10 gallon aquarium

[JuiceBox52]

Unfortunately I’ve had to tear down all of my tanks. I no longer have any, my boyfriend took one of mine, which is nice because I can still see it whenever I’m over at his place.

Our well water isn’t suitable for fish, however we do have a very small R/O system. (Like an ounce per minute) I hope to keep a 10 (or maybe a 20 gallon paludarium with a 10 gallon water space here. I plan to have micro rasboras and Pygmy corydoras.

I know that keeping fragile fish in a small environment will require diligent water changes and monitoring of water quality, and it’s not for the beginner.

My main question is I know just straight R/O isn’t good for them, how do I remineralize the water? The well has a softener on it which is toxic to the fish I believe.

 

[connorlindeman]

Unfortunately I’ve had to tear down all of my tanks. I no longer have any, my boyfriend took one of mine, which is nice because I can still see it whenever I’m over at his place.

Our well water isn’t suitable for fish, however we do have a very small R/O system. (Like an ounce per minute) I hope to keep a 10 (or maybe a 20 gallon paludarium with a 10 gallon water space here. I plan to have micro rasboras and Pygmy corydoras.

I know that keeping fragile fish in a small environment will require diligent water changes and monitoring of water quality, and it’s not for the beginner.

My main question is I know just straight R/O isn’t good for them, how do I remineralize the water? The well has a softener on it which is toxic to the fish I believe.

You could use something like Replenish, i have no experience with it though. Someone else here might.

 

[Byron]

If the softener uses sodium chloride (common salt), you are correct that it is not suitable for fish. And small-sized species are more delicate when it comes to such things. The RO though is a different story, and you can keep very soft water fish in RO. Many do it. Corydoras pygmaeus would be fine, Ian Fuller has told me he spawns and raises this species in RO exclusively. The Boraras species of micro rasboras would work, as would Ember Tetras.

 

[JuiceBox52]

I believe it is sodium chloride. So you think straight R/O would be fine?
Are there any other micro rasboras that would work? I could potentially bring a few gallons of tap water from my boyfriends house to add at least some minerals if needed

If the softener uses sodium chloride (common salt), you are correct that it is not suitable for fish. And small-sized species are more delicate when it comes to such things. The RO though is a different story, and you can keep very soft water fish in RO. Many do it. Corydoras pygmaeus would be fine, Ian Fuller has told me he spawns and raises this species in RO exclusively. The Boraras species of micro rasboras would work, as would Ember Tetras.

 

[Byron]

I believe it is sodium chloride. So you think straight R/O would be fine?
Are there any other micro rasboras that would work? I could potentially bring a few gallons of tap water from my boyfriends house to add at least some minerals if needed

Personally I would use all RO and leave it at that. Once you start having to mix specific water, it gets complicated. And it is most assuredly not necessary for fish that naturally live in basically that type of water. My tap water for over 30 years has been zero GH/KH with an acidic pH (probably below 5, could only measure down to 5) and I kept dozens of species.

I'm not too up on the micro cyprinids, and it depends upon the eventual setup. I assume tank size is not restricted, so I would suggest a basic 29g as perhaps a more workable tank. This gives you space, you could have a waterfall in one corner, and the height gives space for terrestrial plants. Glass panels can be set with silicon to keep the "land" and water portions separated.

 

[JuiceBox52]

Personally I would use all RO and leave it at that. Once you start having to mix specific water, it gets complicated. And it is most assuredly not necessary for fish that naturally live in basically that type of water. My tap water for over 30 years has been zero GH/KH with an acidic pH (probably below 5, could only measure down to 5) and I kept dozens of species.

I'm not too up on the micro cyprinids, and it depends upon the eventual setup. I assume tank size is not restricted, so I would suggest a basic 29g as perhaps a more workable tank. This gives you space, you could have a waterfall in one corner, and the height gives space for terrestrial plants. Glass panels can be set with silicon to keep the "land" and water portions separated.

The tank size is restricted to 10-maybe standard 20 gallon due to my health and inability to perform larger water changes and lift buckets etc

 

[Rocky998]

Hmm... Could you meet in the middle? Say a 15 gallon? Do some corydoras and a top dwelling fish

 

[JuiceBox52]

Hmm... Could you meet in the middle? Say a 15 gallon? Do some corydoras and a top dwelling fish

Would prefer my 10 or 20 because I already have them haha

 

[Rocky998]

Would prefer my 10 or 20 because I already have them haha

Ohhhh makes sense, whoops sorry. (no spend more money )
Thinking of your medical issues I would do the 10.
BUT, on the other hand a 20 gallon doesn't require too much maintenance either so it could work but a 10 would give you the pleasure of an aquarium with less work