Possible Future Stock....

[Starfirefly26]

I feel like I've got too many topics started...but I'm still awfully new to this )

After my tank gets settled, and all the readings are fine, I was thinking of this as a stock:

In a US 10 Gallon tank
2x Balloon Molly
2x Red Wag Platies
1x small Algae Eater
1x Ghost Shrimp

Is this going to be overcrowded or will I possibly have room for something like a Black Molly or Female Betta?

I plan to have one real plant with 2 or 3 fakes(the soft fakes, not the hard plastic ones), along with two decorations (both with caves, they seem to like that factor).

would this work? One thing that is worrying me (as I was not informed of this by the lfs) is that the Algae Eater is scaleless, and cannot have aquarium salt, yet it says that the Platies and Mollies need the salt...should I remove the Algae Eater and maybe get another Shrimp instead?

 

[lljdma06]

In a US 10 Gallon tank
2x Balloon Molly
2x Red Wag Platies
1x small Algae Eater
1x Ghost Shrimp

You tank, IMO, is too small for an algae eater, unless it's an oto, and even then, otos require company (3 or more), and a mature tank. It is also too small for mollies. Platies and mollies also like to be in a ratio of 1 male to 2 or more females, or if you have the space, you can keep a group of 5 or more male platies to minimize agression. Unfortunately, I think your tank is too small for this as well. You must also consider the reality of fry. Do you have space to house growing fry? I don't want to discourage you, but I'm not entirely confident that a FW 10g is the best place for mollies, which can be considered a brackish water fish. If I were you, I'd drop the mollies and just stick with the platies. It is not an ideal situation, but at least you won't have to deal with questions of Brackish water conditions and the addition of salt. There are also several other shrimp species that do a wonderful job at consuming algae, add color and activity to the bottom of the tank, and are far better for a 10g FW than an algae eating fish.

If you like livebearers, have you considered Endler's livebearers or even mosquito fish? These fish are smaller and probably better suited to your size tank.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Platies do not need salt, only mollies. I would do as Iljdma suggests and set up your tank with 5 male platies. Make sure it is heavily planted so they have somewhere to escape if disputes arise. Once the tank is mature you could add 3 shrimps or so, but you do have to keep up water changes. And don't forget to read Neale Monk's excellent topic on Algae Eaters!

 

[ArcticLancer]

Exactly as I've said here, your options are pretty limited with 10 gallons. This doesn't make it any less of a tank, it's just a more picky tank.

My difference with the last post, is to get 5 female platys. They're much less prone to aggression, and should live together quite happily. They'll also not have any babies given enough time, so ...
Go for whatever is in your taste, within reason

 

[Starfirefly26]

Thanks for the info.

Sadly, my only option is a 10 gallon
Unless, of course, I start making decent money and clean up my room a bit. Maybe I can convince my parents to let me get a 20 or 30 gal

I also didn't know about the brackish part. (gotta love pet stores -.-)
Not looking forward to giving up my Molly, though...she's got quite the personality and charm.