Empty 10g - where to start? Know NOTHING.

N

nancec

AC Members
Jun 8, 2006
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north tonawanda, ny (between Buf & Nia Falls)
Empty 10g, just sitting there waiting. & I don't know where to begin.

Do I set up all the decor before cycling?
Do I really need to "cycle" for 2-4 weeks??
Black 'river rock' a good choice? Or black (my favorite color) gravel? What other color is good? How deep for 10g? (I'd like it to look as natural as possible.) I know nothing about plants so considered getting fake until I've done much more research.

Was planning to get:
4 or more gold tetra;
4 neon tetra;
1 Siamese algae eater (5.5" - too big?);
fancy guppies - do I have to have both sexes?
I may add my oldest betta, Wolfie.
I'd like to have one goldfish.
Am I going overboard with the # of fish I want? & are they all compatible?

Filters - what are 'sponges?' HOB? Do I really need a 3-way: mech, chem, & bio? Pump & heater?

I'm reading so much info that I think I'm over-complicating things. My boyfriend, who talked me into the tank said when he had his, it was filled with tap water, equipment hooked up & fish bought. No test kits, cycling - nothing. & all of his fish survived for many years.

As for goldfish, I'd always heard that they grow according to the size of whatever container they're in. I live a block from the Erie Canal & kids are always letting their golfish go in the water. I've seen some very pretty big ones that had to go 50lbs or more. Myth?

I'd appreciate any & all advice, info, comments, etc. I'm in desparate need of help!

Thanks to all who respond.
 
answering your questions in order:

1: i would,
2: Yes, sometimes more
3: I'd go for gravel as long as it is properly coloured
4: No for both sex guppies, unless you want loads of babies.
5: No with goldfish
6: Maybe not the algae eater
7: Yes id have 3 way, its the better option but you dont have to.
8: Pump and heater are both needed
9: Then he has either very hardy fish (maybe goldfish) or could be mistaken
10: No goldfish in heated water.
 
well id say that the betta should be alone. Yes some people put them with other fish but I wouldnt say that you should put them with other fish if you arent sure of their temprament. I'd say get 6 + neons (of maybe different colours) and then 4 ottos. Id say no more than that really.
 
You have 3 bettas in each of your 2.5 gallon tanks? Yowsa! You do have heaters and filters for them, right? They need that stuff just like any other tropical fish - filters especially in a tank that crowded. If you treat them right bettas should live 4 years or longer.
 
webcricket said:
You have 3 bettas in each of your 2.5 gallon tanks? Yowsa! You do have heaters and filters for them, right? They need that stuff just like any other tropical fish - filters especially in a tank that crowded. If you treat them right bettas should live 4 years or longer.
Click to expand...

Yeah I just read that too!! No! I dont think that is humane! Personally I would say 5gal minimum per betta is the best thing with filters, heaters and gravel for each tank.
 
A little to much fish in my opinion, I would only do one tetra species,preferaly the neons(they only grow to an inch, while almost all other tetras grow to 2"+), have a school of six for them, and add a betta.
The fancy guppies should be excluded as they look to much like male bettas in my honest opinion.
Goldfish do grow to the size of the tank, then they get stunted and die prematurely.
Use a HOB filter, a pump will only move the water around.

I highly doubt neons will survive being in a setup like your boyfriend did, they need an established tank.

replace the siamese algae eater with 3 ottos(they only grow to an inch), if you think an algae eating species is nessisary(wich it isn't, an aquarium sponge will work just as well and won't die,ever).

You didn't ask but bettas should have atleast a 2.5g to themselves, these fish adapted to live in rice paddies (flooded fields) and slow moving streams/ponds in the wild, not puddles wich is commonly believed. They need room to move, and they will use all the space in even a 29g(the biggest tank Iv'e kept bettas in).

The Freshwater Aquarium For Newbies
 
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HOB filter?

Ottos?

No, I do not have filters or heaters with my betta. Nor any gravel. I do weekly 100% water change for all, with water that is the same room as the tanks, but clean. (Water is prepared w/ a tsp of salt per gallon & dechlor.) Temps the same, too, as they're all kept in the same room. I net the babies out & into their own little dishes of fresh water, clean the tanks, refill & gently put all the babies back in. My oldest is Wolfie, from 1-05. & they all seem to love their "baths."
 
Give the fish more space, use a hang on back filter (HOB), get a heater. You do not need to take the fish out for the water change. Drain 50%, add dechlor, no aquarium salt, add water at same temperature as tank.
 
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