Nano Tank Questions.

HI guys I was getting started with a 10 gallon nano tank this weekend, I just finished building the stand and was going out to buy some stuff at the LFS. It's going to be planted with hopefully a good aquascape. Inhabitants are going to be 6 galaxy dianos, 4 cories and a dwarf gourami. I have a few questions though. I was going to buy good lights for it, a nice LED light bar that stretches the length of the tank, but what substrate should I buy? I was going to buy some cheap black sand but now I'm thinking I need something with more nutrients? Also are all my inhabitants going to be OK with each other? The galaxy dianos won't pick on the gourami? How should I plant the tank? Thanks a a lot guys.

 

I'm not sure about your other questions, but DGs and cories need a 20 gallon tank minimum.

 

I'm not a big stocking expert but it sounds like your 10 gallon may be overstocked. The 6 danios may be ok, if it's the celestial pearl danios you mean, but a dwarf gourami needs at least a 20 gallon, as well as corys and they do better at 6 or more. I'm sure members with more knowledge will come along to advise soon!

 

I agree with all of the above. A solution would be a change for pygmy cories as they require far less space, but would still do much better in a large group in a large tank. 6 of the smaller danios like a celestial pearl would do great, maybe with a few bottom dwelling shrimp to keep that area of the tank busy? DG's and full sized cory varieties are definitely not suited to a 10 gal nano tank.

make sure whatever substreate you choose is a nice fine grade if you do get some pygmy cory as a thicker or harder substrate will wear down their barbels. Some plants won't be compatible with your nano tank as they will take over, and also depend on which light you go for.

 

I agree with all of the above. A solution would be a change for pygmy cories as they require far less space, but would still do much better in a large group in a large tank. 6 of the smaller danios like a celestial pearl would do great, maybe with a few bottom dwelling shrimp to keep that area of the tank busy? DG's and full sized cory varieties are definitely not suited to a 10 gal nano tank.

make sure whatever substreate you choose is a nice fine grade if you do get some pygmy cory as a thicker or harder substrate will wear down their barbels. Some plants won't be compatible with your nano tank as they will take over, and also depend on which light you go for.

All cories need a 20 gallon minimum even the smaller varieties. The are way too active to be kept in a 10 gallon. Ember tetras or chilI rasboras are some other options for a 10 gallon

 

I agree with all of the above. A solution would be a change for pygmy cories as they require far less space, but would still do much better in a large group in a large tank. 6 of the smaller danios like a celestial pearl would do great, maybe with a few bottom dwelling shrimp to keep that area of the tank busy? DG's and full sized cory varieties are definitely not suited to a 10 gal nano tank.

make sure whatever substreate you choose is a nice fine grade if you do get some pygmy cory as a thicker or harder substrate will wear down their barbels. Some plants won't be compatible with your nano tank as they will take over, and also depend on which light you go for.

I was going for salt and pepper cories, I thought they were smaller, but shrimp do sound like a good idea too. I just needed someone to keep the bottom of the tank clean. Pgmy cories sound like a good idea too. I was going to get some fine black sand for the bottom. I didn't know that dwarf gouramis need 20 gallon, what gourami or other centerpiece fish could I use?

 

Pygmy cories and salt and pepper cories both need at least 20 gallons.

How about a male guppy as the centrepiece fish?

 

Pygmy cories and salt and pepper cories both need at least 20 gallons.

How about a male guppy as the centrepiece fish?

Aw man. Male guppy does sound cool, but aren't they small schooling fish?
EDIT: did some snooping around on the freshwater fish profiles, I saw a fish called a sparkling pygmy gourami, I wonder if that will fit well?

 

Guppies aren't schooling fish and can be perfectly happy on their own. Pygmy gouramis are cool but they can be very hard to find.

 

Guppies do not school

 

Guppies aren't schooling fish and can be perfectly happy on their own. Pygmy gouramis are cool but they can be very hard to find.

My local pet supermarket allows you to special order fish free of charge, ones that are not in stock. And also if they become popular at the store they house them there. I'll ask them to order because they take good care of their fish there. Thanks for the help guys ill make a separate thread about my build

 

So everyone has pointed out that the initial list of inhabitants was too much for a 10 gallon.

I am going to weigh in and note that an aquascape generally is not about the fish. You do fine with some Harlequin Rasboras or Lampeye Killies of the like and pretty much forgo another species of fish.
Or you can, instead, identify what you really want in the tank and then build an ecosystem in a glass box that will fullfill the requirements of the target fish. I last put up a 10 gallon tank and put 5 Chameleon fish (Badis badis), 7 or so Scarlet Baddis (Dario dario) and some Pygmy coryies.

I will be the very 1st to admit that this is a recipe for disater... unless you know what you are doing. I put some pre-wet black plant substrate across 80% of the tank and a acrylic pane border with sand in the remaining area. I heavily planted Rotala in the back, lots of cyptocorns in the mid region (along with dwarf Sagit grass) and filled the foreground in with slate wrapped with Riccia like a lawn. I also put CO2 into the mix with a brite plant light. The riccia pearled O2 constantly and the fish flourished (the Badis badis bred constantly). Eventually I put a large filter feeder shrimp in (I forget which one but it was quite at home almost instantly). I should point out I put an oversize OTB filter on the tank as well as pump driven internal filter (mean for a turtle tank).

So if you want to have several fish in a nice community... plan it out and plant it out both. Over filter and make certain your plants participate in the tank.


...and if it is a nano tank... How about Scarlet Badis for the fish? Full grown they are barely an inch long. They are every bit as colorful as a cichlid but do not tear your tank apart (important if you plant it out). See here...

 

I highly recommend shrimp, maybe a blue or red colony to stand out against the plants. Micro rasbora would work for a 10 gallon, but harlequin rasboras wouldn't be happy imo. I've had them and mine like their space. With aquascaping, I would complete the scape and then get fish, especially if you are looking into carpeting plants.

 

So everyone has pointed out that the initial list of inhabitants was too much for a 10 gallon.

I am going to weigh in and note that an aquascape generally is not about the fish. You do fine with some Harlequin Rasboras or Lampeye Killies of the like and pretty much forgo another species of fish.
Or you can, instead, identify what you really want in the tank and then build an ecosystem in a glass box that will fullfill the requirements of the target fish. I last put up a 10 gallon tank and put 5 Chameleon fish (Badis badis), 7 or so Scarlet Baddis (Dario dario) and some Pygmy coryies.

I will be the very 1st to admit that this is a recipe for disater... unless you know what you are doing. I put some pre-wet black plant substrate across 80% of the tank and a acrylic pane border with sand in the remaining area. I heavily planted Rotala in the back, lots of cyptocorns in the mid region (along with dwarf Sagit grass) and filled the foreground in with slate wrapped with Riccia like a lawn. I also put CO2 into the mix with a brite plant light. The riccia pearled O2 constantly and the fish flourished (the Badis badis bred constantly). Eventually I put a large filter feeder shrimp in (I forget which one but it was quite at home almost instantly). I should point out I put an oversize OTB filter on the tank as well as pump driven internal filter (mean for a turtle tank).

So if you want to have several fish in a nice community... plan it out and plant it out both. Over filter and make certain your plants participate in the tank.


...and if it is a nano tank... How about Scarlet Badis for the fish? Full grown they are barely an inch long. They are every bit as colorful as a cichlid but do not tear your tank apart (important if you plant it out). See here...

Wow! That's amazing. This would be my first real aquascaping though so I am going to try and keep it simple. I guess ill have to do some more thinking about what I want in the tank. At least I know ill have shrimp on the bottom...