Setting up first 10 gallon tank

[liberty05282]

Hello! I am currently researching how to set up a very heavily planted 10 gallon tank. I have no experience owning fish, but I have owned many reptiles before so I understand the importance of research beforehand. Can anyone give me realistic stocking ideas for the 10 gallon? Recently I’ve been looking at 1 or 2 honey gourmanis but idk if that’s too much for the 10 gallon, especially if I were to add another smaller schooling fish like ember tetras.

Also if anyone has any tips or guides to send me that will help me with successfully setting up and cycling the tank before I get the fish that would be great

 

[Fishmanic45 161]

If you're tank is very heavily planted, that will help with cycling your tank. Some here have cycled tanks if heavily planted by starting with low stocking and doing daily water changes. Most here though, have avoided adding fish until tank is fully cycled by adding 3 ppm ammonia and following the cycling guide here:

Cycle Your Tank! A Complete Guide For Beginners

Fishless cycling https://www.fishforums.net/threads/cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first.421488/ Silent or plant cycling https://www.fishforums.net/threads/planted-silent-cycling.470400/ Fish-in cycling...

www.fishforums.net

Please post a picture of the present state of your tank. Wait for more input from others here before doing anything. Cycling usually takes time and patience.

 

[bgarthe46 63]

Hello and welcome to TFF.

Your looking into and researching beforehand is wise and will likely make your venture into fish better.

Before you cycle, get fish etc., the first thing to do us learn what the tank water and tap water (source of new water for water changes) parameters are. Get a good test kit like the API and test for pH, GH, and KH. The last two are not included in the Master Kit and so you’ll need to buy the GH and KH test kits separately in addition. The other tests are for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. These will be useful come cycling time and in the early weeks/months of fish keeping.

Read up on what type of bottom fish you’d like that are compatible with your water parameters and select a substrate to fit their needs.
Once you know your pH, GH, and KH, you can start to choose fish that prefer your particular water type. This testing stuff is boring, but crucial in picking the right fish for your water. If you choose fish that are not compatible with your water, you’ll have to read up on water mixing using RO or distilled water to soften your water or different options to harden your water.

Then you’ll have to read up on here at TFF which method of cycling you plan to implement. There are several proven types…..just pick one and follow the directions listed. You do have to plan and set up your tank to successfully deal with the nitrogen cycle in the beginning for sure. Once your tank is established and has beneficial bacteria growing, fish can be added and testing for ammonia etc can be greatly reduced.

Get this going and post how you’re doing or ask specific questions. Btw…..if your water is right for these fish, your idea of one or two Honey Gouramis (I’d go with one) with a shoal of 8 or so Ember Tetras would be nice. A few bottom cleaners which do actually need their own pelleted food like corycats would be good as well.

Finally, your concerns about over stocking are good. The above mentioned fish WITH regular decent sized water changes with matching water would make your tank work just great. Having real good filtration would also help tons. Imho, a HOB like a Fluval AC 30 or 50 would do the job as would a Seachem Tidal HOB. Just stay clear of the cartridge variety of HOBs….they simply are not ideal cost wise, bacteria wise, or filter media wise.

Let us know how this all goes along and good luck.

 

[Naughts45 117]

A few bottom cleaners which do actually need their own pelleted food like corycats would be good as well.

It is a disservice to refer to these fish as ‘bottom cleaners’, they have their own dietary requirements and cleaning is the job of the aquarist. They need a larger tank than ten US gallons.

@liberty0528, if you could find out the GH of your water (maybe on your suppliers webpage?) people could suggest appropriate species and how to set up a tank for them.

 

[bgarthe46 63]

It is a disservice to refer to these fish as ‘bottom cleaners’, they have their own dietary requirements and cleaning is the job of the aquarist. They need a larger tank than ten US gallons.

@liberty0528, if you could find out the GH of your water (maybe on your suppliers webpage?) people could suggest appropriate species and how to set up a tank for them.

As I ….did…..say, “ A few bottom cleaners ……….which do actually need their own pelleted food ……….like corycats would be good as well.” I agree they are more than bottom cleaners, but they do help keep the substrate freer of uneaten foods. And while 10g is a tad on the smaller side, a few …smaller….corycats would be fine imo.

 

[Jennet25 83]

Hello and welcome to the forum from another previous reptile keeper. Mostly snakes but also beardys, geckos and a blue tongue skink. I kept fish in 70's and 80's but am new back to the hobby, and to this lovely forum.

Folks have different opinions, ways of adding them, different experience and ways of thinking, some over very many years, and in very different circumstances. This, in my mind, is one of the things that makes this a great forum. Certainly for some like me, who hail from across the pond and who may find decent forums hard to find nowadays.

Like reptile keeping in the UK, there have been many improvements over the years. (I remember some people using old bulbs as heaters with no cage around them to keep snakes warm).