I'm Out Of Ideas...

[attibones]

So I'm (re)cycling my 6 gallon filter because after Pistol died I stopped feeding the bacteria, and I'm going to move this filter to my ten gallon because the filter on the 6 gallon is more powerful than the one on the 10 gallon. Anyway, I'm going to move my remaining betta (sold all but my favorite) to the six gallon, leaving me with an empty ten gallon.

I want something interesting but small for this tank. I was thinking maybe dwarf gourami, but I have done some research and they need a bigger tank. Then I was thinking honey gourami, but I'm finding mixed answers about keeping honeys in a ten gallon. Then I decided I should stay away from the gourami route. I don't want any more betta fish right now. Now that I've been introduced into the world of extremely expensive betta fish, the ones from the pet store just don't suffice. I like black neon tetras a lot, but I think they need more space. Any ideas?

10 gallons
Tap water 7.4
Unsure of water hardness, but I don't ever get any calcium or lime build up on my faucets so I suppose it is soft to middle of the road. API master test does not come with a kh or dh test.
Currently gravel substrate, considering switching to sand.

So, any ideas?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Peacock gobys...

 

[attibones]

Oh my god those are beautiful. How many could I keep in the tank, do you think? I wonder if a group of Pygmy corydoras would live with them? I'm off to research.

I've also been looking at garner's killifish too.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

According to seriouslyfish, you could keep two pairs (male/female) in a 10.  Not sure about pairing them with pygmy cories, it might be ok.  Definitely need to research it more, I've never kept them, but I thought they might be what you are looking for.  Interestingly enough, they were the "fish of the month" last month.

 

[Noahsfish]

Are you serious before I even read down I was going to say peacock gudgeons I keep a pair in a Heavily planted 10g. Some people may say 10g is too small but they seem happy and have actually bred twice now. They don't mind the higher ph either (mines 7.2) and kinda hard water.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Seriouslyfish gives a thumbs up to corys, so pygmies should be fine.  

   I'd stick to one pair and about 6 pygmies, heavily planted, dark substrate and some floating plants seem to be preferred by the gobies to show best coloration.

 

[attibones]

I just checked seriously fish too, and it said they would do fine with other fish including corydoras, but I'm wondering how much strain that would put on my filter. The filter going into the ten gallon is a penguin 100 which is advertised as suitable for up to twenty gallons. Maybe six Pygmy corydoras would do well, plus two pairs of the gudgeons. Hmm... I'll do more reading to see what I can find.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I love my Penguin filters.

 

[attibones]

I've got the 100, 200, and then the largest one, the 300, I think. They work pretty well, but sometimes I have some issues with them.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

350 is the largest.
 
What issues have you had, maybe I can help?

 

[attibones]

I just had problems with the impeller getting loose on two of the models, but it is easily fixed. I just has to go in there, make sure there is nothing blocking the motor, and then clean off the impeller and get it in there again. I think most of that is because my media is all custom. I don't use any of the penguin inserts. Bunch of sponges, those mesh bags which I've filled with ceramic rings, etc. I also find I have to add either another filter or a power head or something because I think the gallons per hour turnover rate could be higher.