Diana

Okay, I am trying to start up a ten gallon tank, added Cycle (because the people I bought it from said it would help, tried tetra safe start, added too much ammonia because I'm an idiot, did a zillion water changes, and well basically just screwed everything up. So, I bought a test kit and am just kind of leaving everying alone so it can figure out if it's going to cycle or not. Sigh. At least I don't have any fish in there yet.

So, I am consoling myself fantisizing about what fishies to throw in there when it all gets settled and cycled. Would 6 green tetras, one dwarf guarimi, and one really small bottom feeder type work? The stocking list suggestion that was closest to this was neon tetras and a sparling guarimi and maybe a shrimp. The fish store person said the green tetras only grow to an inch, the dwarf guarimi (I know I am spelling that wrong) gets to 2.5 inches, which would leave an inch and a half for bottom feeder (he said he had very small ones).

Also, when I pull water out for water changes, can I use it to water outside plants? I live in the dessert, (probably why I want a tropical fish tank ) so water is kind of precious, besides, there are only three places in the house to dump the water - the kitchen sink (ewwwww) the bathroom sink (only slightly less ewwwww) and the toilet (kinda toxic, considering that I put bleach tablets in the tank to clean.) Initially, I was thinking the ammonia would be kind of toxic, but then, I have live plants in the tank and they aren't being fried, and when the tank cycles, the ammonia should be quite low, and nitrates would be the issue.

Beth1965

I can't really help u with these issues but, i have been wondering if this exists and if it does, why aren't we hearing about it, and if it doesn't exist, someone needs to patent this idea:
fake colorful fish to float around the tank (s) so that we newbies can imagine and dream about our tanks while the blasted thing is busy cycling?
Seriously, I think it's a very cool idea.

aquarist48

Hello and Welcome to Fish Lore. I always use my siphoned tank water on my outdoor plants (calla lily's and roses, tomatoes). Sorry to hear you're having some difficulties. Hang in there, it may take a bit but it will get better. I'll let someone else that has experience with the type of fish you mentioned to answer your other questions on stocking. Good luck!

aquarist48

I've actually seen fake fish in small tanks for sale. I can't remember where it was though. I don't think they are hard to find. You may even want to look in the toy sections of your area stores. teehee. I'm serious

grump

Hi Diana and welcome you are limited too what you can put in a 10gal but neons and tetras are schooling fish so you need at a min of 5 or 6 of them and the corycats like too school too with IMO a min of 4...The rest is all up too what you like just research and don't always take advise of the LFS....Rob

PS I use tank water for the flowers in the summer and I think they like it LOL....

agabr123

here are some ideas for stocking
Work In Progress: Freshwater Community Stocking List

Diana

I am trying to go off of the stocking guide you mention, but instead of a speckeled guarami, a dwarf guarami, instead of 6 neon tetras, six of the smaller green tetras, and instead of a shrimp, a tiny little bottom feeder of some type. It's just that's a lot of "insteads" and so I want to double-check it. Originally, I was going to go with the speckled guarami, but it seems they can be quite sensitive, and everything I've found indicates the dwarf guarami are a little hardier for a beginner. Also, the little tetras are often shy and hang around in plants, and so is the little speckeled guarami, according to what I've read, so I thought something that tended to cruise around the top and middle might be better. Also, it just seems more healthy for the tank to have a bottom feeder of some type in there. Anyway, that was my thinking - I was just wanting to see if it would work.

I agree with the plastic fish idea! Staring at the plants just doesn't do it for me. Even the poor cat has taken to sleeping in front of the tank. She knows there is supposed to be something wiggly in there.

I'm glad to hear about the water being reusable. I just hate the idea of pouring it down a drain when it could potentially do some good.

agabr123

the only bottom feeders i can think of that are small enough for your tank are cories and otos, and they need to be in schools so shrimp are your best bet if you plan on keeping tetras and a gourami since you'll already be pretty fully stocked

Diana

Thanks! That's what I needed to know. I'm at that dangerous stage where my mind keeps imagining more fish than my tank can hold. Shrimp it is, then (or will be, whenever the blasted thing cycles - ammonia dropped to 1, nitrites bright vivid pink, nitrates beginning to have some color - verrrrrry hopeful something's happening).

agabr123

lol, believe me i understand it definitely looks like you're going in the right direction with the cycle!

you may see some aggression issues with the DG so that's something to watch out for, but other than that it looks good.