new set-up

[fishwatcher]

Based on everything I've read, this is what I think I may put in my 10-gal tank. I have 2 scenarios, based on what the lfs has in stock/can get. It can be either heavily planted or lightly planted depending on what is needed.

1. 2 blue rams (maybe both fm?)
3 whiteskirt tetras or 5 Serpae tetras or cherry barbs
2 cory cats

2. 2-3 female shell-dwellers
3 whiteskirt tetras or 5 Serpae tetras or cherry barbs
2 cory cats

Would any of these work? While I know they may seem over stocked, I've been told by many people that the cory cats don't add a lot to the bioload since they eat a whole lot of waste food and don't poop whole bunches. That's why I though they'd be a good clean-up crew.
I am open to suggestions/advice though, so please share.
Thanks in advance!

 

[nitro]

Option 1

Corys should be kept in groups of 6+ and you wont have enough room in there for 6 with Rams aswell. Rams stay mostly at the bottom so you would need corys as a clean up crew anyway.

Serpea tetras are nippy so i dont know how they would get along with Rams.

If i was you i would just have the 2 Rams and possibly a small shoal of peaceful tetras like glowlights or neons (6)

If your talking about german/blue rams dont forget they are more sensitive to changes than Bolivian rams and in a 10gallon things can go down quickly fast because they can be unstable due to smaller volume of water.

Option 2

Shell dwellers are african cichlids and need very different water from the corys and tetras. Shellies should only be kept in a tank by themselves i hear. Again corys should be kept in groups of 6+ and would probably take a beating from the shellies if they started breeding.

Hope this doesn't sound too harsh but im only telling you what i think is right for the fish.

 

[fishwatcher]

Oh that's great... I'd rather someone tell me than not and me have problems, you know? What if I get a pair of rams and a trio of dwarf honey gouramis? Or instead of the gouramis, some harlequin rasboras or rummynose tetras? Would any of these work? I think I have ruled out the shell-dwellers since they need a higher pH than what I have. I'd rather have fish that work well in the conditions I can easily supply rather then having to monitor/add chemicals, etc all the time.
Thanks!

Edit: or what about zebra danios, since they stay at the top... maybe 5-6 of them?

 

[freddyk]

The tetra's will be fine with the shelldwellers because they are very tolerant of paramters. Cory's I wouldn't do in the African setup though, there's just no room for them. I certainly wouldn't bother with only female shelldwellers, most of their character stems from breeding behavior. Tangs are also particular about water quality, so either way this will need to be well maintained tank.

 

[fishwatcher]

What are tangs, freddyk?

 

[freddyk]

African cichlids from lake Tanganyika, like your shell dwellers. Tangs are just the slang.

 

[fishwatcher]

oh, ok! Thanks!

 

[fishwatcher]

So I guess I can do the first set-up then? The rams, 3 whiteskirts and a few cories, or are the rams the African ones you were saying wouldn't go with the cories?

 

[freddyk]

The shelldwellers are what I was speaking of, but in such a small tank I'd be hesitant to add any bottom dwellers to any pair of cichlids - at least rams are generally merciful in their aggression so it can still work.

 

[fishwatcher]

Since the cories I'm thinking of putting in the tank are actually in my other tank, if there is too much aggression I can just put them back. I think I'll go ahead and add them to the tank now to keep it from uncycling, then add the whiteskirts in a few days, and the rams in a week or so. Does that sound ok?

 

[nitro]

How many cories do you plan to put in?

 

[fishwatcher]

I have 2 albino and 3 colored (2 peppered, 1 leaopard). The 3 colored tend to stay together, as do the albinos.

 

[nitro]

in my opinion i dont think a 10gallon is not big enough for a small group of tetras, 5 corys, and 2 rams.

You said that the corys are in different tanks. Why not just keep them in those tanks and just get the small shoal of tetras with the rams.

 

[fishwatcher]

I think I'm confusing you... let's see if I can clear it up a little.
I have the 5 cories in a tank together (with other fish). I'd like to move 2 of the cories into the other 10-gal I have, and put the rams (or a male betta), and either a trio of cherry barbs or a small group (3-4) Harlequin Rasboras
What do you think of that?

 

[nitro]

Yes it sounds good but why break up the happy group of corys?