10 Gallon Set up

[ThxForNothing]

I am going to be setting up my other 10 gallon tonight so I can get some fish later. I have no idea what I want to get though. I will be using real plants also.. and I don't know what kind to get. The pet stores around here don't have much of a selection unfortunately.

So, anyone have any ideas? The new fish will either go in a tank with a Betta, or one with two YoYo Loaches in it (young ones). Right now the Betta and loaches are in the same tank but that isn't going to work out for to long.


Edit: I got this rock at Shasta Pets yesturday, I'm pretty sure it's okay to put in with the fish but I need to test it. There's a pinned topic for that I believe.. but I wanted to show everyone anyway lol.

Edit again!: Okay, my grandma brought me back this "Whisper" heater. It goes in the tank completly and I'm not to sure if I like having a cord in the tank... Although I suppose I could hide the cord with some plants, eh? lol. Has anyone used this heater in the past? Also, the thermometer that it came with is one of those that you just stick on the outside of the tank. Should I invest in a different kind of thermometer?

 

[StarOrbs]

1st if the heater is submersible then its alright having the cord in the water.
You have choices of livebearers such as platies, and the majority of tetras. You could also get cory catfish. I'm sure others will give you better ideas. If you don't have a filter AquaClears or Penquin Minis with the bio-wheel are good. If you get cories or any bottom dwellers that like to dig or whatever I'd suggest sand and because it looks better in my opinion.

 

[fufanu360]

lol if its submersable its safe to have the cord in, and the fish sasha listed are good choices, you could have a pair of ram cichlids in there instead

 

[ThxForNothing]

I got a filter, althought i'm not sure it's the best in the world. It came with the fish tank. It's from AquaTech. I love corys by the way, lol. I use to have two albino ones. I was considering getting another one already, maybe two.. I thought about doing the sand, but i'm not really up to that just yet. I was planning on getting some pvc pipe (or something else if someone has a better idea) so they can go hide inside it, have tunnels and such.

Hmm.. I've been thinking about getting another betta.. but i'm not sure yet. I will most likely only be getting 3 or 4 fish max (depending on their size of corse).

I knew having the cord in the tank was okay, I just don't like how it looks.. lol. But like I said, it can be covered with plants. Thanks for replying, about time someone did..


edit: I just looked at a picture of a ram cichlid, I don't think that's the kind i'll be getting, thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[StarOrbs]

Sasha listed the choices? I didn't know I was sasha. lol

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Sasha listed the choices? I didn't know I was sasha. lol

No, not Sasha??!!

 

[ThxForNothing]

LoL. Oh, I also have another question.. I am doing the fishless cycle now, and I've just added this water conditioner called "AquaSafe" by TetraAqua. It says that it does the following things:

-Neutralizes chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metals harmful to fish.
-Enhances natrual, protective slime coating of fish.
-Complete formula, works in seconds.


Okay, so I was wondering if I should wait a certian amount of time before adding this other conditioner, or if it was okay to just add it now. The other stuff is by the same people, but it's called EasyBalance.. it says it does the following things:

-Keeps aquarium water biologically balanced for up to 6 months
-Stabilizes pH and alkalinity (KH) levels vitals for fish and plants
-Reduces nitrates and phophate
"NEW FORUMLA! with Nitraban nitrate reduction granules"


I'm not sure, and even though I have another tank running my mom never told me that I had to do these things. I'm doing it now of corse, but I already have fish in that one..bah. They seem to be doing perfectly fine though, they are all active and healthy looking. I did loose an albino cory however.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I would not suggest coried for a 10 gallon, some casn get pretty big and they need to be in groups. You could get dwarf cories though who stay small. I also would not suggest a lot of tetra as although many are small they need lots of room to shoal. I'd also advise against breeding livebearers in a tank that size.

There are lots of fish you can have. That's JO though.

 

[ThxForNothing]

Haha. I am not a breeder. I'm not a fan of it personally.. for any kind of animal. I think the homeless-animal population is quiet high enough as it is. I mean, I don't mind if people breed animals so long as they do it the proper way.. I just don't want to do it myself. I'd feel like crap for that.

Anyway, I don't want any tetras.. not sure why though and if I did get a cory or two they would stay in the 10 gallon until they grew out of it. Then they would be put into the 60 gallon, where I am planning on putting my YoYo Loaches once they are to big for their 10 gallon.


I think next time I go to the pet store I will write down the names of the fish that they have there, and post the list here and see what everyone thinks about what I should get.. Oh yeah, here is a picture of the tank how I have it setup so far.. I am going to buy plants within the week or this coming weekend. Oh, and I am going to be getting another lighted hood for it. But the one it came with, I put on my other tank since I have fish in it now.

Once again though, does anyone know about the question I asked? About the water conditioner.. right now i'm thinking it's okay to use them at the same time but I don't want to do that and screw something up some how.. lol. I tend to be good at such things..

 

[NickT]

hey i reconise that filter... if its a topfin ither ditch it or watch it carfuly! i had 2 go bad in 1 month .. the same month i purchased the tanks they came with...... the impellers split for no reson on both filters....

 

[Skylar]

Did you buy your 10 gallon as a aquarium kit? if so, I have the same one. You may have to replace the filter and change the filter media once every week as the filter stops working after 2 weeks unless you pull it apart and remove all the gross stuff that is clogging it. I also find that it doesn't filter the water very well.

 

[ThxForNothing]

Yeap- Got it in a kit at walmart. LoL. I don't have a problem with cleaning the filter and such but really i'd prefer not to. I am going to be getting a better one I think.. any suggestions? The other filter I have is a "Whisper Power Filter" -What about that one? Is it okay? Thanks for the help so far guys I appericiate it!

...Hmm.. I noticed that when my Betta swims over near the filter that sometimes his fins get sucked up in it- He can get away just fine and everything but I still don't like it.. So I was thinking what if I got some screen material and wrapped it around it? Would that mess up the filtering process any? I'd of corse take it out and whipe it off so it didn't get all clogged with stuff..


Ermm... no one has answered my post important question still..
What about the water conditioner stuff?
--My mom just told me she thinks it's the same stuff just labled different, but i'm still not sure.. i'd rather hear what someone from here thinks because well she's...dumb...

 

[gale]

I have used two different brands of water conditioner (aquasafe and stresscoat) in the same water change with no problems. I don't know about Easybalance though-that is something you add so you don't have to do so many water changes I think? Someone here posted that they use it, but they still do weekly water changes. Personally I wouldn't use it at all.

sorry not much help but I hated to see you getting frustrated at your question being ignored.

 

[keeper-of-fish]

yup that is the brand of heater I had before the one I have now that filled with water and quit working on me ...it was ok my new one is way more accurate tho

 

[ThxForNothing]

Thanks for responding gale, even if it wasn't to informative. So what kind of filters and heaters do all you guys use, and what are the best kind to get? I've pretty much made up my mind that i'm putting another betta in this 10g too. I was watching mine swim around in his today and it really made me want to get another one lol.


Yeah, that stuff says that if you use it you don't have to change your water for like 6 months or something, I thought it was full of sh*t when I read that personally.. lol. I would do the water change anyway.. can't trust what a bottle says.


Oh yeah, how long was it before that heater stopped working for you, keeper?

Edit again: No one answered me about the thermometer either, can someone recommend one to me? I don't think the ones that just stick on the tank are going to work right for some reason.. lol