New 10 gallon FW

ZeeSparrow

ZeeSparrow

AC Members
Nov 14, 2004
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Hi,

I recently set up a 10gal tank for my single male betta. I'd like to make it a community tank. From what I've read, "Tropica" might prefer to stay in his 1 gal, which is fine with me, if that's what he likes. He actually had bubbles today - first time I've seen them EVER (had him for a bit over a year). But I want to give him the chance at more swimming room.

I've ordered some bio spira which I should get Wed/Thurs (thanks to The Fish Store I found through this forum!). In the meantime, I already have 4 very small neons in the new tank. My ammonia level is currently just below 1, nitrIte does not show in tests. Temp is 78F. Should I do water change to reduce the ammonia or is this okay? And how much to change if I should - 20% - or more?

Oh, and what do you think of these in this setup? Too much?

male betta
4 neons
3 kuhli loaches
2 ADFs
5 ghost shrimp
3 cory cats
3 Otos

I also have 2 live plants in there now (no idea what they are - one is a "stem" and the other looks like .... a fern? I'm bad with plant id). I'd like to add java moss - a bunch, some floating some planted. Does that sound like a good plan?

Thanks for all the help you've given me already - I've learned so much!
 
that would be quite a nicely overstocked aquarium you'd have...
My betta's in his 1 gallon with ammonia levels normally above one (which is bad, but i try to keep it low. he doesnt seem to mind that much). i put him in my 5 gal a bit ago and i started noticing fungus on the bottom so i Quarantined him again, but he liked the space. im sure yours will too, provided you dont cram him in with those other 19 creatures. he'll also love the heat! its hard to heat a 1 gallon without boiling whatevers in it. it's best to get the bio-filter cycled, (ammonia will be 0 and nitrite 0, low levels of nitrate). the temperature is perfect. when you add him in watch for a while to see if the fish give him a hard time or visa versa. lots of fish like to nip those nice betta fins!
you should wait for a moderator or senoir member to give advise though, they're more experienced than i am...but good luck on your new tank!
*edit* actually the tank may be okay, the shrimp and frogs dont add too much to the bioload, still best to wait for the opinions of others *edit*
 
Thanks....

... for your super-fast reply!

I was thinking the same thing about the possible overload, which is part of why I posted. Did read something somewhere (nice huh) about the shrimp not adding to the bioload too badly; would gladly reduce quantity of those if advised. Also possible the beta might like them for a snack I hear, so that would reduce things too.

If it IS too much, any suggestions for reductions will be considered. I'd like a nice variety of fish in here, but I know 10 gal won't support much.... some day I'll get the money to do more. I have the perfect spot for a 55 gal already picked out... who wants to bet that I'll be able to last a year before I invest in that one? ;-)
 
Although those fish are small, you will still be overstocked. ADFs and Ghost shrimp dont add much to your bio load, but you still wouldnt be able to keep 3 cory's, 3 otos, and 4 kuhli loaches in a 10gal, esp when you add the beta and tetras (Neon tetras are a schooling fish and prefer to be kept in a group of at least 6)



ZeeSparrow said:
I'd like a nice variety of fish in here, but I know 10 gal won't support much....
Click to expand...

unfortunantly, your right

You can either keep 6 neons the ghosts and the ADF, or you can keep the beta and the ghosts and ADF. You can also stick a oto or two in there as well (i dont know about the loaches or corys; ive never kept them). A lot of people will keep a beta by itself in a 10gal tank. Its really hard to get variety in a 10gal.

The people here are great, so ask away
 
I have a betta and four cories in my 10gal, and I love it. But I don't think I'd add any more than that. Maybe the neons, but you'd have to be religous about maintenance. And like what was said above, neons like to be in groups of 6 or more, and I don't think you should add that many.

But if you already have the neons in the tank, with the ammonia almost at 1, I don't think you'll have to worry about the neons much longer. They're not very hardy fish and the ammonia will be very hard on them, if not fatal.
 
Decisions, decisions

First - should I change water now? Will that help lower ammonia for the neons?

Then, to stocking options. I have the neons. So if they survive.... I also have the betta and really want to try him in this bigger setup. No cories. Less shrimp. Less /no oto. That would put me with:

male betta
4 neons
3 kuhli loaches OR 2 ADFs <-- either/or
3 ghost shrimp
2 or 3 java moss (in addition to 2 live plants i have)

Then later, only IF algae builds up enough to support:
add 1 Oto

Better.... but is it good? The plants help support this some, right? Not to mention providing more hiding places.

I surely appreciate your help.
 
one otto would be plenty, i'd skip the neons, and loaches and shrimp.. and go with cory cats... but that's my personal opinion.. i've found neons are hard to keep unless your tank is cycled fully... i lost almost all of my initial neons cycling a tank... :( uh, for plants i would highly suggest amazon sword and anachris or java fern/java moss...

good luck.. i'm planning on having a similar setup with a betta, 3 cory cats and plants... i think this tank will have lots of activity and beauty
 
Do a water change, yes. While 1 ppm of ammonia isn't too toxic to tougher fish, neons are weak. So keep doing water changes until the ammonia level does not show up. That may be 20% or 10% or 50%. It will certainly help your fish survive better. And don't worry about hurting the cycle, there is still going to be plenty of ammonia to feed the bacteria. Don't forget that you are only registering the ammonia that isn't being used.

As for fish, stick to 1 bottom dwelling fish in a 10 gallon, the ADF, the Cories, The Loaches or the Ottos. The shrimp are not a problem, though khulies might kill them. ADF's tend to need a calmer environment and the other bottom dwellers may just keep stealing his food.
 
TKOS said:
And don't worry about hurting the cycle, there is still going to be plenty of ammonia to feed the bacteria. Don't forget that you are only registering the ammonia that isn't being used.
Click to expand...

That's very helpful information. I didn't know that! I'll definitely do the water changes as soon as I get home from work, until ammonia = 0. Thanks!!

TKOS said:
As for fish, stick to 1 bottom dwelling fish in a 10 gallon, the ADF, the Cories, The Loaches or the Ottos. The shrimp are not a problem, though khulies might kill them. ADF's tend to need a calmer environment and the other bottom dwellers may just keep stealing his food.
Click to expand...

I'll talk this over with my son. He and I are doing this together. We'll probably end up with the loaches, as he likes them best I think. We'll see.

NotCalebSherida - I'd rather the cories myself, too. Figure we'd see more of them than the loaches, but maybe we'll get lucky. And if the neons don't survive this period, we'll not be getting more. Maybe you and I will have very similar 10 gal setup. I'd love to see pics of yours!

Thanks everyone.
 
ZeeSparrow said:
male betta
4 neons
3 kuhli loaches OR 2 ADFs <-- either/or
3 ghost shrimp
2 or 3 java moss (in addition to 2 live plants i have)

Then later, only IF algae builds up enough to support:
add 1 Oto
Click to expand...

i still think thats too many fish for a 10gal. I agree with caleb, dont keep the loaches or ADF, one otto is plenty (esp when teamed up with ghost shrimp). You could probably keep more ghost shrimp than that too. You should try to keep at least 6neons, 4 neons isnt enough to let them school and it would make them nervous. Personally i would do this:

6 neons
betta
1oto (if any at all)
5ghost

even that is pushing towards being overstocked i think

good luck though!
 
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