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Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank
Posted: 31 May 2011, 00:29
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
Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank
Posted: 31 May 2011, 13:00
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
Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank
Posted: 31 May 2011, 16:07
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.
Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank
Posted: 31 May 2011, 16:17
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).
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Mats
Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank
Posted: 01 Jun 2011, 22:03
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).
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Mats
I don't have an undergravel filter, so it seems I don't have to worry then.
Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank
Posted: 01 Jun 2011, 23:22
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
Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank
Posted: 02 Jun 2011, 00:33
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.
Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank
Posted: 02 Jun 2011, 18:00
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
Thanks for the advice.
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...
Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank
Posted: 02 Jun 2011, 20:19
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
Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank
Posted: 02 Jun 2011, 20:29
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.
Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank
Posted: 02 Jun 2011, 22:38
by andywoolloo
20 longs are an icredible perfect tank size, my fav
Re: Planning on fixing up my 10 gallon tank
Posted: 20 Jun 2011, 21:57
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.