Cories, Platies, a Beta, and plants...

Beeker

Beeker

Aquariaholic
Oct 8, 2004
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I heard a couple horror stories about getting fish at the pet store. What are my chances of getting decent fish? How do plants affect the chemical balance of the tank?
Since this will be my first planted tank with fish other than feeder goldfish, I would prefer a low maintenance tank as far as plants go and I have picked these fish because, from what I hear from everybody, they sound like good, hearty, sturdy fish.
Any other ideas, suggestions, or information?
 
First of all I love your Beeker!!! He was always my favorite muppet!

Anyway, I am no expert by any means but have been all around this site and others reading my guts out since November. I bought my Betta at a LFS (live fish store) as well as my two spotted cories. I bought the betta, one that looked active and bright colored first. Then after a few weeks I bought 2 spotted cories (they only get to 2" or so although they are only barely an inch now). One of the bigger ones survived but the smaller one did not. He was so little and cute but i think the transfer was to much for him. We went back and got another one about the same size as the other one and they are doing great. (My store was Petco) Mine now are in a 2 1/2gallon and soon to be moved to a 20g.

The best advise I have received is take everything that the LFS says carefully. If doesn't sound logical to you it probably isn't.

I will leave the plant question to the experts. First thing I did was read the cycle sticky at the beginning of the newbie forum here. It was really informative.

Have fun and most of all be patient! What size tank do you have?
Take care
 
tank size

My tank is a 10 gallon tank with a very basic setup. I have a bio-wheel filter and a small air pump. The hood has 2 15 watt lights. That is it. The current fish I have in my other tank don't need a steadily warm temperature so I don't have a heater. Also how do I clean out the tank with the plants in there? I have a python. I probably shouldn't use it in the setup I am planning. Any thoughts?
 
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Help?

I do need answers to the above questions. Please help.

I also stopped by the Petco in town and couldn't find much of anything I was looking for. They hardly had any cories to choose from and I don't think I found any platies or betas at all. The plants they have there aren't even labeled. How would I know what I got or how to take care of them? There is another pet store that just opened up recently. I'll check there but I don't know if they are any good. Does anybody have any suggestions?
 
I'm only partially helpful here...

I keep all fake plants, so I can't help you on your plant questions, but I do believe your python would be way too big to clean a 10 gallon tank. I use a python for my 125g, but they also make gravel vacuums in much smaller sizes. I have a teeny tiny one for my 5.5g tank. If I had a 10g tank, i'd probably still use the tiny one. Even the "average" size gravel vac would suck too much water too fast and you'd end up doing 50% water changes every time. I like the tiny vac for smaller tanks because I like to have the slower suction and be able to be very thorough with my gravel vac'ing.
 
I did have a smaller gravel vac.

My smaller vac. wasn't very effective. My dog chewed it and I had to get rid of it. I kept a section of hose from it for water changes and mild cleaning. I figured when I get live plants I may not have to clean the gravel much. It would become fertilizer for the plants and food for the cories. Is that true? Thoughts? Ideas? Corrections?

I also still need answers to the questions in my previous posts. Please help.
 
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