Is this good? Really new and need help from exp people

[tetras_rock]

i bought a 10 gallon fish tank and i have done alot of reading and reseaching so i think i know how and what im going to set my tank up with now and i just need an idea if this is going to work or if its going to crash and burn badly. OK i plan to start with 2 neon tetras or 2 flame tetras to cylce it(i have a heater thats good up to 15 gallons and a fliter good up to 15 gallons 2, just in case people was woundering) with 1/3 inch of black gravel. And after about 2 weeks or until the ammionuin and nitrites( i know my mum says to work on my spelling but meh) are zero add 2 more and repeat until i get 6 and then when i get 6 add java fern on driftwood( or should i add this at a different time?) and then slowly add more plants like riccia or java moss ( i have a light thats 18 watts(is that enough?) and if i do this do i need Co2 injections. and after is going on for a month or 2 is it possible to add more fish and probly 4 cherry shimp and a scavgener of some kind maybe a small catfish(i dont know what type of cat fish coz i heard that some get real big so preferly a some one). But my main question is" will this work? and if not plz just tell me so i can do something different. thank you in advance

 

[liv2padl]

i plan to start with 2 neon tetras or 2 flame tetras to cylce it

not a good idea. tetras are not very hardy to the ammonia and nitrite that will result from cycling. use 4 zebra danios.

add 2 more and repeat until i get 6

when you'r filter is cycled (ZERO ammonia and nitrite and some level of nitrate, take the danios back to the LFS and exchange them for 6 tetras of your choice.

6 add java fern on driftwood( or should i add this at a different time?)

i'd go ahead and add this at the beginning if it were my tank. as for plants in general, try asking your questions at a forum which is specific to the green things. i'd avoid messing about with CO2 and stick to plants which require low light.

 

[hughitt1]

i plan to start with 2 neon tetras or 2 flame tetras to cylce it

Tetras aren't good fish to use for cycling.. Many catfish are not good either, so for your tank i would suggest you start cycling before you add the fish. You can do that by dropping pieces of fish food in each day, and then perform all the other steps of cycling as normal. (try looking up more info on 'fishless cycling').

For a 10g, i would pick one kind of tetra and get 6 of em- the neons would be good since they stay pretty small. then get a couple otos (algae control) and the shrimp. If you plant the tell well and add some driftwood / rocks maybe, it will look really nice!

goodluck setting it up
Keith

 

[fishcatch22]

the best cycling fish are anabantids, like gouramis and bettas. I recommend starting out the cycling process with a betta. livebearers like guppies and platies work well, too. then you could add a small school of 5-6 3-4 cm tetras and 2-3 otos or shirmp as a cleanup crew.

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

the best cycling fish are anabantids, like gouramis and bettas. I recommend starting out the cycling process with a betta. .

Sorry, but I can't agree that bettas are good for cycling. They have fins that are prone to finrot in poor water conditions, and they can acquire popeye in toxic water. This will require medications to cure.

Why not get yourself a product called Bio Spira--you add it just before the fish and cycling is apparently very fast (few days).

Unless you can stay right on top of the water changes so that ammonia and nitrites are eliminated as soon as they are visible on the test card, cycling fishless is the safest method for fish. Here's a link to how you do it:

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64301

I also agree with hughitt1--choose 1 type of tetra for your 10 gallon and get about 6. Don't cycle with neons though, as they are quite sensitive.