Planning to reuse my two year old 10 gallon tall

[elephantnose3334]

Hi, I might set up my old 10 gallon tall (30 x 30 x 45cm) that I have had since 2023 again (yes, it was originally used for silvertip and cardinal tetras due to my then-poor research). Its actual capacity is 31.1L (8 gallons) because the back part is used for the filtration compartment (the last 7cm of depth is used for it, leaving 30 x 23 x 45cm of actual capacity in the Petworx Nano 45 aquarium). What fish (other than a betta, shrimp and snails), ideally from South America, might I put in here? Axelrodia riesei (Río Meta, Colombia) and Hyphessobrycon elachys (Río de la Plata region) might be good for a possible setup, but I don't know due to the limited space of the tank that I have in my bedroom. The former is a tiny carnivorous tetra and the latter tetra is a small omnivore. I might put 8-10 of one species (again, species-only setup like I did with the 39.2 gallon I have with the silvertip tetras).

Or perhaps I might try to keep a pair of Austrolebias nigripinnis, a killifish from the Lower Río Paraná. I've never kept killies before, but that might happen one day when I'm a bit more experienced. I think South American aquarium fish are more interesting in colour, behaviour and habitat than those from Southeast Asia (although some Asian fish have equal interest in those traits), so I have almost exclusively kept them. Any thoughts on my stocking ideas?

 

[elephantnose3334]

True nano fish might fit in the 8 gallon capacity of the Petworx tank, but again, I might need to do a lot more research before I move on.

@Colin_T @MattW

 

[MattW]

From the dimensions given, having a group of fish would not be a good idea IMO. A single fish like a betta or a low bio-load species such as shrimp is more suited to that size of tank. You also have to think about the maintenance, since you'd have multiple tanks on the go, more tanks = more work.

 

[elephantnose3334]

From the dimensions given, having a group of fish would not be a good idea IMO. A single fish like a betta or a low bio-load species such as shrimp is more suited to that size of tank. You also have to think about the maintenance, since you'd have multiple tanks on the go, more tanks = more work.

Yeah, but I'm not going for a betta this time.

 

[fishorama]

Your tank is awfully small so I'll vote for either tiny tetras like embers or little rasboras like boraras species. Maybe a few shrimp, I like the blue neocaridinas but any color can work. It's best to keep all 1 color of shrimp or they interbreed & turn (to me) a boring brown.

 

[elephantnose3334]

Your tank is awfully small so I'll vote for either tiny tetras like embers or little rasboras like boraras species. Maybe a few shrimp, I like the blue neocaridinas but any color can work. It's best to keep all 1 color of shrimp or they interbreed & turn (to me) a boring brown.

Ruby tetras are a similar size to embers, so close enough.

 

[Essjay]

In my opinion, a tank with a footprint of 23 x 30 cm/9 x 12 inches is too small for any fish. Even the smallest fish need a minimum swimming length of 45 cm/18 inches and bettas prefer longer, shallower tanks than this one.

Axelrodia riesei need a tank with a minimum footprint of 60 x 30 cm not 23 x 30 cm.

 

[elephantnose3334]

In my opinion, a tank with a footprint of 23 x 30 cm/9 x 12 inches is too small for any fish. Even the smallest fish need a minimum swimming length of 45 cm/18 inches and bettas prefer longer, shallower tanks than this one.

Axelrodia riesei need a tank with a minimum footprint of 60 x 30 cm not 23 x 30 cm.

Ah, gotcha. I do have limited space in my bedroom, and I need to do a lot more research on what I can stock in here (not bettas) to prevent making a mistake like I did last time.

 

[Essjay]

I have a tank which is 30 x 30 x 30 cm so a similar volume to your tank, just not as tall and a bit wider. I have Neocaridina shrimps in this tank and they are thriving. Something to consider.

 

[elephantnose3334]

I have a tank which is 30 x 30 x 30 cm so a similar volume to your tank, just not as tall and a bit wider. I have Neocaridina shrimps in this tank and they are thriving. Something to consider.

My tank is 30cm length and 23cm depth, 45cm in height, not 23cm wide and 30cm depth.

 

[Essjay]

It doesn't matter which is the width and which is the depth, it's the maximum distance which the fish have to swim in which is important.

30 cm is the longest swimming distance in this tank and that is just not enough for any fish. Even the tiniest fish fish need a minimum of 45 cm swimming length. That's why I have no fish in my 30 x 30 cm tank. I wouldn't keep even a betta in tank that shape.

 

[elephantnose3334]

It doesn't matter which is the width and which is the depth, it's the maximum distance which the fish have to swim in which is important.

30 cm is the longest swimming distance in this tank and that is just not enough for any fish. Even the tiniest fish fish need a minimum of 45 cm swimming length. That's why I have no fish in my 30 x 30 cm tank. I wouldn't keep even a betta in tank that shape.

I understand that, I get it.

 

[MaloK]

I know they are not the easiest to keep and probably not for everybody, but that could make a wonderful freshwater jelly fish tank. The proportion suites well for that.

There's a couple ones that are not too difficult and make really intricate looking tanks.

 

[GaryE]

The question with Austrolebias is how they make you rethink lifespan. They don't live long, as annual fish. If you don't breed them, there's no reason to keep them - they flash by. If you keep them properly, so they're around long enough to learn how they live, then 2 will not have 2 babies, and generation #2 is going to be too many fish for a 10 tall. You'd need a few tanks for that project, because annual fish are a process of life, and not individual lives.

 

[elephantnose3334]

The question with Austrolebias is how they make you rethink lifespan. They don't live long, as annual fish. If you don't breed them, there's no reason to keep them - they flash by. If you keep them properly, so they're around long enough to learn how they live, then 2 will not have 2 babies, and generation #2 is going to be too many fish for a 10 tall. You'd need a few tanks for that project, because annual fish are a process of life, and not individual lives.

Ah, right. Not planning to breed fish yet but they are quite different from, say, guppies in terms of breeding behaviour.