 6

KH: 2

Current stocking:

3 mystery snails

1 White Cloud Mountain minnow (I know)

6 Corydoras nattereri

The main thing I want to fix is the White Cloud group. I know it’s a schooling fish, so I want to bring the group up properly again. I was thinking about adding 6 more (so 7 total), but I’m wondering if I could go higher than that in a 20g without pushing things too far. What would be a reasonable group size here?

I’m also considering adding one darter (Characidium fasciatum) which I’ve kept in the past and really liked. I’m just not sure if adding one would be too much considering I already have a full group of corys occupying the bottom.

Basically, what I’m trying to do is:

Give the WCMM a proper group

Avoid overcrowding the tank again

Possibly add a species I enjoy

The final stocking I'm considering would be:

•7 WCMM

•1 darter fish (characidium fasciadum)

•3 mystery snails

•6 corydoras nattereri

I’d really appreciate input on what a safe and balanced stocking would look like here.

Posted by DrMorningstar

2 Comments

  1. One-plankton- on

    Your tank is fully stocked as is, those mystery snails have a really massive bioload.

    I would rehome the white cloud and not get anymore fish.

    Or rehome two of the snails and get a proper school of white clouds without any other fish

  2. Zealousideal_Rip_547 on

    If you’re staying on top of your water changes and monitoring your water parameters you should be fine to add the white clouds like you want. I’d do that and wait 6 weeks or more and if everything is still ok, then consider adding the darter

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