Best cold water fish

[rickr01]

Ok, I posted asking questions about Goldfish. From the short time (hours) I have been a member here I am starting to see that my son and I would be making a mistake putting a goldfish in a 10 Gallon tank. So since this is new to us, is there a hardy species we can humanely put into his tank that would adapt well to the cold water tank without a heater? My son is 6 and would be heart broken if all the time we have spent attempting to correctly set up his tank and pre run it all was all in vane! He expects us to pick up fish this Thursday and he is having trouble sleeping he is so excited!
Thanks
Rick

 

[rickr01]

Zebra Danios

I think I have researched this forum enough to come up with a starting point fish for my sons 10 gallon tank of 4 long fin Zebra Danios. Please correct me if I am wrong and guide me. They will do fine in a cold water tank, No heater. The tank has an in tank charcoal and foam style cartridge powered filter, and a covered and lighted top. Should I buy an aeration stone and pump or will the filter which has a spout that pours a direct stream of water back into the tank be sufficient. I have a couple of plants in there but will get a few more. I have three bags of aquarium gravel on the bottom. The tank seems to be maintaining about 68 F. I was also thinking about 3 cory cats. Is this tank too cold for them. Since this is winter in Vermont and our house is kept cooler this would be about the lowest winter tank temps. In the summer this temp could rise to 70F. Also any advice on water change schedule with this type of set up. I researched and had the goldfish tank maintenance down pat but decided against goldfish do to 10 gallon tank size.
Ok that is my last question or post for this newbie for today. Sorry for the numerous questions and thanks for your understanding and welcome!

Rick

 

[Dangerdoll]

Danios prefer the warmer water too but you can have a school of White Cloud Minnows in there. They will be fun to watch and are very pretty. I believe there are coldwater loaches you might be able to add too though I'm not too versed in them.

Your water is going to have a good amount of oxygen already in it since colder water is more sufficiently oxygenated. The filter will be sufficient enough at moving the water surface for the exchange.

Do note that you will be buying a school of fish to plunk you through a cycle. Not sure if you've read the cycling sticky or not but in the case of your excited son, it seems the only way to go. Is it preferred by all? Nope, but it is done nonetheless and we can work with it. For starters, I would start with only 3 Minnows and have them work through to the end of your cycle. You will be doing a lot of testing and a lot of water changes and that all can be explained here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

Finally, Congratulations of doing the best thing possible, and that is coming to do your research before actually getting the fish. You will find that a lot of LFS people are in for the money, rather the fish and will find that in time, you will be able to separate the good info from the sales info and you will find your own reputable Fish Store buddy. Good luck with your tank and welcome to the board. We hope you enjoy your stay and welcome you and your son to the hobby.

 

[rickr01]

Danios prefer the warmer water too but you can have a school of White Cloud Minnows in there. They will be fun to watch and are very pretty. I believe there are coldwater loaches you might be able to add too though I'm not too versed in them.

Your water is going to have a good amount of oxygen already in it since colder water is more sufficiently oxygenated. The filter will be sufficient enough at moving the water surface for the exchange.

Do note that you will be buying a school of fish to plunk you through a cycle. Not sure if you've read the cycling sticky or not but in the case of your excited son, it seems the only way to go. Is it preferred by all? Nope, but it is done nonetheless and we can work with it. For starters, I would start with only 3 Minnows and have them work through to the end of your cycle. You will be doing a lot of testing and a lot of water changes and that all can be explained here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

Finally, Congratulations of doing the best thing possible, and that is coming to do your research before actually getting the fish. You will find that a lot of LFS people are in for the money, rather the fish and will find that in time, you will be able to separate the good info from the sales info and you will find your own reputable Fish Store buddy. Good luck with your tank and welcome to the board. We hope you enjoy your stay and welcome you and your son to the hobby.

Hi there,

Thank you for the response. Is 68 winter to 72 summer too low for the Zebras? Interestingly on a web page I researched the Zebras were refered to as a cold water alternative to gold fish and the 10 gallon tank size! Now I am soooo confused. We only want what is best and most comfortable and humane for the pet fish.

Thanks for the expert advice Danger doll.
Rick

 

[Dangerdoll]

You're very welcome, Rick. I would advise against Zebra Danio's at this point. White Cloud are far better suited for that temperature environment. Here's a pic of the white clouds... They are by every stretch, a very pretty fish.

 

[rickr01]

You're very welcome, Rick. I would advise against Zebra Danio's at this point. White Cloud are far better suited for that temperature environment. Here's a pic of the white clouds... They are by every stretch, a very pretty fish.

Your advice will be taken and is very much appreciated! White clouds it is. Is 6 too many for a 10 gallon tank? Also would you still use the 15 to 20% water change per week as with goldfish?

Thanks ever so much

 

[fishcatch22]

Your advice will be taken and is very much appreciated! White clouds it is. Is 6 too many for a 10 gallon tank? Also would you still use the 15 to 20% water change per week as with goldfish?

Thanks ever so much

6 is a good school size. you could get an apple snail and some amano, cherry, or ghost shrimp (I reccomend amanos as they will help keep algae down) as well.

it's better to do 30-40% a week.

 

[rickr01]

6 is a good school size. you could get an apple snail and some amano, cherry, or ghost shrimp (I reccomend amanos as they will help keep algae down) as well.

it's better to do 30-40% a week.

Thank you! I will do 3 gallons a week. Should I be doing the 3 gallons during the so called cycle stage then cut back to 3 gallons monthly, or is the 3 gallons weekly from here and ever more? I have very good quality well water but do not want to shock the fish!

 

[rickr01]

If I change 3 gallons of water every other day is that sufficient for the cycle stage? Or should I get the water test kit and play it by that. I would rather go over board then go under if you know what I mean!

 

[fishcatch22]

If I change 3 gallons of water every other day is that sufficient for the cycle stage? Or should I get the water test kit and play it by that. I would rather go over board then go under if you know what I mean!

I would not get fish if your tank is still cycling. it's better to do a fishless cycle. not only will it cycle faster, but you won't be potentially scarring your fish for life and you won't have to do water changes constantly, sometimes every day. with a fishless cycle, all you need to do is test your ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates once a day (buy an API master test kit for this purpose, they are VERY handy to have, going without this kit is like driving without headlamps.) and add a little bit of pure ammonia, fish food, or raw shrimp/fish (I reccomend pure ammonia, make sure it's chemical free), generally the more stuff you add to decay and produce ammonia the faster it goes. fishless cycling usually takes anywhere from 2 weeks to a month. it first you add the ammonia producing substance (you can add as much as you want, I like to raise it as high as possible.) first the ammonia will spike, then the nitrites, then the nitrates. sometimes I can go through multiple episodes like this, so wait a few days after you get your nitrates spike to make sure it's 100% done. you also do not need to do any water changes except at the end to reduce your nitrate levels to safe levels for fish, and then you'll have a full ammonia eating bacteria colony and you'll be ready to stock.