New Here! How's my set-up????

HI all! 28, female, from Maine USA. I'm new at this -- been doing a ton of research. Decided to start off small with a 10 gallon tank. I want to do live plants then plan to introduce my starter fish.

I'm still in the stages of building my tank... picked up tank, substrate, and filter yesterday - added water, and have that running - rest of supplies are all ordered and should be here Monday!

Here's my set-up based on the research I did online and from various resources.
I have a few questions, so please feel free to comment!
Thanks!!!


TANK: Top Fin 10 Gallon Fish Tank
HOO Standard Hood w/ Built-In Light Fixture for 2 x 25W Incandescent Lights (QUESTION: I want to use 2 CFL bulbs instead, as I read they're better for live plants and don't get as hot -- thoughts? What wattage should I get?)
EXTRA LIGHTS (MOONLIGHTS): Marineland Hidden LED Strip Light 17" -- I wanted moonlights, so I picked this up (QUESTION: I'm planning to do live plants - should I use this as my main day light source, or in addition to my CFLs? Or just use for moonlights?)
FILTER: Penguin 100 Bio-Wheel Power Filter
HEATER: EHEIM Jager Aquarium Thermostat Heater 75W
AIR PUMP: Tetra Whisper Air Pump (10 gal)
TUBING:Penn-Plax® Flexible Air Line Tubing (25 feet)
AIRSTONE:Jardin Fish Tank Air Bubble 2-Piece Air Stone Bars
Water test kit: API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Substrate: CaribSea Flora Max Planted Aquarium, Black

 

Welcome to Fishlore, and to the hobby

Everything looks good so far - I assume you've researched the Nitrogen Cycle? Have you any ideas of what fish you want to stock your tank with? 10gals are notoriously hard to stock - a lot less can go in them than one would think.

Fire away with the questions - that's what we are all here for!

 

for a first - what do you consider a "starter fish." Platies, guppies, a betta, shrimp, snails, What fish are you planning on putting in the tank?

 

Hi!

Yes, good on understanding nitrogen cycle. My background is in environmental studies and ecology. Plan to do a fishless cycle so starter fish will really just be "first fish" vs. "pawns"!

So I haven't really given too much thought yet to the kind of fish I want to keep. I want to keep it relatively sparse and simple but interesting - maybe a few kuhlI loaches and maybe some dwarf gouramis or angelfish and tetras if I have room. I have to read more on what gets along, sizing, etc.

 

That is great to hear! People seem to be losing faith in fishless cycling because it takes so long, but it's the far better method on account of there is no unnecessary stress placed on any fish. It takes longer, but it's always going to be worth it anyway

Unfortunately regarding your stocking plans, none of those will work. Here is your basic list for stocking a 10gal -

A single Betta
White Cloud Mountain Minnows
Certain types of Killifish
Ember Tetra
Micro/ChillI Rasbora
Most inverts (shrimp, snails)

There are very few other options, and you can't mix and match. It's one school of one type (unless you get one Betta).

 

Unfortunately regarding your stocking plans, none of those will work. Here is your basic list for stocking a 10gal -

A single Betta
White Cloud Mountain Minnows
Certain types of Killifish
Ember Tetra
Micro/ChillI Rasbora
Most inverts (shrimp, snails)

There are very few other options, and you can't mix and match. It's one school of one type (unless you get one Betta).

HI there!

So, again, I haven't yet really thought about or read about what will work in my tank -- as far as I'm concerned, fish are just an "accessory" to the ecosystem I'm looking to create and will come later. It is expected that experts would weigh in with established lists of what can/cannot be done!

So since you brought it up, thanks for the list. Just curious when you say there are very few other options, do you mean that 10 gallon tanks can't support any other species or variety besides this specific line-up?

Also, when you say a single betta - do you mean that I would only be able to keep a single betta and no other fish in my 10 gal tank, or a single betta along with the other fish mentioned?

When you say "none of those will work", are you speaking on terms of compatibility or size?

I always read it was 1" of fish per gallon of water.

I don't even know if I have available minnows or killifish or rasbora or inverts where I live. We mostly have readily available tiny neon tetras and danios. When I was younger, I had a 10 gallon tank and kept a few danios and tetras along with some loaches and they all did fine. I lost them all in an ice storm which knocked out power for a week (unfortunately).

 

. Here is a link to some suggested stocking schemes for different sized tanks.
Betta fish are solitary fish by nature, and really need to be the only fish in the tank.
Hope you find the link helpful!

 

I'd really like to be able to keep kuhlis. So even if it has to be a species-only tank, I'd be willing to do that even if it meant on a few of them. The sites I've come across suggest 10 gal tanks are fine for a few kuhlis and maybe 1-2 of the small rasbora species.

 

. Here is a link to some suggested stocking schemes for different sized tanks.
Betta fish are solitary fish by nature, and really need to be the only fish in the tank.
Hope you find the link helpful!

Thanks, very helpful! Looks like there's lots of options for 10 gal!

 

Here's my tank set-up so far (just filter, tank, water, background and substrate so far... rest of supplies come this weekend/Monday!)

 

Looks good and welcome to the forum. Everybody has their own opinions on what will work and what wont. Even the "experts" do not agree when you google different fish species. One may say minimum tank size for that species is a 10, or a twenty, or even a thirty Read it all and then go by what makes sense to you. How you take care of your tank, ie water testing and partial water changes ect. can also make a difference. By the way that one inch of fish per gal is very outdated by the way. Alison

 

First off - forget the "one gallon" rule - it's garbage (and I found out earlier that it's name doesn't actually mean what everyone thinks it means). I wouldn't put Loaches in a 10gal if you want them to thrive. If you can accept the fact they will never be in their prime in that sized tank, then go right ahead.

When I said "none of them will work", in this instance it is because of size, and swimming space. Gouramis need a lot of space to swim, as do Tetra (apart from Embers). Angels can get up to 8 inches tip to tail! You see my point - it's similar to the notion of not keeping a dog in a tiny cage. Fish need space too.

As for Bettas, they should always be kept on their own. A lot of people will come here and try to say they keep Bettas with other fish "successfully". The term is in fact "lucky". As you are a beginner, I recommend you avoid that kettle of fish (pun intended) completely.


Regarding the linked thread on stocking capacities - it was not sourced from anywhere (so only going on what was written on website care sheets - again, not always accurate). Yes, there are a few more options than the ones I mentioned, but outside of that list, the availability of the fish decreases, and you will be hard pressed to find them in any chain stores.

That's a very interesting statement - "fish are an accessory" - surely the main reason for keeping an aquarium is the fish themselves? I'd be interested to hear an elaboration on that thought.

 

10 GALLON

1. ONE Betta (two if you get a divider)

2. TWO Dwarf Puffers (if heavily planted, or you can get a divider to save yourself the worry) OR THREE Dwarf Puffers (ONLY if there is ONE Male and TWO Females or THREE Females and is also very heavily planted)**

3. ONE Dwarf Puffer and 3 Otos

4. THREE African Dwarf Frogs

5. SIX of one species of Small Schooling Fish

6. THREE Male guppies***
THREE Small Bottom Feeders

7. ONE Dwarf Gourami
THREE Small Bottom Feeders

8. THREE Male Balloon ***
THREE Small Bottom Feeders

9. THREE Honey OR Sparkling Gouramis
THREE Small Bottom Feeders

10. THREE Male platies***
THREE Small Bottom Feeders

11. ONE platy OR ONE Balloon Mollie OR ONE sparkling gourami OR ONEguppy
SIX Small Schooling Fish

12. TWO Borelli's Dwarf Cichlids****
SIX Pygmy Corycats

Welcome to fishlore!
I agree with mentioned, some of those suggestion are outdated.
I'll lay the thing out:

Option 1: One betta. -This works.

Option 2: 2 or 3 dwarf puffers- this works

Option 3: One dwarf puffer and 3 otos- I disagree with this. Otos need to be in groups of 6+ and a 20 gallon minimum.

Option 4: Three ADFs- I'm not too sure, but I think it's slightly off. I'd do max two.

Option 5: Six of one small species of schooling fish. -It depends on what type of schooler we are talking about. Imo, neons and cardinals wouldn't work, but CPDs, Ember tetras, or microrasboras.

Option 6: 3 guppies and three bottom feeders.- I agree with the guppies part (you can even do up to 6), but "bottom feeder" fish of any type won't work. Shrimp or snails would.

Option 7: One dwarf gourami and three bottom feeders, same as above. Some say that a DG will work by itself in a 10g, but I personally wouldn't. The three bottom feeders won't work unless the are shrimp or snails.

Option 8: Three balloon mollies and 3 bottom feeders.- Disagree with this.

Option 9: 3 honey or sparkling gouramis with 3 small bottom feeders- disagree with the bottom feeders part, and the honey gouramis part. 3 sparkling gouramis would be fine.

Option 10: 3 platies and 3 small bottom feeders- disagree with the bottom feeders part.

Option 11: ONE platy OR ONE Balloon Mollie OR ONE sparkling gourami OR ONE guppy
SIX Small Schooling Fish- besides the molly, this would work, depending on the type of schooler.

Option 12: TWO Borelli's Dwarf Cichlids six pygmy cories- disagree with this completely.

So that's it.

 

I don't even agree with the Molly idea, bearing in mind they max out at like 4 inches.

 

I don't even agree with the Molly idea, bearing in mind they max out at like 4 inches.

Yeah, I know. They did say balloon mollies, which get smaller because of a spinal deformation, but I still wouldn't do it in a 10g.

 

That's a very interesting statement - "fish are an accessory" - surely the main reason for keeping an aquarium is the fish themselves? I'd be interested to hear an elaboration on that thought.

Thanks for all the help understanding this, everyone!!

I found this site that seems to help, too.
Can this site be trusted?

So, as to my comment -- I think a lot of people go in this with the idea that it's about the FISH ONLY and when they get a tank they do so because they know exactly what kind of fish they want (possibly), but I see it from a real holistic perspective (ecology) -- where it's more important and interesting to me anyway to see it all working as one -- so yes, "accessory" was not the right word -- but what I meant was, fish being "part of" the whole, not just the only part. (IMO, they're not even the most interesting parts in some cases I find plants more interesting -- LOL!!)

 

Thanks for all the help understanding this, everyone!!

I found this site that seems to help, too.
Can this site be trusted?

So, as to my comment -- I think a lot of people go in this with the idea that it's about the FISH ONLY and when they get a tank they do so because they know exactly what kind of fish they want (possibly), but I see it from a real holistic perspective (ecology) -- where it's more important and interesting to me anyway to see it all working as one -- so yes, "accessory" was not the right word -- but what I meant was, fish being "part of" the whole, not just the only part. (IMO, they're not even the most interesting parts in some cases I find plants more interesting -- LOL!!)

Aqadvisor is just a guide, not completely accurate in everything.

 

Aqadvisor is just a guide, not completely accurate in everything.

All advice is guidance!

When using Aqadvisor, I read it's good if you have the stock % come out around 80%. If using it this way, is it more useful, or are the inconsistencies beyond that?

 

All advice is guidance!

When using Aqadvisor, I read it's good if you have the stock % come out around 80%. If using it this way, is it more useful, or are the inconsistencies beyond that?

It's beyond that.

 

As Anders says, i'd just avoid Aquadvisor haha.

 

I didn't see anyone respond to your question about the lights.

I prefer to use CFL bulbs -- they're cheap and efficient, and they fit right in standard sockets. I wouldn't put more than 15 watts total above that tank; you'll have algae problems otherwise. That might just mean you put a single 15-watt CFL in the hood and leave the other socket empty (you can "seal" it with a burned-out bulb if you're worried about water getting in).

To comment on other things discussed above:

I'd really like to be able to keep kuhlis. So even if it has to be a species-only tank, I'd be willing to do that even if it meant on a few of them. The sites I've come across suggest 10 gal tanks are fine for a few kuhlis and maybe 1-2 of the small rasbora species.

I wouldn't put kuhlis in anything less than a 20-gallon "long" tank for their permanent home. I kept some in a 10-gallon quarantine for a while and felt guilty at how cramped they were. They're just too active to keep in such small spaces.

That's a very interesting statement - "fish are an accessory" - surely the main reason for keeping an aquarium is the fish themselves? I'd be interested to hear an elaboration on that thought.

I actually understand this statement -- the full statement was that the fish were an accessory to the ecosystem. Buying a tank and dumping fish in it just so you can stare at the pretty fish isn't what I'm interested in, either; I like to build an environment for my fish. They're only part of the tank system.

Option 10: 3 platies and 3 small bottom feeders- disagree with the bottom feeders part.

A small school of pygmy cories would be fine with 3 platies, if you kept up with water changes. I wouldn't do anything bigger, though.

I don't even agree with the Molly idea, bearing in mind they max out at like 4 inches.

Amen. I wouldn't buy balloon mollies at all (breeding for spinal deformity bothers me), and if I had some, I wouldn't put them in a 10-gal.

 

A small school of pygmy cories would be fine with 3 platies, if you kept up with water changes. I wouldn't do anything bigger, though.

Imo, I wouldn't have any dwarf cories in a 10g, because they are so active, but I see why some do it.

Amen. I wouldn't buy balloon mollies at all (breeding for spinal deformity bothers me), and if I had some, I wouldn't put them in a 10-gal.

I wouldn't either. It's just unnatural. And it looks dumb in my opinion.

 

Thanks for advice on lights!!!

I'm so excited to start my plants!!!

How about first time beginner plant recommendations????

 

Thanks for advice on lights!!!

I'm so excited to start my plants!!!

How about first time beginner plant recommendations????

Read all of this: https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfi...-set-up-a-low-light-low-tech-planted-tank.24/

 

Anacharis and java fern are as low-maintenance as it gets, and they'll do well with that lighting and regardless of the substrate you use.

If you're going for the planted substrate, that opens up a range of other options. Dwarf sagittaria looks nice and is pretty low-maintenance. You might check out some crypt species like cryptocoryne wendtiI -- these can be bought as sterile tissue-cultured plants at Petsmart.

There are a lot of other plants you could look into, but the small space of a 10-gallon tank is a little limiting, just because a lot of plants will quickly grow big enough to shade out their tankmates.

Back on the lighting question: I forgot to mention earlier that you want the Daylight Spectrum bulbs. Standard "soft white" (or whatever) won't really cut it.