ollyaaa

Ok, final decision on stocking my 10G

Unless it isnt suitable...........

6 + Harlequins
6 + Neons
1 Dwarf Gourami
3-5 Corys
3 Kuhlis
3-5 Cherry Shrimps.


Over stocked?

Water here is quite soft, tank will be planted well with 2 or so caves, and bog wood.

Filter is an internal fluval style, with a built in power head.

Tank will have Java moss covering the floor, with some amazon dwarfs to fill it out.

Weekly water change of 20 %

Dino

Yes, the tank is way over stocked.
Cut the fish amount in half.
Or go get a 29 gallon.

jack11

i agree your tank would be seriosly overstocked.

Maybe just get:
6 harlequins
1 Dwarf gourami
4 cherry shrimp

your tank wouold still be slightly ovverstocked but it would be managable.

Jack

ollyaaa

A 29 gallon just for those?!

Have a laugh!

I dont think its seriously overstocked, I have kept a perfectly stable community like this in a 10 gallon before.

But i ll reconsider again.

SIgh.

Thanks for your help.

PS - whats ultra annoying is I have all the equipment for my old 55gal, but parents wont allow it in the house!!! ARRGHH

jack11

Actually based on the inch per gallon rule, the rasboras alone put it nearly full.

rasboras x6 =9"
neons x 6 =6"
dwarf = 2.5"
cories x 3 = 6"
kuhlis x 3 = 9"

all up thats over 30 inches of fish, please do not use this stocking system for your tank.

sirdarksol

The displays that you see at pet stores may look pretty, but they are, almost without exception, dangerously overstocked. This is partly because they expect turnover as people buy their fish, and partly because the fish are sort of swimming in much, much more water (due to the way that the tanks are set up. I'll leave Dino or CWC to explain it if such explanation becomes necessary)
So if you are basing the number of fish that you want in your tank on what you see at the stores, don't.
Personally, I actually think the 29g is too small for the list you gave. I would go with a 35 or bigger. Currently, I have a 10g with a single fish in it, a 29g with two fish that are actually waiting to go into a 200g, a 35g with three fish (and space for their fry when and if they decide to mate), and a 20g with six fish in it. The 20g could stand to have a few more fish, but I'm waiting for awhile on that.
Go to this link and read the second post to get an idea of what we do when we overstock a tank http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/mi...overstock.html

Seriously, the fish will not be happy in this setup, and will not show their true colors, literally. Fish that are kept in a properly stocked tank have brighter colors and are more energetic. There is much greater likelihood of them surviving for the average lifespan of their species, whereas fish in an overstocked tank often die within months. This is both cruel to the fish and a waste of your money.

ollyaaa

so your telling me it could support a max of 10 tetras, or rasboras?

Sorry, but I think thats slightly OTT.

Still I ll take on board what you ve said, I appreciate the advice.

ollyaaa

Thanks for your advice, yea that list was slightly over stocked I admit, but I have successfully kept fish for years in a 10g and a 50g, Im not unaware of fishes needs, and welfare is my main priority.

Just wanted to see what people thought, although in my oppinion you can get away with the inch per gallon rule, especially with fish like tetras because of their low bioload.

Ive posted elsewhere and been told this set up is more or less ok, so i ll find a medium I think.

jack11

ok well it is your fish tank at the end of the day, but do not try/expect to keep sensitive fish such as ottos or rams in these conditions or they will certainly die in a matter of weeks.

sirdarksol

Jack11 is right. We can't stop you from stocking your tank. Please remember, however, that much of our response comes from experience. Nearly all of us have had an overstocked tank before, and have directly witnessed the results of it.

lilsoccakid

even if it does support the bioload, cramming all the fish in that little tank is just selfish

ollyaaa

Ok

What about

6+ neons
1 dwarf Gourami

3-5 cherry shrimps (or more suitable ones?)
3 corys


I have kept fish in the past, and when I was young way overstocked a tank (wasnt educated enough on the subject) - I would like to add, none of the fish died, or were unhealthy at all, although I agree its selfish.

The tank will be very well maintained.

Thanks for your help, and advice on my latest suggestion would be appeciated

Barbrella

Remove the corys (which get quite big) from the list OR keep the corys and forget about the Gourami and it might be fine.

You have to also think that with plants, wood, caves and the internal filter, you're looking at quite a bit less water than 10 gallons.

lilsoccakid

sorry if i sounded rude earlier, didnt mean to offend you, and good luck with ur tank!

0morrokh

I had a 10gal once with 15 inches of fish. Despite constant huge water changes my nitrates were constantly too high. The more sensitive fish ended up with finrot because of it. Even if the fish aren't noticeably sick, constant less-than-ideal water quality can stress them and shorten their lifespan.

If the tank is heavily planted you may be able to slightly overstock it, but not by a lot. The inch per gal rule isn't over the top imo...it's based on many people's experience on what works best in a tank.

6 neons and a gourami would be fine.
6 neons and 3 cories would be overstocked, but might be fine if the tank is planted and you do a lot of water changes.
The shrimp can be added without adding any measurable bioload but keep in mind shrimp require pristine water quality.

ollyaaa

Yep, your right! Ive put the gravel, filter and heater in and your right, it does have a big impact.

Dont worry about it! I dont like to see poorly kept fish, or any other animals! Thanks.

Ok so

Ive put the water in, filter and heater

I'm stocking it with these plants (size depending, haven't received them yet).

1 x Java Moss on coconut Shell
2 x Willow Leaf
5 x American Lizard Tail
5 x Pygmy Chain Sword
10 x Java Moss

I would now like to have these fish

6 x Neons
4 x Shrimp
1 x Dwarf Gourami


What do you think of this?

I would love some corys, but everyone says they are not suitable.

I'm not dead set on the gourami yet, ill see how it looks.

Any more suggestions on anything I could add, replace would be most welcome. I want to ensure the tank is as suitably stocked and interesting as possible.

cheers

olly

lilsoccakid

maybe 4 neons 2 shrimp 2 corys and a dwarf gourami? with all the plants you will have it would provide lots of cover for any stressed fish that want to hide

ollyaaa

That would be Ideal, except neons tend to require a group of 6 minimum dont they.

I'm sure it wouldn't be too much of a problem with 4 though?