10 Gallon Celestial Pearl Danio/ Kuhli Journal

[Torchwood~Mindfreak]

Well I'm thinking of evicting my rats from their 10 gallon, cleaning it up and make guess what another fish tank! I'd like to make it planted with rocks, wood, etc. I don't have alot of funds (Sophmore in highschool) so it'd have to consist of low light plants. I'll have to buy a new lid for the tank as it currently has a cage like thing on top so suggestions on what type of light would also help because the last lid I bought didn't come with bulbs. In my other 10 gallon I have a moss ball, dwarf hair grass, and I have an Anubias hanging out in my main tank (couldn't deside where to put it.) So what I need help with is what kind of substrate (something darkish preferably), what kind of plants, anything that I'd need to take care of them, and anything else y'all can suggest. I'd really like the stocking to be something like this. 6-8 Celestial Pearl Danios and 4-5 kuhli loaches. I got this suggestion off another site but they're fish I really like (especially the kuhlis). If you guys can think of any other small fish like the celestials I'll take a look at them as these guys are a little pricey lol. Plus I'm not sure of where to get some from in person (I have about a 45 min drive to the dallas/fort worth texas area if anyone has suggestions.) Also I'd like to kinda design my tank around these guys so If you have suggestion of things that are good for them that would be greatly appreciated. And yes I know that's a lot of questions, sorry just trying to cover the bases.

Now that I have it started I'll turn this thread into a journal.

 

[GrayScale]

Check out the journal in my signature. Loaches come from a very similar region as the celestials. There really aren't too many fish like the CPDs and since they are still so new they are pretty pricey here in the US. It all depends in the look you are going for? Light, medium, heavily planted? What's the watt on that bulb? I think it's 15watt but let us know.

 

[Torchwood~Mindfreak]

Yeah that's something else cool about them. I'd like to breed them so probably a medium to heavly planted tank. Yours looks really good btw. And thats the thing I havn't bought the lights yet so idk.

 

[GrayScale]

On that 20g it's t5ho but for a low tech non co2 I'd recommend the standard 1x18w t5 light. You go with more light than co2 is almost needed. You could go with vallis, crypt wendtii, hygrophila polysperma, anubias, java fern, java moss, and I think watersprite would do fine. The anubias, java fern and moss should be attached to driftwood or slate/rocks.

 

[Torchwood~Mindfreak]

Alright cool, I'll look up those plants I havn't been able to get to the local store to see what they have but out of these two substrates which do you think is better? Substrate 1 Substrate 2

 

[GrayScale]

The flourite is great but personally, it's not needed. I have that regular black argonite sand in my 20g long and a mix of black and white of the same sand in my low-tech 10g. It's cheaper and my plants do just fine in it. When I cleared out my 10g and gave away the plants to a friend, the roots on my crypt were about 12" long and had at least 6 new leaves from when I bought it 4 months earlier. All the plants listed above will get plenty of nutrients from the water column in the form of fish waste and lower light. So save yourself some money on the substrate and spend it on some wood or rocks and the fish. Too bad your not closer, I've got about 6 celestial pearl danio fry in my 10g that I'm raising.

Ferts aren't a necessity either but will provide additional nutrients. Flourish trace in small doses a couple times a week would do just fine IMO.

 

[Torchwood~Mindfreak]

Sweet that'll save me quite a chunk of change, thanks for all your help. And shoot wish I was to lol.
What's all this talk about root tabs? Should I look into these if I got with just regular gravel/sand instead of flourite etc.

 

[GrayScale]

You can but with those plants it's not necessary. If you feel more comfortable with them though check out the flourish root tabs or jbl root tabs. I use the flourish but I also have co2 and all that jazz.

 

[Torchwood~Mindfreak]

So all those plant's will do okay without enhanced substrate or tabs, but will I need to dose liquid ferts? Or is this really low tech lol

 

[GrayScale]

It's literally low tech haha. The information I provided you was from personal experience with my low tech 10g. I will say though that just because it worked for me it may not work for you. In such a low lighted tank your plants will soak up the nitrates from the decomposing fish waste which should be enough to feed them. More light=more ferts, co2, flow adjustments and all that. Liquid ferts never hurt just not too much. You're plants would benefit from tpn+ or flourish excel.

Oh and since the tank housed rats it'll need a good scrub down. Don't use soap it'll leave behind a residue. Warm water and vinegar will do the trick just be sure it's thorough and wash it out a few times. 10 parts warm water to 1 part vinegar should do the trick you don't want too high of a concentration of vinegar.

 

[Torchwood~Mindfreak]

Alright sweet, that was another thing I was going to ask about lol

 

[GrayScale]

keep us updated with the progress and let us know if you have anymore questions.

 

[Torchwood~Mindfreak]

Well got the tank cleaned out tonight, and goin to the fish stores tomorrow to look for supplies

The previous occupants Rose and River

Now in their new home.

The very dirty tank I now have to clean.

Ohh lookie it's clean! And hey it holds water to, that'll be helpful

 

[GrayScale]

Very cool. Keep us updated!

 

[Torchwood~Mindfreak]

Okay the only reason I got the fish right away is because I remembered about some extra filter media in one of my filters that I put in here. So I got 6 baby Celestials, too small for me to sex but maybe someone else has a better eye. The substrate is Eco Complete Planted Aquarium Substrate, The filter is a tetra HOB witha sponge cover over the intake. The few plants I got were a Moss ball (I love these little guys), Wisteria, and Crypt Parva, and an Anubias thats been floating in my big tank forever. I'll get more in the future I just wanted something to get me started with. I boiled the driftwood to get the tannins out and my water isn't cloudy at all

Acclimating

And they're free!

Adorable little things

They seem to like the Parva.

Full tank shot this afternoon.

Moss ball!

Top view.

When I get more background plants I think I'll condense the Wisteria to the back left more. Well what do you guys think? I still have to get a black background and a lid... I;ve been using cardboard lids that I took off for the pics lol.