Just want to pick some pro's brains...

After 7 failed attemps to join this fourm.... Finally figured it out on the 8th..

I am an Uber noob, I only had a gold fish tank before this one... I've been reading alot, and learning alot.. I'm only really doing a trail by fire , trial and error with this 10gallon. Haven't measured pH, kH, gH, nitrates, or nitrites, ever..... ( I know, I know) Will upgrade to a 55G shortly... I had more fish than what's in there now... but a few passed on.

Originally:
4 Dalmatian mollys
2 Glo fish tetras
2 KulhI loaches
1 African dwarf frog
1 Pleco
10 Zebra danio
(10gallon)

Only 3 mollys died...
After really reading up on em... I see those aren't beginner fish... somehow one is still carrying on strong...
I just started adding live plants to help with the bio filter. Started with 2 anubias and a amazon sword.... then I went crazy, Adding 9 more plants.

Plants:
2 Anubias
2 Ludwigia-Broad (split into 4 clumps)
3 Banana plants
2 Amazon swords
1 Four leaf clover

I added 7 Seachem Folurish root tabs, when I re-sculpted and added the new plants. Then I learned about low and high intensity lighting. I did change the bulb to a 15W colormax purple. It's only a 1 bulb hood, it does have a white reflector in there.. just hoping the plants will have enough light, and with the tabs... might be just enough...

Except for the Frog, loaches, banana plants and swords. Everything is pretty hardy and has adapted well... even those few have too.

One problem, my heater is going bonkers... so I've been letting the temp drop to around 70° it raises up to maybe 74°-76° with the light on all day...
Everything seems to be doing fine, I did just add these plants and caught a hitchhiker snail... just read the horrors on that...

Have I set up a disaster???
Did I just waste a ton of $?

I just can't believe that everything has adapted so well, especially since I have checked zero water parameters...

Any ideas on that snail? Best pic I've got so far... hope I don't wake up to hundreds...

Thanks for any suggestions or comments.

 

If that is a 10 gallon, your tank is way overstocked. I would upgrade asap or you will lose fish fast. As for the snail I can't identify it, it could be a Malaysian trumpet snail?? I hope others can identify it for you. If you are looking for a cheaper upgrade you can find some treasures on Craigslist

 

Thanks. Yeah I'm gonna end up getting a 55G that I'll move everything over to and keep the 10 as a QT. As dumb as I am with not measuring any water parameters(pH,kH,gH,nitrates, nitrites) I had all those fish for 3 months now, only lost 3 mollys... which are very temperamental fish to keep... I can't believe that they're doing so well. Yeah I knew it was overstocked... Same with the plants I just added.. lol. Kinda like my own slice of the Amazon rainforest, micro ecosystem. Added the plants to just self-run the tank.

 

Do you know what kind of pleco you have? Because if it is a common pleco, you need over 100 gallons for just him!

The dwarf frog is doomed. It will not be able to get any food since the other tank mates will get it all before he can find it. He would be better in the 10 gallon by himself, or with another dwarf frog.

The number of fish alone is a disaster (you asked if you had created a disaster) But then you have compatibility issues as well. And fish that are much too large for a 10 gallon. And fish that need larger groups to be happy....Your tank size is also going to be a problem for all of those plants!! An amazon sword, for instance, will need a lot more room to grow.

I hate to give bad news, but you asked if you had created a disaster...and the blunt answer is absolutely YES :-(

There are a lot of people on here that can give you great advice though! Just Be open to it!!

Thanks. Yeah I'm gonna end up getting a 55G that I'll move everything over to and keep the 10 as a QT. As dumb as I am with not measuring any water parameters(pH,kH,gH,nitrates, nitrites) I had all those fish for 3 months now, only lost 3 mollys... which are very temperamental fish to keep... I can't believe that they're doing so well. Yeah I knew it was overstocked... Same with the plants I just added.. lol. Kinda like my own slice of the Amazon rainforest, micro ecosystem. Added the plants to just self-run the tank.

I didn't see this before I posted my last post. It sounds like you are fully aware of all those issues!

Its great that you are upgrading!! But if you have a common pleco, he will have to be rehomed because even a 55 is far too small for one of those. And the frog will not survive in a 55 gallon. So if you want to keep the frog, use the 10 gallon for that and maybe get him a friend! Just a thought!!

 

I wish I could get a 100+ tank.

 

I think that's a pond snail. Don't worry too much about him. He won't cause any problems. Although you may see more and more show up... Just the number of them can be a nuisance!

 

That's a pond snail you've got there. They multiply. You can use lettuce in a jar to trap them.

What sort of pleco is it? As long as it's one of the smaller ones like a clown or a bristlenose, you're okay, but a common will outgrow even a 55 gallon tank.

As a frog owner I would suggest when you shift the fish to their new home you leave the frog behind in the ten gallon.

Frogs have to breathe air and making them swim to the top of a 55 gallon can be stressful for them. They're also opportunistic preditors with poor eyesight and can easily be outcompeted for food. You could get it two or three froggy buddies. But be careful, frogs can carry a lethal fungus called chytrid, so it's a good idea to quarantine them before mixing things up.

You could also add a mystery snail or a platy or two. I've done both with frogs in a 10 gallon, and it worked out fine.

Oh, and once you shift to the 55 gallon, you need to up the number of tetras. They need to be in groups of 6 or more.

 

I think the overstocking has been sufficiently addressed so I'll just right along..

I'd recommend the API master test kit for checking your water parameters if you don't already have one.
If you do, what are you parameters currently?
When are you planning on upgrading to the 55g?
The snail to me looks like a common bladder/pond snail. I'd remove it ASAP. They get out of control very fast.
I'd also recommend doing a salt dip on your plants when you move them over to the 55G just in case there was any eggs laid.

 

Yeah sadly it's a common pleco. Once I seen it'll grow to over 2'!! I figure I'll let him grow for now, but I'll need to be replaced, maybe with a bristled nose. I seen that the Frog can only really swim 12" vertical, so he'll just stay in the QT or one of these 6G I got. The snail worries me, I've only seen 1 so far. It either came in on a banana plant or the 4 leaf clover... I wanted to get an assassin snail, but held up b/c of overstocking... Just for being a novice... now that I've read basic fish chemistry. I'm just surprised I've obtained stability. I'VE NEVER CHECKED ANY PARAMETERS. Ever... I guess it's good I have all hardy fish and plants....

 

Until you test your parameters it's impossible to know how stable your tank is or whether it's even cycled.
I would recommend rehoming the pleco ASAP. He's not suitable for your tank and keeping him in there will just add a large amount of bioload to an already overstocked tank.
It'll also be detrimental to his health.

A BN pleco would be appropriate once you've got the 55 gallon up and running but not in the 10g.

If you're not planning on upgrading soon I would recommend rehoming several of your fish.