questions about possible set ups

[side19]

ok, as many of you know i'm moving into an apartment next summer and will be doing a complete over haul of all of my tanks. so here's what my plan at the moment is and i would like you all to tell me if you all think it will work or not and any recommendations you all may have. i'll split it up by the tanks and see how it all sounds to you. be honest, i feel i need to take a step forward in my fish keeping and need to be specific and uncompromising in my fishs' care. so here we go

"community tank"
So this will be the replacement for my 20 gallon that is the result of my beginning and not knowing what i should before i got the fish. ideally this tank will include a school of clown loaches (about 5 or so), a trio of SAPs, possibly a pleco (thinking of giving him away or getting him his own tank) and was hoping for a school of rummy nose tetras. i'm looking for recommended tank size for this to work out, and if it could work out. the way i see it is everyone has their own niche (not sure if the tetras and the puffers will have some over lap) and should leave each other alone for the most part. i'm planning on getting rid of my cherry barbs (or putting them in the extra tank with the pleco), and replacing them with the rummy noses. it would be a very heavily planted tank with live plants and lots of drift wood. again i'd like a tank size and if this would even work.

"brackish tank"

with the 20 gallon empty if the first tank works out i'd like to move Ra and my bumble bee gobies into the 20 and finally turn it into a brackish tank for them. if possible i'd like to add a second f8, but i don't think a 20 is enough for that and am fine with keep Ra as the only puffer as he's quite personable. hoping to have it decorated primary with LR, sand bottom, and maybe some java fern or driftwood if i can't get it to look right with the rock. again do you all think this is feasible and will work nicely?

"imbellis"
so now that i have Bella i'm absolutely head over heels for imbellis. i'm planning on moving her into the 10 gallon Ra is currently in once he gets moved, and adding in another pair (one male and one more female so there's a total of 3, 1 male and 2 females) along with either a small school of ottos or a panda garra if i can find one for algae control and clean up. maybe some cherry shrimp if they could work too. this tank would be very heavily planted with lots of leafy plants and floaters, some driftwood for hiding spots, and subdued lighting/plenty of shade. hopefully i'll see some mating and will have a tank set up for rearing the fry if possible.

this leaves the house with about 4 extra 10 gallons laying around and possibly some other larger tanks if i can get my hands on them for back ups or re-homing if needed. what do you all think of these plans? please be honest, i want to take a step forward and better my techniques and provide the best home for my fish that i can and make up for my previous mistakes from in experience. thanks for any input.

[J-P]

"community tank"
So this will be the replacement for my 20 gallon that is the result of my beginning and not knowing what i should before i got the fish. ideally this tank will include a school of clown loaches (about 5 or so), a trio of SAPs, possibly a pleco (thinking of giving him away or getting him his own tank) and was hoping for a school of rummy nose tetras. i'm looking for recommended tank size for this to work out, and if it could work out. the way i see it is everyone has their own niche (not sure if the tetras and the puffers will have some over lap) and should leave each other alone for the most part. i'm planning on getting rid of my cherry barbs (or putting them in the extra tank with the pleco), and replacing them with the rummy noses. it would be a very heavily planted tank with live plants and lots of drift wood. again i'd like a tank size and if this would even work.

With the fish planned for this one I would say a 60 gal. The 3 saps would do well with unidirectional flow, plants and a "quiet area". The loaches would do well with sand and a bunch of 3/4" PVC caves. Don't know anything about tetras so I am discounting them The pleco should do well to an extent if it has a hiding spot also. The hard part will be cleaning all that pleco poop .. even in a planted tank.

[side19]

ok great! a 60 is perfect as the lfs near me is doing a sale on a 70 with stand, glass canopy, and lights for $300 with the purchase of a filter and heater.

[J-P]

don't forget the pics!

[side19]

definitely will put up pics when i can. the tanks won't be set up for a while, but i'll have pics once i get my hands on everything i need.