Tetra-Cory Combo

[Radek]

Hi. I'm planning on setting up a planted 10 gallon tank (the guppy breeding scheme didn't go as far as I hoped it would, very long story), and I was hoping to see if it would be appropriate if I could include a small school of cories and tetras. My heart was set on getting some cories, and I figured that I should get some smaller schooling tetras to complement them. I'm well aware that 10 gallons isn't much room at all for schooling tetras, but perhaps there are other brightly colored alternatives. I was looking at some possible combinations (I have a feeling I might be overstocking), and what do you all of you think of them?
For tetras:
4-6 Lemon OR Black Neon OR Von Rio tetras

For cories:
3-5 Julii OR Panda cories

(maybe some ottos?)

Well aware that pygmy cories would probably be better off, but I can't find them anywhere in my LFS. Would the Cories appreciate heavily planted aquariums, or should I go for a little less? Also planning to get a DIY CO2 system set up for the plants, but I'm concerned about poisoning the fish for the amount that hope to get.
As for tank specs;
AC mini filter
28W Coralite hood
100W Tronic Heater
Seachem Flourite
8-10" Branchy Driftwood
DIY CO2 system

I apologize for the long post, but any suggestions/ideas are as always most greatly appreciated

 

[Analog Saint]

6 black neons and 3-5 pandas would be fine in a 10g, since the two species inhabit completely different strata, and neither is a big waste producer.

I love the look of black neons... They're probably my favourite of the tetras. Panda Cories also happen to be one of the smaller corydoras species.

I've found that both tetras and cories appreciate live plants, and the cories like lower light levels, so perhaps some floating plants, swords and ambulia would be good.

Good luck, those are two fantastic species to watch.

 

[benedictj]

As far as your concerns about the CO2 are concerned, as long as you have a pH test kit and a KH test kit, you can avoid poisoning your fish with too much CO2, here's a handy calculator that will tell you the number of ppm of CO2 in your water using pH and KH

http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/CO2/kh-ph-co2-chart.html


As long as you keep your co2 below 30 ppm, you shouldn't have any problems with your fish. Generally, 20 to 25 ppm is the target level for added plant growth.

 

[Radek]

Thanks for the link benedict :dance
Yeah I've had some mixed past experiences with black neons, but I'll definitely give them another shot

 

[Lobo.]

neon tetras look really good in a 10 gallon, and you can have a bunch of them in there since they're so small, especially if all else that's in there are only cories.

 

[Radek]

I'm still a bit hesitant about the neons, only because I've been reading so much about how they are susceptible to diseases, and around here they're slightly on the expensive side, so it wouldn't be too practical to keep purchasing more (if they keep dying). I could be totally wrong though, never had any experience with them. Any thoughts?

 

[Betta-Gurl]

Neons are great never had any neons getting a disease i have 4 in my 25g and 4 in my 40g I would recommend getting 4-8 neons.

 

[blueturq]

I just thought that I would clear up something.

Black Neon Tetras and Neon Tetras are NOT the same fish nor are they related.

And from what I have read, Black Neon Tetras tend to be hardier than Neon Tetras.