Any suggestions for my tank? (pic)

[often dignified]

Here's my 10 gallon w/ Penguin 125 that I've had setup for nearly 3 months. I have 4 Zebra Danios, 2 Otos, 1 Agassizi Cory (getting 2 or 3 more tomorrow), and 2 African Dwarf Frogs. I wanted to go planted, but I couldn't get any good results, so all but 2 are fake. I want to get some short plants for the foreground, kinda like a pygmy sword or something, but I would have to mail order, which is expensive. What do you think?

http://www.edinboro.edu/~t181604w/pics/aquarium.jpg:)

[Hans]

id swing the thermometer aroudn to the side, mabey get some beach pebbles.. and a few sticks oh and a chocolate gourami :)

[often dignified]

I tried it w/ the thermometer on the side, but I have my stereo next to the tank, so that doesn't work. It has to be on the front for me to be able to see it :mad: :p

If I put it on the right hand side, it wouldn't be as accurate because my heater is other there.

[jeffro426]

I think it looks pretty darn good!! However, if it was my tank, i would ditch that background and go with a plain black one...but thats just me.

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

I would suggest you move the driftwood/rock thing over to one side of the tank or the other, and not have it centerd. Push it back as far as it will go to allow for the most space in the front. Plant all the tall plants in and around the corner of the driftwood, trying to hide the filter tube as best you can. Getting a black background will help camoflauge it as well. You might need to add some more plants if you do this. Move all the medium sized plants to be infront of the larger plants, but behind the driftwood. As you said, get some smaller plants to go infront of the driftwood and maybe some anubias to grow right on it.


Also, get some 'clumps' of the same plant, and not have all different kinds.


Thats what i would do, it would help 'organize' the plants a little better and make better use of the space available.

:D

[ewok]

i think it's pretty neat. :)

[Must4ng s4lly]

get some cory friends for yer lone cory, add some live plants and shells. A lot of peeps think shells are bad, but I got em in all my tanks with no probs!

[adblair]

I agree... it looks pretty good! Before you spend money on more plants - do you have the right lighting for the plants you want? How many fish do you plan on having in your 10 gallon? I'm not an expert on lighting or on bioload, but there is some great information on here from people who are.
Don't give up on live plants, IMO they are definately worth it! I'm just a semi-newbie, so I don't wanna dole our advice, but I suggest that you do a little digging around here and make an informed decision on what plants might be right for your conditions. I did and I have yet to kill a plant this time around! (Don't call me a green thumb just yet, I ALMOST lost one new plant, but I think it is going to be fine).

[cdawson]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by often dignified
[B]Here's my 10 gallon w/ Penguin 125 that I've had setup for nearly 3 months. I have 4 Zebra Danios, 2 Otos, 1 Agassizi Cory (getting 2 or 3 more tomorrow), and 2 African Dwarf Frogs.

You're seriously overstocked, unless you get rid of several fish you're going to be having ALOT of disease problems, and if you decide to try and grow plants you'll have algae problems as well.
You should have 1" of adult fish size per gallon and 1/2" of adult fish per gallon if you're planting.

You've got 10g and about 14" of adult fish, including the dwarf frogs.
I'm not try to rain on your parade here, but just trying to help you out before you decide to grow plants and experience the dreaded BBA (Black beard algae), it's a plant keepers nightmare.
It's also disheartening to have alot of disease problems when you start out.

If you improve the conditions and want to grow plants, I suggest compact flourescents instead of going with standing 15w flourescent tubes. Having used both, CF is by far WAY better than using standard tubes. You should also have a substrate of at least 3" depth.

[PartyAnimal1UK]

don't mean to be rude but are you sure thats a 10 gal, it looks a lot bigger to me, i can't remeber but there is a way of working it out by times length by width and dividing by 3 or somethhing like that

[tomm10]

I have a 10g as well and I manage to get pretty good results with live plants. Don't give up yet!

I have the stock hood that takes screw-in, incandescent bulbs. I replaced those bulbs with screw-in compact flourescents at 10 watts each. This amount of light in a 10g will allow you to grow a lot of different plants. The trick is in picking the plants.

I am having tremendous luck with Rangeri sword plants in both my tanks. In fact, in my 8g with 2.5 watts per gallon the Rangeri is growing almost out of control.

I also have had pretty good luck with microsword but I have had to be careful to keep it in the light and out of any shade.

I have had zero luck with wisteria and anacharis, however. they both needed a little more light than I could provide. I think at 3 wpg they would have survived.

[TKOS]

I wouldn't worry about being too overstocked right now. Though I wouldn't add more than 3 total cories (2 more). However, be aware that you must be diligent about water changes. The only fish you have that are bigger watse producers are the frogs. Weekly 25% changes should keep everything good, and the plants will only help. Algae is only a problem if you let it be one. When beard algae comes along cut the leaf off and do a water change. Feed lightly and don't have your flourescent on for more than 10-12 hours a day. Always do yuor algae cleaning before a water change.

I would hold off on mail ordering plants for a 10 gallon. The cost of a couple plants is generally too high. It works great for larger tanks that hold tons of plants. Perhaps a little java moss in the front would look nice but I think your tanks is looking good right now.

[adblair]

it is also important to keep in mind how big the fish will be when they are grown. I had a silver dollar that was penny sized when I got him and within a few months - BAM - he was HUGE! He outgrew my tank and I had to GIVE him to a LFS.
Here's a quick reference:
zebra danios - up to 3 inches
the cory - up to 3.5 inches
otos - up to 2 inches
Here is the link I used for that info:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=941
I don't know anything about frogs.

[cdawson]

yeah, like I said 14" of adult fish. 18" if you get two more cories.
TKOS: to an advanced aquarist overstocking a tank that size is ok to someone who knows how often you should change the water on a tank that size, not for beginners.
OftenDignified: take it from me, just start slow. Lower the bio-load in the tank significantly and work your way, you don't want to get in over your head here. Which is definately what will happen unless you remove some fish.

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

The trouble is all the fauna he has in there likes to be in groups. Ottos do too, i'm assuming, and the frogs.

We tell him to lessen the load- but how? Maybe exchange the agazzii cory for some cories that stay smaller like pepper ones (3)? I love danios so i don't want to tell you to get rid of them. I thnk they are great fish. 4 is a good number for that tank. The ottos, i don't know what to do with i've never kept them. Maybe exchange the 2 for a CAE (chinese algae eater) if your worried about algae.

That will help lessen the load. The frogs, i think are fine, or maybe set them up a little 5 gallon all to themselves? :p

Hope that helps,

Diana

[adblair]

right cdawson - I just wanted to let often dignified know exactly what he/she'd be doing by adding/subtracting more of each fish.

Hey... I have a solution.... how about a bigger tank!:D

Cories are great cleaners, so you probably need him. I like my otos because I have had algae problems, but I also have SAE's and they are great because they eat algae and fish food, but more fish food I think. I've never had any danios, but if you decide to keep them, eventually you won't be able to have anything else in there. Ultimately it's your decision, but I find that life is much simpler now that I have joined Overstockers Anonymous and have been moderately stocked for months. :) Don't feel bad though. I think we have ALL overstocked.... it is just so easy, those fish are just so darn cute and they practically beg to come home with you!

[TKOS]

I don't see a problem with having test kits and doing proper water changes. It really isn't all that hard to do, it requires some patience and dedication. You just have to make sure that water gets changed when it needs it or every week at minimum. Plus I don't even know how much experience "often dignified". Just because a person is new doesn't mean they can't learn pretty quickly.

I prefer a small bioload personally. The main problem I have with overstocking is when the fish don't have room to properly swim around.

[tomm10]

I agree with you wholly, TKOS. I'm pretty new to this hobby as well and my overstocked 10g is doing fine. I keep an eye on it, over filter it, and change 20% or more of the water weekly on top of keeping the water level topped off.

My only concern is that they need a little more swimming room which is why I am prepping the 29g for them :D

[adblair]

There are of course always exceptions to the rules of stocking an aquarium. Fish are like people. Some don't mind being dorm or apartment dwellers, and some would just die if they didn't have 10 acres to themselves. Of course the more roommates you have the greater the chances someone will #2 in the potty and not flush. Just depends on what you're used to I guess.

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

:laugh: I think that is the most interesting analogy i've ever heard in regards to stocking fish tanks. LOL!
:D

[often dignified]

Overstocked?

Are you all referring to bio load or fish load? Half of my inhabitants are bottom dwellers, so there is PLENTY of room for 4 danios to swim around. Yea, cories might get to be 2" long, but who are they interfering with? My other fish and frogs don't even know that the cories exist. I'm not dumb enough to put a pleco in there, so don't treat me like a moron. I feel my filtration is capable of taking care of a high bio load if that's what you are referring to.

I am very cautious of my water quality also. I had some trouble before, but narrowed it down to chloramine and Wardley's chlor out - leaving ammonia in my water and losing fish during every water change. I know that water quality is very important, especially in a small tank.

I now have the chloramine problem sorted out. The fish seem happy enough to me, so I don't see any problems. Getting a bigger tank is not an option right now, and I also have more important priorities.

So stick to putting 1 fish in your 55 gallon and I'll continue with keeping my current fish.

[Slappy*McFish]

I don't consider that tank to be 'overstocked' by any means. It isn't crowded(plenty of space for each fish to swim and live...and none of the fish grow too large for that tank nor do they produce alot of waste(with exception to the frogs, maybe). Overall, I think you are fine as long as all your water parameters are acceptable. If you eventually add more live plants to the tank, even better.

[adblair]

You asked for our opinions didn't you?

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

I personally don't think its overstocked. I mean, lookie at my 20 gal.

I was just pointing out that people are saying "BLAH BLAH you have too many fish BLAH BLAH overstocked" but not offering any actual advice on how to handle your situation.

So if you were to do something about it- i offered advice.

But i would be a little concerned if you got 3 more cories.... since a 10 gal doesn't have a very big footprint, thats a lot of bottom dwellers for a 10 gal.

But, as with anything else, its all ultimately up to you and we are just trying to help a little.

:)