10G or 15G?!

[ara35]

I am planning to buy my first tank and don't know whether to get a 10G or15G. Here was my stocking plan for a 10G tank:
-6 neons
-1 blue dwarf gourami
-4-6 red cherry shrimp

If I upgrade to a 15G, will this allow me to get loaches or cory cats (i will not get shrimp if necessary). I preferably want weather loaches(dojo), kuhli loaches, or bronze cory cats. What does everyone think???

 

[TropicalNorth]

It's always best to go for the bigger tank, they're generally easier to look after and tend to be more stable. To my eyes 6 neons, 1 dwarf gourami and 3 bronze corys would be a good set-up for a 15G.

PS - Do you understand cycling?

 

[iktomiwicasa]

The larger...

...the better.

 

[bettagurl]

the 15 gallon would be best.

 

[tonytheboss1]

Personally, being it's your first tank, the larger the better. Maintaining good water parameters is easier w/ more water. Ideally 20gls (not much dif. in price than 15gl) is a good F/W starter. It gives you a little extra 'cushion' for mistakes & adjustments. (we all made them starting out). Take it slow, buy a good test kit, cycle the tank, add a few fish at a time monitoring the water as you go. A good HOB is easy for a beginner to work with. AquaClear 30 or 50 should do fine for the load you want to work with. Remember, less water means less fish or more maintainance.(w/c's, gravel cleaning ect.)
Some of this info might be helpful.
http://www.peteducation.com/article_print.cfm?articleid=2657
http://www.peteducation.com/article_print.cfm?articleid=2391
http://www.peteducation.com/article_print.cfm?articleid=2872
Don't be afraid to ask questions, usually someone here can help. Try if possible to do research before going shopping.(fish, equipment, ect.) An educated consumer will beat a 'slick' LFS salesman every time!! Good Luck

 

[edwardorino]

Bigger is better. I have a planted fully stocked 10g (some might say overstocked), and I would've loved to have started with something bigger. If space isn't an issue, I'd start with the 20g. There are two basic 20g tanks too: 20g long and 20g tall. The long one is better.

If space is an issue, start with a 15g.

 

[coupedefleur]

If you only have room for a 24" wide tank, get the 15 gallon, or better yet, a 20 High. If you've got 30" of space, a 20 Long would be even better.

For a stand, if you get one of those metal stands that can hold two tanks of the same width, you've got a place to put a second tank in the future. Just watch out- some metal stands are made so you can't put a 2nd tank of the same footprint on the lower shelf.

If you start out with a 15 gallon, eventually you could get a 20H and move the 15 to the lower shelf. Likewise, you do the same thing with a 20L and a 29 gallon.

Like everyone else says, the larger the tank, the easier it is to manage. A 10 gallon is not easy to start out with!

 

[sarcare]

I got the sense that the largest you can have is a 15g because of dorm rules? Well then go with the 15, it will give you more options!

 

[blkwdw13]

Go with the biggest tank you can get.

 

[TKOS]

Stay clear of the dojo loach in that small of a tank. Khulies or cory cats should do fine.But both need great quality water so lots of water changes and gravel vacuuming will be best.