Stocking Idea, And Suggestion Help

[OneOnion]

Hi, hopefully this'll be my last stocking topic for my 10 gallon...(I've created a lot so far)

Anyway, I have kind of high pH water(8.4) and I have most of my stocking plan done, I just have a question.
My plan is:
4 or so Lamprologus Similis(I know they like groups of 6, but is this ok?)
1 cichlid or other fish that goes to 3.5 or 4 inches

So, the question. Can I do this stocking, or is it too large, and what fish do you recommend to go with the Lamprologus Similis? I'd like to know today, because I have no hw and it's a great chance to start setting up my tank to the needs of the fish I will be getting. Can't wait.

Thanks!

 

[Wills]

Im not an expert on shellies but I did look into them quite a bit. In a 10 gallon the most common advice is that you should start off with 1 male and 3 females and let them breed into a colony, I wouldnt add any other cichlids I dont think they will mix in a small tank like that. Shellies are a fantastic fish to have though

Wills

 

[OneOnion]

Im not an expert on shellies but I did look into them quite a bit. In a 10 gallon the most common advice is that you should start off with 1 male and 3 females and let them breed into a colony, I wouldnt add any other cichlids I dont think they will mix in a small tank like that. Shellies are a fantastic fish to have though

Wills

Thanks, that helps. Can I put any other fish(not cichlids) that grow 3-4 inches with them? Or at least a little more variety that will do well in my high pH water?

 

[OneOnion]

LOL.

I just tested my pH right now, and guess what it was?
7.4! I don't know what happened. I probably misread it the first time or something. Lol, I guess I can have my normal stocking then.

So, now that I have a normal pH...

I have more questions! Here's what I'd like:
1 big fish(3-4 inches)
a school of small fish(maybe 4 or 5)
1 or 2 medium sized fish(like maybe honey gourami or platy sized)
Any suggestions? Lol

 

[Wills]

I have more questions! Here's what I'd like:
1 big fish(3-4 inches)
a school of small fish(maybe 4 or 5)
1 or 2 medium sized fish(like maybe honey gourami or platy sized)
Any suggestions? Lol

In a 10 gallon tank your max size is probs 3 inches if you went for 4 it would have to be a seriously inactive species, I have a 4 inch A.Diadema in a 10g for quarantine and it looks ridiculous if he wasnt so ill I would just put him in the main tank now. So I would say in a 10g a good stocking could be

3 Apisto Nijsen (1 male 2 female)
7 Green Neon Tetras
3 Pygmy Gourami

this way you have a large feature fish in the male apisto at about 2.5 inches the females kind of fill the role you wanted with the platies but they stick under 2 inches, the green neons are small schooling and the pygmy gourami will break the line up nicely with the green neons sticking around 1.25 inches and the pygmy gourami a little under 2 inches. Get a decent filter on it and you will be sorted

Now do you know about cycling? If youve not already started I would go fishless Its a lot less stressful

Wills

 

[OneOnion]

Thanks a lot, I will look into those species.

Yes, I know about cycling, I'll probably start the cycle this weekend. Fishless cycle.

 

[OneOnion]

I have more questions! Here's what I'd like:
1 big fish(3-4 inches)
a school of small fish(maybe 4 or 5)
1 or 2 medium sized fish(like maybe honey gourami or platy sized)
Any suggestions? Lol

In a 10 gallon tank your max size is probs 3 inches if you went for 4 it would have to be a seriously inactive species, I have a 4 inch A.Diadema in a 10g for quarantine and it looks ridiculous if he wasnt so ill I would just put him in the main tank now. So I would say in a 10g a good stocking could be

3 Apisto Nijsen (1 male 2 female)
7 Green Neon Tetras
3 Pygmy Gourami

this way you have a large feature fish in the male apisto at about 2.5 inches the females kind of fill the role you wanted with the platies but they stick under 2 inches, the green neons are small schooling and the pygmy gourami will break the line up nicely with the green neons sticking around 1.25 inches and the pygmy gourami a little under 2 inches. Get a decent filter on it and you will be sorted

Now do you know about cycling? If youve not already started I would go fishless Its a lot less stressful

Wills

Do you mean apistogramma nijsseni? How do you pronounce that, lol? And if I can't find the pygmy gouramis, can I use 2 honey or dwarf gouramis instead?