how many cories for a new 10 gal low tech planted...and tankmates?

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gnahc79

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How many cories should be in a new 10 gal low light/low tech planted tank? I plan on doing water changes only every 3 months or so. What would be some ideal tankmates? Something other than tetras, I have several in my 20 gal :). Currently I'm thinking either 1 paradise or several dwarf puffers (if i can find them).

My tank so far:
IMG_4777.jpg
 
I have three green corys in a ten gallon with my male betta. If you want a schooling fish other than tetras, there are harlequin rasboras (which I think are pretty neat). Dwarf gouramis and corys tend to get along pretty well, I hear. I can't think of anymore off the top of my head, these are fish I've considered placing in my own tank after my betta "expires". I hear dwarf puffers hate everything except dwarf puffers. Don't know enough about paradise fish to give you any advice there, but I'm sure someone will :)

ETA: Dwarf puffers are also known to be messy, so I don't think the three month wc's are going to cut it. Once a month, for any fish, would be much better.
 
hm, it seems like otos are the recommended DP tankmates for algae cleaners. The only reason I didn't consider otos was because they're somewhat fragile when introduced.

For the whole water change thing, it seems like low tech tanks require infrequent water changes. Too many water changes are actually bad...or that's what I've read so far :read:.
 
Well, I keep a 50g low tech community and a 10g low tech plant only. For me I do a 40-50% water change weekly. The longest I have gone between water changes was nearly 3 weeks, but I also have a fairly light bio load in the 50g. Also my fish seem happier with the weekly water changes.
 
gnahc79 said:
How many cories should be in a new 10 gal low light/low tech planted tank? I plan on doing water changes only every 3 months or so. What would be some ideal tankmates? Something other than tetras, I have several in my 20 gal :). Currently I'm thinking either 1 paradise or several dwarf puffers (if i can find them).
Click to expand...
only pygmy corydoras or panda corydoras are small enough to be kept in smaller tanks IMO.

water changes every three months is not enough. you need to do water changes every week, but if you insist on donig water changes only every three months, plant the tank, throw in some fish food every day, but leave the tank without fish. you need to do water changes every week for the overal health of the system.
 
I'm not set on the infrequent water change, I'm still pondering on how to balance the needs of the plants vs the fish. What I'll probably do is start with weekly water changes and keep a close eye on the fish & plants and adjust the frequency if needed.
 
Cories are great fun, but once they grow,they are really too crowded in a ten gallon. They also, IME appear to add a a considerable amount of ammonia to the tank, making frequdent water changes a must, even with plants.
I never kept the small Cories.
I had a paradise fish once (breifly and accidentally.) I found it a really likeable fish. It appeared intellegent, curious and hardy.(hardy, because it colored up and acted well very quickly after a rough trip home from the store.) and really nice looking.
Others with more experience may say a ten is too small, over time creating a "bored" fish.
A Paradise fish could live with some Otos, Or shrimp, and or snails...
just my 2cents
 
oops,
 
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To keep any tank thriving, weekly water changes are necessary.
Dwarf Puffers, although docile, are not suitable tankmates for any other fish except their own species, to stay away from them.
Panda Corydoras are simple the cutest fish you can buy, so i strongly recommend them.
Remember, you don't want to crowd the bottom hakf of thetank, so don't keep too many bottom feeding fish; try to balance t out correctly, with top, middle and bottom feeding fish. I recommend buying 5 or 6 Panda Corydoras, and a small shoal of fish, such as Harlequin Rasboras, but they are very similar to Tetras. Or you could have a Honey Gourami.
Good luck whatever you choose,
Kathrym :)
 
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