Also... I highly suggest getting the API master kit... Much more accurate then strips and worth every penny!
New member with a 10G.
- Thread starter jacob9799
- Start date
If you still need to get a bunch of items I would suggest petmountain... API mater kit $18, good prices on heaters, foods etc. Also if your on a budget T5 lighting probably isnt for you and for a ten gal only planted with some lilies its not needed. T5 light bulbs would need a new fixture which would probably run around $50? (low end). For fish I would say a dwarf gourami (my avatar is a powder blue), most tetras would be ok in your tank (not congo tetras). Corries would be ok I think, they are busy little buggers tho. I also wouldn't use the painted pot I would go get a new one for the .30c they cost though I do like the idea. Maybe Balloon belly mollies would do well in that tank too.
corys need 20 gallons bc of their activity and size, but pygmy, habrosus, and panda will work. there's also a lot of tetras that get too big. id say 2 inch or less, and lastly mollies get very large and have a heavy bioload. theyre meant for 30 gallons and up.
Allaboutfish, I've been noticing that you suggest otos for beginners 10 gallons tank. Generally speaking, I think otos are quite hard to care for properly, I've had several who I fed zuchinni and other veg, and they died. They need lots of LIVE plants and lots of o2, and not from bubblers, but from powerheads and stuff. Maybe you've had good luck with otos, but I wouldn't say they are "beginners fish" by any means. Just my 2 cents
Hi there,
Personally, I would take out the painted flower pot and the dolphin ornament. Even if the paint was non toxic, it doesn't mean that it is aquarium safe. Same with the dolphin ornament, it could release toxins into the water as well. Take both out, and if you want the flower pot idea, go to walmart and get a few 10-50 cent TERRA COTTA plain, un painted pots, you can even get the matching terra cotta water catching plates and build caves with those as well. Those are non toxic and won't kill your fish.
Trust me, you don't want to after all this work of cycling the tank (will take near a month) and planting, last thing you want to do is buy fish and have them die because there are toxins in the water that you don't know about.
I would also take out the flourescent yellow gravel. Fish show the best colors when they have dark substrate, under light and flourescent colored substrates, their colors are not as deep and are more dull. Get a bag of black gravel, it'll look awesome!
You also will want a background, you can just use some black construction paper, or get some fancy 50 cent paper from Hobby Lobby in the scrap book area, any color you want, and tape it on the back.
As for fish, stay away from the following (DONT get these!)
Cold/cool water
-Goldfish
-Danios (longfinned, zebra, leopard, etc.)
-Glofish (basically zebra danios)
-Dojo loaches (including gold loaches)
Tetras
-Cardinals
-Neons
-Anything bigger then 1.5-2"
Loaches
-any species that is called a loach
Catfish
-Plecos
-Otocinclus
-Corydoras (except hasbrous and the other pygmy cory)
-Rapheal
-Really any fish with the name "catfish"
-Shark catfish
Gouramis
-all but the sparkling or dwarf gouramis
Barbs
-pretty much all barbs
Livebearers
-mollies
-swordtails
-platies
Cichlids
-all of them really
Here are some fish you CAN have
-Male betta
-Female betta
-Sparkling gourami
-Dwarf gourami
-African dwarf frogs
-Shrimp
-Pygmy cories
-Ember tetras
-Dwarf pufferfish (brackish)
-Male guppies (I wouldn't do females)
-Endlers
-Shell dwelling cichlids (some sp)
Of course, you can't do ALL those fish, a few have to be kept alone. I would really focus on getting one tank running and going before you even think about breeding fish. Really, the initial cost to have the spare tanks running to properly grow the fry is not going to be made up from the money you might be able to get from selling your fish.
Personally, I would take out the painted flower pot and the dolphin ornament. Even if the paint was non toxic, it doesn't mean that it is aquarium safe. Same with the dolphin ornament, it could release toxins into the water as well. Take both out, and if you want the flower pot idea, go to walmart and get a few 10-50 cent TERRA COTTA plain, un painted pots, you can even get the matching terra cotta water catching plates and build caves with those as well. Those are non toxic and won't kill your fish.
Trust me, you don't want to after all this work of cycling the tank (will take near a month) and planting, last thing you want to do is buy fish and have them die because there are toxins in the water that you don't know about.
I would also take out the flourescent yellow gravel. Fish show the best colors when they have dark substrate, under light and flourescent colored substrates, their colors are not as deep and are more dull. Get a bag of black gravel, it'll look awesome!
You also will want a background, you can just use some black construction paper, or get some fancy 50 cent paper from Hobby Lobby in the scrap book area, any color you want, and tape it on the back.
As for fish, stay away from the following (DONT get these!)
Cold/cool water
-Goldfish
-Danios (longfinned, zebra, leopard, etc.)
-Glofish (basically zebra danios)
-Dojo loaches (including gold loaches)
Tetras
-Cardinals
-Neons
-Anything bigger then 1.5-2"
Loaches
-any species that is called a loach
Catfish
-Plecos
-Otocinclus
-Corydoras (except hasbrous and the other pygmy cory)
-Rapheal
-Really any fish with the name "catfish"
-Shark catfish
Gouramis
-all but the sparkling or dwarf gouramis
Barbs
-pretty much all barbs
Livebearers
-mollies
-swordtails
-platies
Cichlids
-all of them really
Here are some fish you CAN have
-Male betta
-Female betta
-Sparkling gourami
-Dwarf gourami
-African dwarf frogs
-Shrimp
-Pygmy cories
-Ember tetras
-Dwarf pufferfish (brackish)
-Male guppies (I wouldn't do females)
-Endlers
-Shell dwelling cichlids (some sp)
Of course, you can't do ALL those fish, a few have to be kept alone. I would really focus on getting one tank running and going before you even think about breeding fish. Really, the initial cost to have the spare tanks running to properly grow the fry is not going to be made up from the money you might be able to get from selling your fish.
calm down... i start cycling soon. My house is having a spetic tank issue that is sucking up all the money at the moment.
The gravel isn't flourescent yellow... it is actually quite brown, just a camera/lighting issue.. And it was either that, white, bright blue, or hot pink. I did the best with what i could.
i find it odd that you are against tetras. I have had neon tetras several times in similar set ups and find that they are great fish to keep. I have always been a fan of them and never had one get sick.. And i've never seen a dull tetra either.
I understand that every one has a problem about plecos, but personally, i've never seen one over 4 inches. That one was bought at 2" and we kept it for about 8 months..
Speaking with several more experienced aquarists, catfish arent a fish to stay away from. Ive never heard of any one having problems...
and to list endlers but not neon tetras seems odd to me... They are roughly the same size, and from what ive learned, same bioload.
You say male guppies only, which, to me, goes against nature. If you have more than one male of a species, there will at one point or another, be battles for dominant rights. That is a bad recipe in my book... And so what if i have a few females, and they have fry?... If the other fish eat some, well thats the circle of life. The way nature intended to be...
If you are going to give advice, I greatly appreciate it. I honestly do, But to just completely undermine everything that has been discussed on this thread without verifiable proof.... Well to be honest, IMO, that tank has a bad leak. I understand that you may have gotten your opinions through experience, and I DO respect that. But to just mandate what will and what wont work, just does not fly for beginners. It can be very discouraging and very unhelpful. these forums are meant to share kowledge and spread the hobby, not limit those who want to join in....
your comment on the cycling of my tank was a little off base... That matter has already been discussed.... and i have done my research, for several weeks, and have been complimented for doing so.... I know what needs to be done to create a healthy environment, and plan on doing so.
I'm sorry if you took offense to my liking of petluvr post, I was just trying to give them credit for asking about such a vital part of fish keeping. It wasn't meant as a personal offense, I am sorry about the septic tank issue. Again, I was not trying to make you mad.
Sorry about the gravel, I didn't know it was brown and didn't mean to come off as anything, just making a suggestion from my past experience. Given your choices, you did good
I am not "against tetras" I am against tetras in a 10 gallon tank. In my opinion, most tetras are far too active to be house in anything that is only 20" long. I think neons themselves are pretty cool and good fish, just not for only a 10 gallon tank. That's what I meant there.
I am not "against tetras" I am against tetras in a 10 gallon tank. In my opinion, most tetras are far too active to be house in anything that is only 20" long. I think neons themselves are pretty cool and good fish, just not for only a 10 gallon tank. That's what I meant there.
