Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank

Post pictures of your beloved catfish aquaria here. Also good for pictures of your (cat)fish rooms or equipment discussions. If you are posting pictures of identified catfish, please do so in the appropriate husbandry and reproduction forum above.
Post Reply
User avatar
pigeons
Posts: 13
Joined: 28 May 2011, 19:46
Location 2: United States

Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank

Post by pigeons »

So, I have a ten gallon tank, with a ten gallon filter and an air pump.

I just want to know what you guys likes to do with your tanks, any suggestions on what you like would be nice.

I was curious about putting sand instead of gravel this time. Anything on that?

I've also never gotten lives plants before, I would be interested on some tips for that.

What kind of community can I keep happy in a 10gal tank/what are your favorite types of communities in a 10gal tank?

I would like at least one catfish...

Thinking about some snails, those frogs you see in the pet stores all the times... maybe a turtle.

No jumpers... I like to keep my tank open.

I'm open to lots of ideas. I don't have a budget limit. So discuss :-P
Last edited by pigeons on 22 Jun 2011, 20:38, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Richard B
Posts: 6952
Joined: 11 Aug 2006, 13:19
I've donated: $20.00!
My articles: 9
My images: 11
My cats species list: 37 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 4 (i:0)
My BLogs: 2 (i:0, p:47)
Spotted: 10
Location 1: on the sofa, or maybe at work?
Location 2: Warwickshire: UK
Interests: Tanganyika Catfish, African catfish, Non-loricariid sucker-catfish.
Running, drinking, eating, sci-fi, stapelids

Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank

Post by Richard B »

No to a turtle - they get far too big for a 10g and some species love to eat fish.

sand is the best substrate but it needs to be round smooth grain sand - no sharp edges.

Plants - choose something like anubias or bolbitis which anchor to rocks or wood and are very undemanding
Lou: Every young man's fantasy is to have a three-way.
Jacob: Yeah not with another fu**!ng guy!
Lou: It's still a three-way!

Hot Tub Time Machine: 2010
User avatar
pigeons
Posts: 13
Joined: 28 May 2011, 19:46
Location 2: United States

Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank

Post by pigeons »

Richard B wrote:No to a turtle - they get far too big for a 10g and some species love to eat fish.

sand is the best substrate but it needs to be round smooth grain sand - no sharp edges.

Plants - choose something like anubias or bolbitis which anchor to rocks or wood and are very undemanding

Thanks for this. Would I need another filter if I use sand? I was lurking around the internet and that was mentioned a lot.
User avatar
MatsP
Posts: 21038
Joined: 06 Oct 2004, 13:58
My articles: 4
My images: 28
My cats species list: 117 (i:33, k:0)
My aquaria list: 10 (i:8)
My BLogs: 4 (i:0, p:97)
Spotted: 187
Location 1: North of Cambridge
Location 2: England.

Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank

Post by MatsP »

If your filter is the "undergravel" type, then yes. Sand doesn't allow enough water to flow through it to be good as a filter susbtrate with a undergravel plate (and most of them have enough holes for the sand to pass through into the underside of the filter).

--
Mats
User avatar
pigeons
Posts: 13
Joined: 28 May 2011, 19:46
Location 2: United States

Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank

Post by pigeons »

MatsP wrote:If your filter is the "undergravel" type, then yes. Sand doesn't allow enough water to flow through it to be good as a filter susbtrate with a undergravel plate (and most of them have enough holes for the sand to pass through into the underside of the filter).

--
Mats
I don't have an undergravel filter, so it seems I don't have to worry then.
User avatar
bigbird
Posts: 231
Joined: 03 Nov 2010, 09:08
My cats species list: 4 (i:0, k:0)
Location 1: Sydney, Australia
Location 2: Sydney, Australia
Interests: Ls, Fish, Aquatics, Viszlas and Family

Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank

Post by bigbird »

for sand I would go for silica sand. Plants java and for a fish some pygmy corries.
no need for an added filter, but add some wood and rocks and should be nice. cheers jk b-)
I am not perfect, but I say as I see it. Smile and enjoy Life
User avatar
racoll
Posts: 5258
Joined: 26 Jan 2004, 12:18
My articles: 6
My images: 182
My catfish: 2
My cats species list: 2 (i:2, k:0)
My aquaria list: 1 (i:0)
Spotted: 238
Location 1: London
Location 2: UK

Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank

Post by racoll »

pigeons wrote:I don't have an undergravel filter, so it seems I don't have to worry then.
Can you elaborate on what the filter actually is. The type of filter will make a difference to what you can keep in the tank.
bigbird wrote:no need for an added filter
While the experienced fishkeeper can run a tank without a filter successfully, I would always recommend a beginner to have one, as it will allow a much larger margin of error when it comes to stocking, water changing and feeding.
User avatar
pigeons
Posts: 13
Joined: 28 May 2011, 19:46
Location 2: United States

Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank

Post by pigeons »

bigbird wrote:for sand I would go for silica sand. Plants java and for a fish some pygmy corries.
no need for an added filter, but add some wood and rocks and should be nice. cheers jk b-)
Thanks for the advice. :D
racoll wrote:
pigeons wrote:I don't have an undergravel filter, so it seems I don't have to worry then.
Can you elaborate on what the filter actually is. The type of filter will make a difference to what you can keep in the tank.
bigbird wrote:no need for an added filter
While the experienced fishkeeper can run a tank without a filter successfully, I would always recommend a beginner to have one, as it will allow a much larger margin of error when it comes to stocking, water changing and feeding.
http://www.aqueonproducts.com/assets/01 ... _400wh.jpg

That's what I'm using...
andywoolloo
Posts: 2751
Joined: 02 Dec 2007, 02:55
I've donated: $100.00!
My cats species list: 12 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 1 (i:1)
Location 2: Sanger, California

Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank

Post by andywoolloo »

I put single male bettas in my tens. sand substrate, driftwood, smooth river rocks, small, live plants: java fern, java moss, anubias nana, crypts, anachrius, water wisteria. Soft tall fake plants.

I have always thought a ten gal would look pretty with a school of neons in there. Sand plants driftwood. pretty

here are some ten gal stocking ideas from the tetra forum, if that's ok to post here?

http://www.tetra-fish.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17204
User avatar
2wheelsx2
Posts: 1018
Joined: 16 Jan 2006, 06:55
I've donated: $20.00!
My cats species list: 71 (i:3, k:0)
My aquaria list: 4 (i:3)
Location 1: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Location 2: BC, Canada
Interests: motorcycles, tropical fish, car detailing

Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank

Post by 2wheelsx2 »

andywoolloo wrote: I have always thought a ten gal would look pretty with a school of neons in there. Sand plants driftwood. pretty
Been there, done that. Problem is they don't shoal in a 10 gallon. The tank is so small they feel they are always together and it looks like they are swimming at random. Even in a 20 gallon it's not very pronounced unless it's a 20 long, then you get the shoaling effect.
andywoolloo
Posts: 2751
Joined: 02 Dec 2007, 02:55
I've donated: $100.00!
My cats species list: 12 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 1 (i:1)
Location 2: Sanger, California

Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank

Post by andywoolloo »

20 longs are an icredible perfect tank size, my fav
User avatar
pigeons
Posts: 13
Joined: 28 May 2011, 19:46
Location 2: United States

Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank

Post by pigeons »

Hi again. I haven't posted in a while but I wanted to know your opinions on the following setup, it's much more specific this time.
  • I've decided on getting two aka the bumblebee catfish.
    Definitely getting sand as a substrate
    driftwood and stones; hiding places for the catfish
Now, I would like at least two or three other community fish but I am unsure what to get. Since I only have a ten gallon tank I don't want to cramp up the tank.

I was thinking of hachetfish but they might be too cramped and attempt jumping out. (I want to avoid jumpers)

Another poster here suggested pygmy corys. Which sound like a good deal, are there any other suggestions?

I am also having trouble finding some of the java fern and moss some of you suggested. One of the shops I've been visited have said they might receive some but it's not official. The plant I see the most of is something called 'amazon sword' what do you guys think of it?

I also would like two snails but I'm not entirely sure yet. I still need to do some research on that.

Looking forward to your advice. :)
Post Reply

Return to “Tank Talk”