Tank temperature and stocking tips

[limeon8]

My 20 gallon tank's been sitting at 78°F, but I'm not sure if that's too high for the Neon Tetras and Corydoras I wanna add. Heard mixed things about temp ranges. What's y'all's take?

[Briko]

78°F is actually pretty solid for both Neon Tetras and Corydoras. They'll do fine in that range, but keep an eye on consistency. Big swings mess with their stress levels.

[luminarix]

Agree with Briko. My Neons thrive at 78°F. Just make sure your heater's reliable. Had a cheap one fail once, and it was a nightmare.

[shorey7]

Yep, 78°F is chill for those guys. But hey, what's your substrate like? Corydoras love sand, and it's easier on their barbels. Gravel can be sketchy for 'em.

[limeon8]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I've got sand in there already, so that's one less thing to worry about. Gonna double-check my heater brand too.

[Briko]

Yep, 78°F is chill for those guys. But hey, what's your substrate like? Corydoras love sand, and it's easier on their barbels. Gravel can be sketchy for 'em.

Good call on the sand. Also, how often are you doing water changes? Corys are sensitive to nitrates.

[luminarix]

I do 25% weekly changes for my Cory tank. Keeps nitrates under 20 ppm. They're way more active when the water's clean.

[shorey7]

Same here, weekly changes are key. And don't forget to vacuum the sand lightly. Corys dig around a lot, so debris builds up faster than you'd think.

[Briko]

Yeah, sand can trap gunk if you're not careful. I use a turkey baster for spot-cleaning between changes. Works like a charm.