Starting new 10 Gallon In a week, Need opinions and answers...

[Mantis_22]

Today I went to my LFS and got a whole bunch of neww goodies to start YET another 10gl tank setup. Heres the stuff I got,

10 gl Glass All-Glass Tank
10 gl Flouresant Lighting Hood
1 Aqua-tech 10-20 Powerfilter
2 Bags of 5lb Black Gravel
1 Digital Thermometer
1 Whisper 5-15 Heater
And a Dark Gradient Blue-Black Background

Here are some of my questions..

- What fish should I get? Try thinking of fish with very vibrant colors and are active, mainly middle and top dwellers. Im thinking of going either with 2 Dwarf Gouramis with 4 cardinals or 2 Dwarf Gouramis, 1 Clown Loach (Juvenile Growout), and 2-3 Albino Cories. Any suggestions??

- Should I make this tank sparingly planted? I am growing aquatic plants in my greenhouse as of now and are sprouting and thinking of throwing a few of these puppys in :).

Any ideas, suggestions, or opinions please say :D

[Mantis_22]

I forgot to add, Im going to cycle this tank BEFORE hand with some cycling cherry barbs I have in another temporary tank, the fish I listed are just for when it is established :D

[ChilDawg]

Well, then, add some Bio-Spira before the Barbs...we don't condone fishy cycling here! :)

[Mantis_22]

I dont use Bio-Spira, neverless any product which enhances Bacteria growth other than Stress-Zyme. I I sparingly use that either. I do it the best way, see it with filters, ornaments, gravel clumps and such from a cycled and safe tank :). Best way to go if you ask me then get jiggy with chemicals...

[Skittyfish]

Clown loaches prefer to be in groups. If you get just one it will most likely hide all of the time. I have 6 and they pretty much show themselsves all of the time. The largest one will actually chase my Kribs away if it finds some food it really likes.

[mogurnda]

For a tank that size, a pair of honey dwarf gouramis would be great. They are smaller than the dwarfs, which is a plus in a small tank, and the male becomes quite beautiful when he settles in.
I agree about the clown loach concerns. Why not a smaller species? Darter (sidthmunki) and zebra (striata) loaches are wonderful, if you can find them.

[ChilDawg]

Kuhlis wouldn't be a bad choice, either...

[Mantis_22]

its rare to find those fish here, ive checked everywhere. Anyways I think I'll just go with the Dwarfs