starting a new community..3 or 4 breeds?

[rainbowprizimz]

Hi all, thanks for reading. Just needed some input. I have a 10 gal. tank fully equipt, I have decided on 6 fancy guppies(2 male 4 female), 6 cardinal tetras, 4-6 black phantom tetras(equal males and females), and I am undecided on if I can fit an additional 4-6 harlequin rasboras. I plan on introducing the guppies into the new tank first, then about a week later the black phantom tetras, then in another week the cardinal tetras, unless I can fit the harlequin rasboras. If I can fit them then they will be third to go in, and the cardinals last since they are so sensitive to the pH and such. I'd like to get the community going soon, but won't until I know about the harlequins. What do you think? Any advise would be helpful. Thanks again!

[Hebdizzle]

I would say the fish that you have as a basis is stocked too much already for a 10 gallon. If you had a 30, sure.

Aaron

[ChilDawg]

What does "fully-equipped" mean for that tank?

Unless there are a ton of plants, I agree with Hebdizzle on that being overstocked. I would cycle it using Bio-Spira and then only keep the Harlequins in it.

[rainbowprizimz]

Don't worry I am finished cycling, thanks to the wonderful creation of EasyBalance by AquaSafe. It seems to speed up the cycling process. And I won't be too heartbroken if you tell me that the harlequins will overcrowd. 6 gups, 6 cardnials, 4-6 phantoms in a 10gal does seem a little hasty. I just think the halequins would add a nice contrast. grrr maybe I needed a bigger tank lol. Anyhow if I can I would like to have all 4 breeds but if I can't it's ok. Like I said before any input would be helpful for I am often undecided.

[rainbowprizimz]

Well I haven't purchased any fish yet, so I will definetly consider cutting back the numbers. I do have several plants, but I was able to set it up (surprisingly) to where there is a lot of swimming room in the front of the tank. "fully equipt" meaning a small laser system, filter, heater, floating and grounded plants, and various rock formations.

[Dahlia]

Keep in mind your guppies will up the population quite a bit as well. They reproduce... like guppies!

[rainbowprizimz]

Yes I did realize that. I suppose it is just a rumor then that the Black Phantom Tetras will eat the fry? Otherwise I have a spare 2.5 gal tank to transfer them to while they grow.

[ChilDawg]

BPTs, among everything else in a tank, will likely eat guppy fry, but if you plant the tank well, some guppies will get away and increase the bioload of such tank.

[demon_surfer]

even the other guppies will eat the fry, hell even the mother will eat them.

[anonapersona]

This is the sort of situation that brings up the 1 inch per gallon rule. With the size, habits and temperments of these fish, this DOES apply.

So you ought to limit yourself to 10 inches of fish, body length only. So, that is 10 fish or less, total.

BUT, with plants you will want some otos and some shrimp. Maybe a small catfish or other bottom dweller.

So, I think you need to pick ONE group of fish, have 6 or 7 of them, plus 2 otos and one catfish and 2 or 3 Amano shrimp. That's how my 10 G was set up and it worked out nicely.

What sort of light do you have on this 10? Before you add fish, you need to be sure the lighting is good, or the plants will die and pollute the water.

[ChilDawg]

I concur, that's why I picked just a group of Harlequins.

[demon_surfer]

you could get away with two of your original shoals, but if you opt for the rasbora do them by themselves because they can get a good bit larger than the tetras.

[ChilDawg]

Um, they do?

[demon_surfer]

Ive seen a couple that were at least 2 inchs long maybe more.

[demon_surfer]

bah i hate when i do that :o

i mixed the harliquin up with a diffrent fish. it is a rasbora...brilliant rasbora i think. I have two at home..im gonna find them dammit!

yay found em.

look under the red-tail rasbora that is what i was thinking of (http://fnp_rasbora.tripod.com/rasbora/rasbora.htm)

they look alot better in real life.

[rainbowprizimz]

ok thanks for the advise. I'll let you all know what we decide. Thanks again.

[rainbowprizimz]

Hmmm 10 fish huh? Sounds reasonable to me. what do you all think about 4 Black Phantoms 4 Gups and 2 Rummy Nose??

[KateA.]

I would skip the guppies, if it were me. Too likely they will overpopulate the tank. And I always like the look of a larger group- 2 of one kind just doesn't look right to my eye. And I vote for at least one oto, one shrimp, to keep algae in check. So, 4 BPT and 4 rummynose, one oto, one shrimp???? Maybe a couple more somethin' if it's heavily planted. I do like Harlequins in a group too.

Katie

[TKOS]

The problem with having small groups of tetras in such a small tank is that they will end up grouping together. Since you really seem to want guppies I would suggest having a group of all male guppies (that way no babies and they will get along fine) and your favorite group of tetras. That way you have 5 of each group and it will be a nice size group to look at. Then add some snails and ghost or amano shrimp for a little extra fun without hurting the bioload.

You say the tank is cycled but if there is no food source then the bacteria will die within 24 hours. I don't know about the product you say you used to cycle but so far the only product proven to work is bio-spira since it is the only product kept refrigerated. The products kept on the shelves could only last for so long before the bacteria dies of starvation.

[anonapersona]

Originally posted by rainbowprizimz
Hmmm 10 fish huh? Sounds reasonable to me. what do you all think about 4 Black Phantoms 4 Gups and 2 Rummy Nose??

I think the Rummy Nose will be terribly lonely and stressed.

[rainbowprizimz]

Yes I have decide against the rummys until I get a second tank. I did a bit more research about Bio-Spira, and decided to empty the tank and start over with the cycling. I did decide all male gups, and probably a small school of phantoms. I like too many tetras and don't have the tank space, so I am making arrangments for one possibly two more 10 gal.
I am thinking in my first 10 gal gups and phantoms (5 and 5)
and in my second 10 gal cardinals and harlequins.
which will leave my third 10 gal for a nice school of rummys.
It's the only solution I see. LoL. Since obviously I have too hard of a time deciding.
Definently keen on having small shrimp as well in all 3. Thank you all so very much for all of the advise and help. I will keep updates, like I said it will be about 2-3 weeks before I make any final purchases. Thanks again :)

[TKOS]

That all sounds like a great idea. I myself decided on diferent tanks. You are right though that there are too many great choices out there.

[KateA.]

Tetra makes something called Easy Balance, but its not for cycling. Or I'm confusing myself with something similar, very possible I might add. Bio Spira is the only thing I'm aware of that successfully shortens the bacterial cycle. Other products containg enzymes (Cycle, Stress Zyme) don't really shorten the cycle in my experience, but they do lessen the severity. Bio Spira states that you must use Bio Safe and Bio Coat water conditioners with it. You add the Bio Safe one day, Bio Coat and Bio Spira along with the fish the next day.

[rainbowprizimz]

Thanks, I have gone and purchased all three Bio formulas, I have the Bio-Spira refrigerated right now until I get my fish. I completely cleaned out the tank, emptied out the water, and cleaned the rocks with boiled water. I will be starting the Bio-Safe in a couple of days, and 24 hrs. following that I wll be purchasing the fish. Thanks everyone for your help, and like I said before I will keep everyone posted on the progress of my aquarium.

[TKOS]

Yes, make sure to get those fish in before 24 hours or the bacteria will start to die off and you will end up wasting your money.

[rainbowprizimz]

OK thank you all for your help. I went and bought 4 guppies, (2 male 2 female). They did wonderful in the new tank, despite my breaking the cycling rules. They did very well through the ammonia and nitrite spikes, and are very happy now. We had a few problems with the males constantly chasing the females, one of them was extremely stressed, so we decided to make it strictly a guppy tank and went and purchased 3 more females making it a total of 2 males and 5 females. Well, we've had them altogether for about a week, and all of a sudden this morning when we turned on the light, we spotted a fry, then 2 and 3 and so on. We were able to watch the mother give birth to the 7th fry, which was very exciting. I have begun cycling a new tank, for the fry, and will be purchasing a breeding net soon. I talked to the fish store and they informed me that if I end up with more fry than I have tank space for, they will buy them from me to sell in their shop. So I am happy with my choice, and maybe once I have the money I will invest in a 29 gal tetra tank, with rummy-nose, black phantom, and cardinal. Thanks for all of your help!!! Take care.