Ok got the 10gal with gravel and plants

[Chunandler]

just got this done.. went from deciding about gravel at all, to getting gravel and some plants..it still looks bare..i don't know how you guys make your tanks so awesome, mine looks like some pos from the 80s.. o well

someone mentioned african dwarf chichilids which i like alot except the local fish store only had the big kind and she tried to talking me into getting them and said well theyre only get as big as your tank..i passed..walmarts were unlabeled so I assume they were the big kind too.. I'd have to drive to owasso(30 min drive) to get the dwarfs at a place where I know they have them..what do you think guys I want this tank too look good..what fish should i get and what should i add to the tank..

i was thinking about a background too..any ideas?

 

[TESS]

Yours plants are nice, which fish are you getting?, i cant realy think of a back ground but a pictures of the moon crossed my mind for some reason, i think it might go with the dark gravel. As in the picture of the the moon shining through water or stars (star ship enterprise,but with fish).................or maybe not,sorry its the astronomer coming out in me .

 

[wrs]

your lfs should be able to order you the fish. but most africans need high Ph's and alot of rocks etc. The only one that I can think of that doesnt are kribs, except they would need a bigger tank. You could do new world dwarf cihlids though, like rams. PetCo and some petsmart sell rams. Ask your lfs if they sell any of those. other new world dwarfs seem quite expensive.

 

[sylvia]

Actualy the tank is only 10 gallons so I'd avoid cichlids altogether.

Cycle your tank first (fishless - read the link in my signature). Then I'd go for some colorful livebearers like a trio of platies, a couple of otos or some smaller cories and maybe a dwarf gourami for color.

 

[Chunandler]

ive moved past fishless cycling..i use biospira and its works wonders..24 hour cycle

no chichilids at all? even the 1" ones or 2" ones??

what are otos?

 

[Chunandler]

hmm what do you guys think about tiger barbs

 

[mandi]

Looks like your tank is off to a nice start.

Otos are fabulous little algae-eating fish. They do best in groups of 3 or more. I love mine.

I think the minimum tank size for a tiger barb is 20 or 30 gallons, as they should be kept in groups of 6 or more to spread out the agressiveness.

Have you browsed through the fish over at LiveAquaria.com? Sometimes it's a nice place to start looking -- good pictures of the fish, and gives you some quick stats about each one (tank size, aggression-level, etc.) -- then you could narrow it down to a few favorites and do more research. (I say that because some things on that site aren't totally accurate -- for instance, they list oto's as requiring 30 gallons, and I think most people here would disagree with that, but it's still a good start.)

Have you checked your ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels? I'm just curious because most people I've talked to (other than salespeople) have told me that Biospira, along with other "instant cycle" products don't work. I don't know though, as I've never tried them myself.

 

[Chunandler]

i used biospira on the 29 gallon and it worked..there are alot of fakes out there but this product works..

hmm I've got a book that read a male and female tiger barb could be kept together..could you not do that in a 10?

 

[Chunandler]

hmm i guess my next best choice is danios

 

[Chunandler]

i ended up getting 3 plattys and 2 otos

 

[wuvmybetta]

awww,chunandler I almost didn't recognize you without your old avvie Good to see you around!

Your tank looks great!

 

[lovebuzz]

I would get a black background but that's just me

Looks good.

Post pics of your fish!

 

[Chunandler]

here goes..I put my coat over the back just to see what it would look like with a background..black would look good

the otos are hiding

 

[sylvia]

Very nice Your choice of fish for your tank is very good.
Danios would not have worked as they need 20 gallons and a group of 5.
Bio-spira does work. Everyone I know who has tried it has said so and now swear by it.
About the cichlids that you asked earlier (obviously it does't matter now but incase you wanted to know) - there are some very small rift lake (african) cichlids, shell-dwellers, which can be kept in a 10 gallon. However, they need a sand substrate and shells which is why I did not suggest or include them as possibilities before.

 

[Sasha]

Very nice tank and fish!