10 Gallon Bottom Feeder

[Georgia_ofthejungle]

Hi everyone, thanks so much for wonderfully answering my questions so far, I know it can be tiring, and I so admire how much you guys will do anything to help provide good lives for fish!

Anyway, I have decided to stock my tank with 6-8 ember tetras (the number depends on what other fish I may get), and a male halfmoon betta.
I currently have a tank with a big piece of drift wood, and silk plants, but am also planning on getting floating plants! My fish will be fed on flakes/pellets, and the twice a week daphnia or brine shrimp!

I am aware that both my fish are middle to top region swimmers, so I am thinking I need to find a bottom feeder. Thing is, I have black gravel in the bottom of my tank, that isn't particularly rounded, and I am aware that this is harsh on bottom feeders. I am really, really not keen on switching to sand, I don't like the look!
So, is there any bottom feeder that this gravel wont be hard on? Or is a bottom feeder completely out of the question if I have this current gravel?

Thank you guys

 

[bluesword23516]

I have a Golden Chinese Algae eater and love him! They are just a pretty gold/yellow color and they do fine on the somewhat rough gravel.  I had my first one in a ten gallon tank so it should be fine.  They are serious jumpers if they get scared.  They do swim/ wiggle around the top sometimes, but that is usually to chase another fish.  They wont hurt the other fish, just show them who is boss and that this is his/her territory. 

 

[sawickib]

Golden chinese algae eaters get 1' long and should be in a min of 30 gal+ tank. Far as im concerned their not very good algae eaters either.



http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=830+1162+938&pcatid=938

 

[Ninjouzata]

As has been said CAE get too big for this tank. As they age they start eating algae less and start going after other fishes slime coat.
 
If you weren't getting a betta I'd recommend shrimp.

 

[Georgia_ofthejungle]

I have just realised that aquariums and you can get in different colours, not just natural, so I would actually be happy using sand for the bottom of my tank Would I be able to fit 6 pygmy Cory's, 6 ember tetras, and 1 halfmoon in my tank?

 

[sawickib]

That's seems like it would be over crowded esp. as they age, you could do they but you would have to do much more water changes than you usually do to keep ammonia levels down.

 

[noobgamers]

pygmy corydoras will go well panda corys would be a strech

 

[Lillefishy]

Pygmy corys tend to occupy the middle levels of the tank, but will go to the bottom to feed, like other corys they won't do well on gravel if it's sharp

 

[Georgia_ofthejungle]

I have decided on stocking my tank with two female platys, 1 male betta, and 6 pygmy Cory's. I know this is the absolute limit of my tank, so I know that my cleaning will need to be regular.

Food wise, I will be feeding daphnia or brine shrimp twice a week, for the entire tank. The pygmys will then be fed omega vege micro pellets. What should I feed the betta and platys? Could they both eat betta specific food? Flakes, or pellets?

 

[Ninjouzata]

The pygmies need protein, so switch that to shrimp pellets. I use THESE but you'll want something smaller possibly for the pygmies.
Betta needs it's own type of food, try to find a floating pellet. I feed mine 3 of THESE once a day.
Platys perhaps something like THIS, or if that's too big maybe THIS.
 
I'm unsure of the brands you can get a hold of there, but hopefully those give you an idea.

 

[Georgia_ofthejungle]

Massive thank you! I can find get the exact thing you suggested for the pygmys, I can get a floating betta pellet for my betta, but the platy, I can't find normal pellets!
Would super colour kelp pellets be suitable for them?

Also, how do I make sure the fish are only eating their own food? And do I feed them small amounts twice a day?

 

[Georgia_ofthejungle]

Or maybe vege pellets for the platys?