🏠The Neon tetra tank: 60 L, hardware and start-up
Neon tetra : A tank of at least 60 to 80 L, longer than tall to allow schooling. Keep an open swimming lane in the middle and avoid tankmates large enough to eat it, such as adult angelfish.
In short: 3 to 4 cm as an adult, 60 to 80 L minimum for a school of 10, soft water between 21 and 25 °C. Gregarious and timid, it only settles in a tight school of ten or more, otherwise it pales and hides. A small tetra sensitive to osmotic shock: keep it only in a mature tank, in soft, slightly acidic water with subdued lighting.
60 litres minimum: why that number
For a group of 10+ Neon tetra reaching 4 cm as an adult, plan 60 real litres — and remember a big tank is more STABLE, hence easier, than a small one: parameters drift slowly, leaving time to correct. This volume suits a sturdy standard cabinet — just verify perfect levelness.
Hardware: filter, heater, lighting
A filter turning the volume over three to five times an hour, a heater around 1 W per litre set to 21 to 25°C, backed by an independent thermometer — built-in thermostats sometimes lie, and lighting on a timer at 8 to 10 hours a day: any longer and the algae win.
Substrate, plants and start-up
Nutrient substrate under fine sand or quartz, robust plants (anubias, vallisneria, Java moss) and wood to structure the territory. Then patience: a complete nitrogen cycle (3 to 4 weeks, nitrites back to zero) before the first Neon tetra — the step every hurried beginner pays for dearly.
Frequently asked questions
What tank size for Neon tetras?
A real 60 litres minimum for a group of 10+ — below that, parameters drift too fast to catch.
Does a Neon tetra need a heater?
Yes, about 1 W per litre set to 21 to 25°C, with an independent thermometer double-checking the thermostat.
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