Newbie questions

[shwrestler]

Hey im new to the site, i am years old and just got a 20 gallon high tank. So far i have 2 columbia sharks (not so crazy about them), 1 golden algea eater (is cool but is very agressive for his small size), and 2 tetras that i am not sure of the type they are silver with red fins. My water is at about 80 degrze for the most part.

I would like to get about 4 neons or other tetras or some other fish, does anyone have any suggestions. My c-sharks although are agressive they do not really attack any fish in my tank although they do shortly chase them at times during feeding. I know that they get big but it is a 20g tank so wont that limit how big they get?

My tank is also a little empty when it comes to structure i have on big wood piece, two big plants, and then a rock or two on the bottom. I am looking into getting a ship or some other sort of protection for the golden algea eater because i think that may calm down is aggresion.

Thats all my questions for now Thank you

[Loman]

Hello shwrestler,
Welcome to the forum .

You started to mention your age but dropped that from the post. I am guessing a bit but I suspect that you thought this was important for some reason. Is something significant here and a concern that posts are explained and worded appropriately for your age or am I mis Reading the post.

You say that you just got a 20 gallon tank. Are you familiar with the "cycle" and if so has your tank completed it? Do you know the parameters of your water including ammonia, nitrite, nitrate etc.?

I am not personally familiar with the exact species you mention but they sound as though they can be fairly aggressive. Structure would help if that is the case in providing places fish can hide. I smaller tank has some influence on a fishes size but IMO generally places stress on the fish to retard its growth as it starts to become to large for the situation. Generally stress is not a good thing.

You ask specifically about neon tetra's. I would do some research but be cautious. Neon's can be fairly fragile so if the tank is still cycling I would certainly wait. I would also want to research the compatibility of the sharks etc. with neons/ I suspect there will be some issues but I am not positive.

[Loman]

Not sure what happened to get a double reply. I deleted the second one via the edit.

[shwrestler]

thank you i am 15 years old. I did not cycle it which probabley isnt good but it didnt hurt me to much i have had my tank for about 8 weeks and havnt lost a fish yet, but i am also a little concered about getting neons maybe i will try something a little bigger like a gourami or something? Are guarmis finicky or will they be fine with by water around 79 degreese?

Thanks agina