10Gl Tank, What Fish Can I Add

[VictorMeldrew]

Hi all

Some of you will already know me from the dark side and know that I have two tanks, a 100gl reef and a 10gl nano tank, I have now decided I want to convert the 10gl to a freshwater set-up with plant and a few small fish, I started keeping frehwater many years ago but I have to admit I am very rusty on this side, what fish could I add? I really like tetra's (most kinds) stocking suggestions would be great.

Thanks
VM

 

[kiriyama]

Neolamprologus Multifasciatus

 

[VictorMeldrew]

??? guess I will have to google it thanks

 

[VictorMeldrew]

I would like something a bit more colourful than that really but they are nice, thanks

 

[kiriyama]

Betas?

 

[Truck]

A pair of an apistogramma species, 6 ember tetras and 4 pygmy cories.

 

[VictorMeldrew]

I really like them but you can only have one how many glowlights do you think I could have in a tank this size, or neons or anything similar?

Just checking ember tetra's now

Thats the sort of thing I am after truck, I like the ember tetra's. So I could have 6 of those. How many other tetra's can I fit in?

 

[Truck]

If you just kept tetras you could try the jelly bean tetra, or some of the boraras species, you could try the celestial danio too.

Male endlers?

 

[VictorMeldrew]

You are certainly on my wavelengh here mate, I like the jelly bean's, I like the idea of just tetra's, would 4 of each be ok, if so whats the maximum I can put in, could I push it to 16?

 

[Truck]

8 of each would be fine.

If you're into the small tetras, then boraras mereh might be your thing also.

Remember the tank will need cycling also.

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Yeah really like the boraras mereh back when I kept freshwater very few people where doing a fishless cycle but I intend to now, going to need a bit of help with that later. First I got to empty the tank and clean it. I am thinking of a mix of eco-complete and sand (tesco) substrate, can the tank be planted during the cycle? Is groups of 4 tetra's to small obviously if I had 4 different types it would be better.

Thanks
VM

 

[Truck]

Ideally you should have 6 of each species, but because they're of similar shape and size I don't see any problems.
Plants should be added after the cycle because the light they need will trigger algae because of the high levels of ammonia present during the cycle. So fully plant after the cycle.
Also, you could buy some plain clay cat litter and put a 1cm layer on the bottom of the tank, and then cap it with 4-5cm of sand. Because the clay has a high cation exchange capacity, it takes on nutrients over time so it becomes very nutritious.

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Cat litter, I take it that is going to save me a few quid aswell, thanks So do you cycle the tank without ever trning the lights on?

 

[Truck]

When you're cycling, leave the lights off and try to keep sun light out of the tank.

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Thanks truck, great help, I have just realised I proberly have hundreds of questions about the cycle so I guess I got some reading to do tonight after I got the tank cleaned.

I have a massive filter for the size of the tank, it's a big internal fluval that I brought second hand off a guy who was running a 3ft tank with it. It creates a lot of flow which was perfect for marines and at the moment is packed with rowaphos which I will change back to the sponge it came with. Do you see any problems with me using this filter. The flow is adjustable but I am sure I will still create a fair bit of water movement even on the lowest setting.