Want a community tank

[enufluvfor3]

Money is tight and hubby will divorce me but I love my bettas and am seriously considering a community tank. The area I want to put it in my home is able to accomodate a 24" long, 15" wide, 18" high. I was thinking 12 gallons, but I could go larger if it would fit these dimentions. A kit would probably be best for me as I really don't want to shop for everything seperately. I have seen a suggestion for a top fin 29 but haven't been able to find one on the net to look at. I already have pleanty of conditioner, some bio spira (if I choose to go that route, dont' want to kill any fish), and whatever accessories I may need besides hideys and plants, but the main stuff like the tank, filter, heater, thermometer, etc I will need to buy. Any good suggestions.

Also I am thinking about inhabitants. I would love some fancy guppies, some cory's (probably pandas), maybe some white clouds. Not sure, I'm still investigating. Any good ideas on this too would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Oh, by the way, I am new to this forum, I'm sure you can see from my specs.

[VoodooChild]

We can help you out! I believe that a 20H will conform to that size space, but someone chime in if I'm incorrect. I'd recommend buying your tank and lights at your LFS because shipping online makes it cheaper to buy locally. If you don't have a stand you'll need one, otherwise something that can hold 250 lbs (overshooting here, but it can't hurt). I'd then go to www.bigalsonline.com/ or www.drsfostersmith.com/ and order the following things, which will be MUCH cheaper online, even with shipping.
A good filter-for a 20 perhaps an Aquaclear 150 (my favorite), Marineland 170, Whisper 30, or something else of equivelant value.
A 150 w heater, preferably Tronic or Ebo-Jaeger
20 lbs of gravel, your choice (I'd buy this from the LFS too)
A good stick on thermometer
That should cover you. The fish you suggested would be just fine for the 20 and would work with a male betta too. Expect to end up paying around $100-150, not too bad.

[val]

Heidi, to Aquaria Central, home of the most helpful fishkeepers on the internet:)

Another way to get a tank cheaply is to look in your classifieds or hit yardsales. Even if you don't like yardsaling, you must have a friend who does, so that person can look. There is always someone getting out of this hobby.

I do strongly recommend Ebos as heaters, and I'd think a 100w heater would be sufficient.

As for your fish mix, white clouds like cooler temps, so I wouldn't mix them with your cories. I set up a tank of guppies for a friend and I really enjoy her tank. I have 20 or so guppies and a good match for them is a pair of mollies. Being black and just a pair they stand out fairly well. I was going to go the whole livebearer theme and I tried two pairs of swordtails, but both pairs died, so I don't try that anymore...

If there is anything else we can help you with, let us know...

Val

[ChilDawg]

I agree with Val almost completely, but there is something you should know about the Corydoradinine catfish: If you were to get Corydoras paleatus, oft-called the Salt and Pepper Cory, you would be okay in putting them with White Clouds as they, too, like cooler temps than most tropicals. Most other species of Corydoras readily available to hobbyists, however, would not take so kindly to cooler temps.

[VoodooChild]

Whoops. Yeah Val is right. A 100 w is plenty fine. I don't know where I got 150w.

[demon_surfer]

If you live in the US hit your local walmart hit it up, i found they usually stock an aquarium kit that has everything but the stand. i got a 29 galloner et al for 80 some bucks. worth a look and you can get a general idea of the size of the tank from there. Not sure of the price diffrences between there and say bigals, but im sure it will be worth checking out.

[enufluvfor3]

Okay, I got a 10 as that seems to fit the best. I am going to try the Bio Spira and they said they would refund me or trade me if it doesn't work. I got two panda cory's, 3 tetra (pink color, forgot the name), and 2 molly's. Don't know why I decided against the guppies, but I like the ones I got. I do hope it is enough that they aren't lonely. If not then I can add a couple because I'll have room if I am diligent with water changes, which I usually am. What do you guys think of the set up. I do want to get a couple more plants as all I have are the plants on the fake drift wood, but it is a start. I order my plants from Big Al's. Cheep.

I got about 10 more minutes of floating left and can't wait to net them in their new home.

BTW-I have 2 female molly's and I think one is gravid. I don't really want babies but the store says they'll take them if she is and they don't get eaten. I also wonder if that is what is floating on the bottom of her bag right now, a bunch of yucky looking, brownish stuff. Too much to be poop so it has to be something else.

Thanks,

Heidi

[wetmanNY]

I was thinking 12 gallons, but I could go larger if it would fit these dimentions.

The good thing about the Newbie Forum is that here we don't tease you about conceptual stuff! Welcome to AC!

Now that you have your ten gallon tank, figure what species of fish that fits well in ten gallons is so interesting that you'd keep it with no other species, whether that means solo or in a little swarm, like a small school.

Get a setup that suits your main kind of fish-- plants? floating plants for cover? coconut shell hideout? whatever... Then build out from there to form a real community.

For instance if your main fish are a pair of Rams, which stake out territory on the ground, then Corydoras that hang out down there won't be as welcome as Otocinclus, that hang out up in the plants or on the glass. Etc etc etc.