10 Gallon

[randymyr]

Well, I set my 10 gallon fish tank up (with a 30 gallon filter) But comes to find out i don't have a canopy ! Do i really need one? All I can only think of needing it for the fact of evaporation.
I have the light, so if I can find out how to get that above the tank, i will.
But I was wondering how this would sound...
I'm planning on making this a planted tank, with the following plants and fish...
Plants
Java Moss
Dwarf Anubias
Giant Vallis
Cabomba
Water Sprite
Fish
3 Serpae Tetras
2 Rosy Tetras
4 Bronze Corys
Only reason there's this amount of fish is because I want them out of my 30 gallon

 

[pica_nuttalli]

when i had a 10g setup, i used a mesh lid intended for a reptile cage to keep fish from jumping out. similarly, when i first set up my 50g here, i bought some acrylic and cut holes in it for the filter. the acrylic did bow a bit due to the high humidity, but it worked just fine to keep down evaporation -- and at keeping the fish from jumping out.

both of those solutions are quite a bit cheaper than buying a hood.

 

[randymyr]

when i had a 10g setup, i used a mesh lid intended for a reptile cage to keep fish from jumping out. similarly, when i first set up my 50g here, i bought some acrylic and cut holes in it for the filter. the acrylic did bow a bit due to the high humidity, but it worked just fine to keep down evaporation -- and at keeping the fish from jumping out.

both of those solutions are quite a bit cheaper than buying a hood.

I wouldn't really see the tetras jumping... but there is a possibility... So i'll start working on getting a lid or something on it if possible...
you think there's an actual need for one though??

 

[bae1994]

hi to stop them jumping out you might get away with having alot of floating plants to form sort of a roof

 

[fish.com1]

when i had a 10g setup, i used a mesh lid intended for a reptile cage to keep fish from jumping out. similarly, when i first set up my 50g here, i bought some acrylic and cut holes in it for the filter. the acrylic did bow a bit due to the high humidity, but it worked just fine to keep down evaporation -- and at keeping the fish from jumping out.

both of those solutions are quite a bit cheaper than buying a hood.

I agree buy some acrylic or perspex you can get a good sized bit off ebay for around £15 quid inc postage. And with the plants you have listed it depends how intense your lighting is as to whether they will survive in your tank. For example camomba needs high light to do well and it will cause problems if it doesn't have enough light. What wattage is your light?

 

[OldMan47]

I think the idea of covering the tank has already been well addressed. I am a bit concerned about your suggested stocking. It seems to me the tank would be near full stocking levels with just the sterbai. The rest of the fish I would consider an overload.

 

[rabbut]

I think the idea of covering the tank has already been well addressed. I am a bit concerned about your suggested stocking. It seems to me the tank would be near full stocking levels with just the sterbai. The rest of the fish I would consider an overload.

While more than recomended, it's not too bad if s/he filter clones so that there is mature filter media in there Personally I think it's fine, and makes my old 10g look realy overstocked... In fact, I was going to recomend swapping the 2 rosy tetras for 3 Serpae tetras to get the groups in better numbers, making for a little bit more load

You're going to need a good light to get the Cabomba to grow well and look good The rest of the plants should be easy enough I've ran tanks topless before with no issues also, though a cover would be good if you keep anything jumpy in there later

All the best
Rabbut

 

[randymyr]

Back when I wrote out the plan, all of the plants were said to need a minimum of 2 watts per gallon, so I'd probably go for a 25-30 watt light (I have some lights downstairs, just not sure about the wattage)
and, also, I wasn't sure about the Cabomba, I meant to leave that one out, but I just copied and pasted from my tank set up (plant wise)
And any idea on some floating plants?

Also, I could do away with the corys, and either keep them in my 30 gallon, or give them to my dad... Whatever works

 

[vinylman]

I'd put the Corys in the 30G, then either get some Pygmy Corys or a few Otos for the 10G. But don't add either until a good two months after the tank has cycled.

 

[randymyr]

I'd put the Corys in the 30G, then either get some Pygmy Corys or a few Otos for the 10G. But don't add either until a good two months after the tank has cycled.

I'd love to get some pygmy corys, but i have never found any before !
and it's so hard to stock a ten gallon... they're so small !
and I think i'm gonna give up on buying ottos... they never live long enough... I will if i have to though

 

[Truck]

Back when I wrote out the plan, all of the plants were said to need a minimum of 2 watts per gallon, so I'd probably go for a 25-30 watt light (I have some lights downstairs, just not sure about the wattage)
and, also, I wasn't sure about the Cabomba, I meant to leave that one out, but I just copied and pasted from my tank set up (plant wise)
And any idea on some floating plants?

Also, I could do away with the corys, and either keep them in my 30 gallon, or give them to my dad... Whatever works

30 watts of light on a 10 gallon isnt the same as 90 watts on a 30 gallon, its the same ratio but the light intensity isnt the same, in the 30 gallon there would be more like 2 watts per gallon but it would be in a 10 galllon, im sure someone will elaborate on this but i use lumens a square inch

 

[Inchworm]

Hi randymyr

A lot of people don't think of corys as jumpers, but when they shoot up to the surface to gulp air, it's possible for them to misjudge and go out of the tank. Better to keep your tank covered if you have them. Corys are active and fast swimmers, and need some swimming space near the bottom, so that's something you might want to take into consideration when planting too.

 

[randymyr]

Back when I wrote out the plan, all of the plants were said to need a minimum of 2 watts per gallon, so I'd probably go for a 25-30 watt light (I have some lights downstairs, just not sure about the wattage)
and, also, I wasn't sure about the Cabomba, I meant to leave that one out, but I just copied and pasted from my tank set up (plant wise)
And any idea on some floating plants?

Also, I could do away with the corys, and either keep them in my 30 gallon, or give them to my dad... Whatever works

30 watts of light on a 10 gallon isnt the same as 90 watts on a 30 gallon, its the same ratio but the light intensity isnt the same, in the 30 gallon there would be more like 2 watts per gallon but it would be in a 10 galllon, im sure someone will elaborate on this but i use lumens a square inch

Any idea how the wattage i'd need for either one??

Hi randymyr

A lot of people don't think of corys as jumpers, but when they shoot up to the surface to gulp air, it's possible for them to misjudge and go out of the tank. Better to keep your tank covered if you have them. Corys are active and fast swimmers, and need some swimming space near the bottom, so that's something you might want to take into consideration when planting too.

I've noticed that...
Never had them actually jump out of the aquarium itself, but they have cleared the water once or twice
i'll keep a note on that !

 

[vinylman]

I'd love to get some pygmy corys, but i have never found any before !
and it's so hard to stock a ten gallon... they're so small !
and I think i'm gonna give up on buying ottos... they never live long enough... I will if i have to though

If you want Otos, just look for fat ones in the shop. That means they've started eating again after their long journey. If they're eating, they'll be fine. Just acclimatise them very slowly; I've found that's the key to fish that some have trouble with. I've had Cardinal Tetras for the last four years (in a ph of 7.2) and almost every guide I've read tells me that they're 'difficult' fish to keep.

 

[randymyr]

really? I had them before, and they seemed like every other fish they lasted forever, and lived through just about every illness, lack of food, everything... until we got the chinese algae eater that is... and it decided to eat EVERY fish in the tank! and this was about three, four, maybe even five years (this was a long time ago)