Glofish, as their name suggests. are glowy and attractive fish because of their rainbow-like bodies. These fish bring life and color into a dull aquarium and liven up the moon of your tank. They are sometimes also called ‘glofish.’ Their bodies will glow the entire night and light up your tank. Keeping them in the tank might be more tricky because they need a lot of space. If you think that Glofish, being smaller, can fit inside any community tank, you might regret that.
You can keep around 5 to 6 glofish tetras in a small 10-gallon tank. However, if your tank is a 20-gallon one, we recommend having no more than 14 to 15 glofish tetras.
The way glofish tetras are created genetically, they can only grow about 2 inches in captivity. Therefore, using the one-inch-per-gallon rule is useless in most cases. However, if the fish is more than 3 inches, you can skip that rule and go in for a bigger tank than the one you think you need. Let us take a look at what are the tank requirements for Glofish tetras.
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How Many Gallons Do Glofish Tetras Need?
The one-inch per gallon rule does not apply to glofish because they will need their land in the tank. They will also be able to move around as they please because of this restraint. Getting a smaller tank will limit the decoration and live plants, which these fish love.
It is safe to say that you need 10 gallons in the tank to house a family of 5 tetras. For a 20 gallon tank to house a 2-inch fish, you can only keep up to 9 or 10 glofish tetras.
In the case of a longfin tetra, you will have to consider its length. A long-finned glofish grows up to 3 inches. In a 20-gallon tank, you can only keep 7 or 8 of the long-finned glofish tetras.
To house a small family of Glofish tetras, you will need at least 20 gallons. Always go for the bigger tank size than you think you need.
How Many GloFish Tetras Can You Keep Per Gallon?
As mentioned earlier, the general one inch per gallon only works for select fishes. This space does not factor in a tank set up, substrates, hiding places like stones, or plants. Since one Glofish tetra is not more than two inches in length.
In a 10-gallon tank, you can house two glofish tetras; if the fish are long-finned, you can house around4 or five glofish tetras.
In a 20-gallon tank, you can keep 8 to 10 glofish tetras. However, you must get a long tank later. As they grow, Glofish tetras love to jump around and swim horizontally. They will even want to do laps if they get the longer horizontal space.
Can Glofish Tetra be Alone?
Tetras are a very social species. They get depressed easily if they are left alone. They are schooling fish, just Danios. If you have a school of Zebra danio and skirt black tetra, they will coordinate their movements and live peacefully in your tank. For instance, both the danios and the tetras will swim in the same direction. This is very calming to watch, and will lend your community more solidarity.
If you do not keep them in schools, they might suffer from depression and die of it.
How Does An Overpopulated Tank Affect Your Glofish Tetra?
Glofish need their space and community. However, if you fill a small tank with Glofish tetras and other tetras or even other species of fish, then it will end badly for your glofish. One thing that could happen because of an overpopulated tank is depression. As mentioned earlier, if the fish is not comfortable, it will feel depressed, and you will start noticing signs of ill health. Some signs are heavy breathing, a loss of appetite, dull or faded color of the tetras, frayed fins, etc. All of these can occur as a result of an overpopulated tank. This is why we always recommend one or two sizes higher when buying a tank for your Glofish tetra.
5 Best Recommended Glofish 20 Gallon Tank
GloFish Aquarium Kit- All-In-One
This all-in-one kit includes all the basic amenities to set up your aquarium. It contains a 20-gallon aquarium, one LED hood, one Tetra Mini UL Heater, one Tetra Whisper 20 Filter, one GloFish 13” LED Light Stick, and three GloFish Plants, one GloFish Yellow Anemone. The only addition you will have to make is taking your pick of the substrate and adding it.
If you are starting and do not know what products to buy, this tank will give you a good tester of the available products.
Specifications:
- Material: Glass
- Item dimensions (L x W x H): 27.88 x 16.13 x 20.38 inches
- Weight: 15.6 kilograms
- Style: Tank kit
- Shape: Rectangular
Pros:
- Easy to set up and use
- Acrylic build of the tank
- The LED lights, heaters, filters are all-inclusive
- Perfect for beginners
Cons:
- Does not have more extensive tank size options for upgrade.
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The Aqueon 20 Gallon High LED Beginner Aquarium Kit
This tank is the best budget option which comes packed with all vital items. It is also quite affordable compared to its counterparts with the number of products that come with the tank. It also offers the 3-stage filter system, its unique selling point.
Specifications:
- Material: Glass
- Item dimensions: 24 x 13 x 17
- Kit includes: One 20 Gallon Glass Aquarium, sleep LED hood, Filter cartridge, Quietflow Power Filter. Submersible Preset, Heater, Thermometer, Setup Guide
Pros:
- Completely packed with necessities
- Affordable
- Good quality
Cons:
- The tank is not rimless
- The heater could be better
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Aqueon Neoglow LED Tank for Glofish
The tank was designed with the intention of housing glofish. This is why the glass used in the tank is designed to highlight the fluorescent colors of the glofish tetras. Along with the tank, you will also receive reliable LED lighting, a hood, fake plants for decor, stones, rocks, etc.
Specifications:
- Material: Glass
- Item dimensions: 20.25 x 10.5 x 13.13 inches
- Shape: rectangular
- Color: Orange
Kit includes:
- Low profile hood with blue colored LED lights
- Multi-colored gravel
- Black background to highlight fish while hiding power cords
- Water conditioner
- Fish food
- Thermometer
- Fishnet
- Setup guide.
Pros:
- Specifically designed for glofish
- Many color options
- Affordable
Cons:
- No rimless option is available
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Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion Pro 2 Series Aquarium
This tank has a range of impressive add-ons; it is also equipped to clear any algae that will grow in your tank. IT is one of the best options on this list. The DC water pump that comes with the tank is also quite good and, overall, very reliable. It also has adjustable flow rates.
Specifications:
- Material: Glass
- Item dimensions: 23.62 x 19.68 x 11.8 inches
- Style: Lagoon
- Shape: Shallow Lagoon Rectangle
Kit includes:
- Low Iron Glass-Beveled and Polished Edges
- Glass Thickness: 8mm
- Pre-Assembled SafeScreen Mesh Screen Lid
- Pre-Installed Rubber Leveling Mat
- Micromax Magnetic Glass Cleaner, etc
Pros:
- Well-known brand
- Unique tank style
- Built-in filter system
Cons:
- Not affordable
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Fluval Sea Evo V Fish Tank
The Fluval Sea V tank has a beautiful black design and boasts a powerful 3-stage filtration method. The design is sleek and aluminum. The tank is waterproof and tested for leaks. The most impressive part of the design is the canopy. This canopy is helpful for directly feeding the fish.
Specifications:
- Material: Glass
- Color: Black
- Item dimensions: 22 x 15 x 11.5
- Weight: 28 pounds
- Shape: rectangular
Pros:
- Stylish design
- The LED light has both day and night illumination modes
Cons:
- Pricier than the other counterparts
- Does not come as a kit
- You will have to purchase all accessories separately
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Setting Up My 20 Gallon Glofish Aquarium
Once you have selected the type of glofish you want to keep in your glofish tank, you will have to decide on various factors such as tank size, decorations, heater, lighting, filter, etc. First, let us look at how you can set up the perfect tank for your glofish.
Tank Size, Shape, and Type
Setting up a 20-gallon aquarium for glofish is similar to the other fish species. However, glofish tetras count as one of the most active fish. They love swimming, doing laps in the water, and may even try to go out of the tank, though it is rare. When thinking of setting up a tank for them, go in for a rimless aquarium instead of a rimmed one, so you can see them clearly while they explore their surroundings.
You can also go in for a horizontal tank size instead of a longer, vertical one. You may place the tank on an aquarium stand and place a styrofoam sheet for extra support.
Substrate options: Sand or Gravel?
Glofish love sand and gravel, so these are a must in the tank. The sand ensures that all the waste from the tank stays up, so you can easily remove it. On the other hand, the gravel will not look dirty as quickly, but you will need more effort to clean it out. You will have to first wash the gravel well, without soap or any acidic substances, and drain it. Moreover, you can add decorative substances over the stone too.
Also Read: Understanding Aquarium Substrate
Decorations
You will have to remember that decorations such as stones, caves, huge rocks, and plants take up many empty aquarium spaces. To compensate for this occupied space, you must go in for a slightly bigger tank. Sticking a piece of driftwood is advisable only when you have enough room for your fish to swim around.
Also Read: 10 Best Gravel for Aquarium Plants:
Lighting
Glofish does not have any specific lighting needs. A regular LED light in a blue shade would work just fine. If you want the ‘glow’ of the glofish to be more prominent, you can even add a black light. During the day, the glofish does not need a lot of light – you can use a blue LED light to spot the fish quickly.
Filter
No matter how small the tank or the fish is, a filter is essential in setting up a tank. Even though Glofish are not prominent mess creators, they still need a primary sponge filter. The filter will ensure that the water does not have high nitrate levels and often clean the waste. It will also help move the water around and improve the water flow.
Heater
Glofish tetras come from places with a hot climate. This means that the average temperature of the water is usually high. Therefore, if you keep Glofish tetras in a tank at home, you will have to provide an external heater for them to feel more comfortable. A 50-watt heater will do the job of keeping a glofish tetra warm.
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Conclusion
Glo-fish are captive-bred in most cases and will live for 2 or 3 years if cared for well. Essentially, in a 20-gallon tank, you can have your glofish tetras moving and swimming around to their heart’s content. We would always recommend that you go in for a slightly bigger tank, even though 20 gallons are enough. But, as we saw, overcrowding the tank can be bad news for your tetras. Glofish tetras are a shoaling fish, so loneliness does not make them feel better. Something that you can do to ensure that your fish live for as long as possible is to perfect their tank conditions. Adequate water, regular testing, cleanliness, and cycling of the water from time to time will keep the Glofish tetras in good health.