10 Gal Set Up For My Daughter

Hey guys thanks for the add. I'm looking to set up a 10 gal tank for my daughter. I have the Aqueon 10 Gal LED Aquarium Kit that was given to me. Looking to replace the filter with a aqua clear 30. Looking for ideas for fish, she seen a upside down catfish she would like. Also what water conditioner and other tank starting tips you could recommend. Thank you for any input.

I'd also like to keep some live plants recommendations.

 

Ah, welcome

If she is interested in the upside down cat, shes gonna need a larger tank (30gal) ideally as they get about 4 inches and also should be kept in groups since theyre a schooling fish

Upside Down Catfish Care - Size, Life Span, Tank Mates, Breeding

(But catfish make awesome pets, so your daughter has good tastes!)

 

Imo, upside down catfish need at least a 20 or 30. Some fish that you can have in a 10 are betta, sparkling gourami, rice fish, ruby tetra, green neon tetra, honey gourami, chilI rasbora, pygmy corydoras, and celestial pearl danio. The water conditioner that a lot of people recommend is Seachem Prime. Lastly, if you're new to plants, then you start with rhizome plants (anubias, java fern, bucephalandra, bolbitis) and floating plants (duckweed, frogbit, salvinia, water lettuce).

 

Look up the nitrogen cycle before you do anything else, you'll be glad you did. Endlers livebearers (males only) are super active and very colorful; they'd look great in a 10 gallon. As for upside down catfish, I dunno for sure but I think they get too big for a 10 gallon. Corydoras would be a better choice. Don't let anyone talk you into goldfish either, they're easy to care for, but require at least a 20 gallon I believe because they are DIRTY FISHIES. I'd get seachem PRIME water treatment, some good quality fish food, a magnetic tank scrubber, a net, a siphon, and some general fish medication that treats fungi, parasites, and bacterial diseases. Get a couple of buckets too, one for water changes, and one for medicine baths. Good luck!

 

List of supplies:

*Water treatment -Seachem Prime
*Net
*Small gravel siphon vac
*New 5 gallon bucket dedicated to fish tank duty only
*Old plastic gift card or debit card....they are perfect to scrape algae of inner glass without scratching it
*plug-in timer for the light

Some 10 gallon tank mates.....

-Male endler guppies
-pygmy corydoras
-KuhlI loaches
-rasboras

Please go with sand as your substrate, as opposed to gravel. It is so much easier to clean with a siphon vac compared to gravel.

I use black PetSmart sand in a 5.5g in kids room. All my other tanks use Quikrete Pool Filter Sand. It has to be washed very very thoroughly with a bucket and garden hose. Patience is key, but after your done, it has zero clouding and the grains fall right back down when disturbed.

Gravel tends to collect uneaten food and fish waste deep down. With sand, it usually stays on top ready to be eaten by bottom feeders or sucked up by the filter or with your siphon vac.

 

Welcome to FishLore!

Somewhere on this site there is a stocking guide for 10 gallon tanks. I have a link to it on my home computer, but sadly I'm at work. Maybe someone will see this who has the link.

 

I highly recommend a betta for a ten gallon. They are amazing, fun little fish that are easy to take care of for beginners. I also recommend that you look into the nitrogen cycle before you buy any fish.

 

I highly recommend a betta for a ten gallon. They are amazing, fun little fish that are easy to take care of for beginners. I also recommend that you look into the nitrogen cycle before you buy any fish.

Oooo or what about a divided 10 gallon for two different bettas! I had a tank like that when I was younger I had a bright blue and a bright red betta, I called them my dueling dragons (not a clear divider so they didn't really duel )

 

Oooo or what about a divided 10 gallon for two different bettas! I had a tank like that when I was younger I had a bright blue and a bright red betta, I called them my dueling dragons (not a clear divider so they didn't really duel )

That's a really good idea!

 

First time listening to this catfish, and found it was very interesting.
Your daughter has a unique taste.

 

GrimR3aper , here is a link to a thread in the forum full of info for beginners (LINK).

Its actually highlighted in yellow at the very top of the Freshwater Beginners section you posted this thread in.

I wish I had known about this forum when our family first got into the hobby. So you're already ahead of the game !

Your choice of adding an Aquaclear 30 filter is very good.

I have a couple of Aquaclears, including 2x AC30's. They are fantastic filters.