Need help with Fish and Plant selection - 10 gallon tank

Martyerd

Martyerd

My fish come to work with me!
Apr 4, 2008
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Hi everyone,

First since this is my first post on these forums let me introduce myself. My nickname is Martyred and I just recently moved to Atlanta, Ga. I started a new job and my new workspace is a very dull gray cubicle. Being the creative person that I am it is very hard for me to feel relaxed at work with this type of workspace. I use to have a fish aquarium a long time ago and I remember how relaxing watching the plants move in the water and the fish swimming around and hearing the water from the filter. I have a large desk space with no other purpose then collecting dust and figured I would create a living aquarium.

What I have in mind is a 10-20 gallon tank. Most likely a 10-15 gallon as I might need to move desk plus I don't want to overload my desk with weight. I'm looking to setup my aquarium with living plants as that would be more rewarding and healthier for the fish. I understand that I would need about 20-25 florescent watts for the plants sticking to the 2 watts per gallon rule (not going too high to avoid algae build up in the tank). I also did some research and noted the rule of 1" of fish for each 1 gallon of water (taking into consideration the surface area of the top of the water).

This is all pretty much the basic setup for the tank, what I need help with is selecting fish and the appropriate plants and soil / gravel for the plants. My thinking is to get fish that stay on different levels of the aquarium. It is my understanding that different fish like to hang out in different height levels of the aquarium. So I'm looking to (eventually over time so that the tank can balance) have an assortment of fish that would co-exist at different levels since it is a smaller tank.

The problem that I'm having is that I don't want to purchase the plants until I know what fish I will have, because I want to get the appropriate plants for the type of fish (letting them feel at home), but I have no idea what assortment of fish to purchase. Also I'm not sure what type of soil / gravel to get with live plants as I have only used plastic before.

Feel free to give any suggestions or fish combinations and plants that would give them an appropriate habitat.

I want to do this right and have a aquarium garden as well as happy fish that are fun to watch.

Thanks in advance,
Martyred
 
check with your work and see if they allow aquariums on the desk and what the limitations are.
I work for a fairly large insurance company(medical) they do allow small aquariums on desks with special permission.

usually they are bad as there are computers that are a concern.

computers+water= BAD
 
That was the first thing I checked out before doing research on aquariums ;) . There are no work restrictions and there are a multitude of people who work here with Aquariums of the same size. It is a very relaxed company.
 
those tanks are pretty small(10-15g)
you'll prob want to look at smaller species of fish.
tetras etc. dwarf cories, or inverts.

plants will depend on light.
if you go with stock light you'll need to stick with low light plants. but it's relative to the set up.


I always find that tanks at work are generally n ot a good idea..as you do have to do weekely maint. and upkeep.IE water changes should be weekly and up to 25-50% depending on set up and stocking.
 
The maintenance is not a problem as there is a large community of people who work here that keep their supplies like testing kits and gravel vacuums here at the office. Everyone loves to walk around and look at other tanks in the office. Lets just say this is a very fish friendly office. :)

I guess I'm looking for more specific answers to good combinations of fish and plants.
 
Hi martyerd,
Theres nothing more rewarding than watching your tank and finding yourself relaxed. as far as fish is concerned I would put some small schooling or shoaling fish. I remember thinking that 10 gallon was a huge tank when I was a kid and only recently that I think its small cause I have a larger aquarium. We often forget that a 10 gallon is not a small tank if properly stocked with fish and plants. I suggest maybe a dwarf corydoras for the bottom maybe 3 of em. Fancy guppies are pretty hardy fish and very relaxing to watch (they usually stay near the surface). Some otocinclus to eat your algae. maybe some dwarf gouramis. some danios. platys are usually cheap and colorful but they dont swim together. For plants, try some anubias, java fern, lutwigia, java moss, cryptocorines. oh also, Look into getting a marineland eclipse tank (sizes are 3gallon, 6 gallon, 12 gallon). This are great tanks that are fairly easy to maintain but sometimes its hard to clean the algae of the front cause its made of plastic. Hope this helps
 
I really like the way the Neon Blue Dwarf Gourami look! Thank you for the suggestions, I will look those fish up online and try to find a good mixture. I've been searching through http://www.liveaquaria.com they have good information about each fish they sell as far as temperature and tank size etc. I will look into those plants as well.

What about soil / gravel?
 
If you get anubias, java ferns, and java moss then your gravel could just be anything (pea gravel) because the java fern and anubias rhizome need to be placed above the gravel and not burried. the moss you could just have it floating or tie it down with a sewing thread to a decor or some driftwood. As far as soil:eek3: I wouldnt advice on using unless your super advance. Try looking into ecocomplete for substrate. Have fun plant hunting
 
The Java Moss looks like it could easily take over the tank or grow into the filtration system. I think I will stay away from it for starters. So for live plants there are no "special" kinds of gravel that you need to use? I guess since they are plants I figured they either needed something to attach to, like driftwood, or some type of sand or something.

I read online that fine non-coated natural color aquarium gravel is best to use.
 
Yea for the ferns and anubias you could either attach them to driftwood or just burry the roots but leave the rhizomes above the gravel. I know what you mean about the moss. I got some from dixienut in this forum and its taking over my 12 gallon. just make sure the size of the gravel you are using are small. Non coated are ok. the coated ones are usually a little shiny. Its totally up to you and what type of look you want for your tank. Some use laterite, some use regular gravel, and some ecocomplete.
 
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