Question about number of fish in first tank

[Ares Warrior]

I am keeping my first fish tank. It is 10 gallons, and is a heated freshwater tank. I am deciding on what fish to fill it with, and how many. I have researched online, and it says it is cruel to keep too many fish in a small tank, and recommends maximum numbers of various species. It also says that some species prefer to swim at different levels in the tank, and species that swim at different levels are unlikely to have territorial fights.
I am not going to keep fish with other fish that could be viewed as prey, regardless of the level they swim at. But I want to know if my number of top feeders should affect my number of bottom feeders, or could I have, for example, the maximum number of neon tetras living happily alongside a betta fish.
Thanks in advance for any information.

 

[Kyle E.]

Yes, just because the fish live at different levels doesn't mean you can put too many in. One of the main reasons for limits on the number of fish in an aquarium is that they will produce to much waste for the water to dilute and the filter to take out. No matter what level your fish swim at they all produce waste. Also bettas are iffy with neon's. Definitely no to a male betta. I don't really know on a female. Also neither neon's or bettas are bottom dwellers. Bettas are top swimmers and neon's are top/mid swimmers.

 

[Essjay]

What are the dimensions of the tank? The majority of small fish such as neon tetras need 60 cm/24 inches swimming room. Some of the nano species are OK in 45 cm/18 inches.

Next question is - how hard is your tap water? Nano fish tend to have specific hardness requirements. This information may be on your water supplier's website - if they give it, you need a number and the unit of measurement (there are several they could use).

Finally, have you cycled the tank? In other words, have you added ammonia to grow the bacteria needed to keep the fish safe?

 

[Ares Warrior]

What are the dimensions of the tank? The majority of small fish such as neon tetras need 60 cm/24 inches swimming room. Some of the nano species are OK in 45 cm/18 inches.

Next question is - how hard is your tap water? Nano fish tend to have specific hardness requirements. This information may be on your water supplier's website - if they give it, you need a number and the unit of measurement (there are several they could use).

Finally, have you cycled the tank? In other words, have you added ammonia to grow the bacteria needed to keep the fish safe?

My dimensions are 25cm wide, 50cm long and 31cm high. Please advise me of a way to check the hardness of my water, as I am unsure how to do this. Also, I have bottles of that remove chlorine, and bottles that add bacteria and ammonia, and will add them after getting the plants, but before getting the fish.

 

[Essjay]

If you plan a lot of live plants, they will 'cycle' the tank for you. Plants use ammonia as fertiliser and if there are enough fast growing plants they will remove all the ammonia made by the fish.
But with just a couple of slow growing plants you do need to cycle the tank first. This is the best way to do it, in case you've not already found it. https://www.fishforums.net/threads/cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first.421488/
Bottled bacteria will speed up the cycle but not do it instantly.


If your water company is Irish Water, enter your address here https://www.water.ie/water-supply/water-quality/water-hardness/ This will give your hardness in mg/l calcium carbonate. Tell us that number.

 

[Ares Warrior]

If you plan a lot of live plants, they will 'cycle' the tank for you. Plants use ammonia as fertiliser and if there are enough fast growing plants they will remove all the ammonia made by the fish.
But with just a couple of slow growing plants you do need to cycle the tank first. This is the best way to do it, in case you've not already found it. https://www.fishforums.net/threads/cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first.421488/
Bottled bacteria will speed up the cycle but not do it instantly.


If your water company is Irish Water, enter your address here https://www.water.ie/water-supply/water-quality/water-hardness/ This will give your hardness in mg/l calcium carbonate. Tell us that number.

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, my tap water comes from a well, so it is different to the tap water that is sourced to the rest of my town. I have ordered 10 plants from E bay, and they are due to arrive in two days at most.Will this be enough plants? If anyone reading this knows an alternate way of checking your water hardness, your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Essjay]

Do you have the well water tested? The report may contain the hardness.

You can take some of your tap water to a fish shop and ask them to test it for GH - make sure they give you a number.

Finally, you can buy GH testers.


Did the Ebay seller give a list of what the plants are?

 

[Ares Warrior]

The plants are all Alternanthera Rosaefolia, and they are pretty small, so I'm going to let them grow out a bit (They arrived today). I will try to look up the hardness of my well. Will these plants suffice, or should I buy more of a different species?

 

[Essjay]

I know little about this plants so here are a couple of links

404 Not Found - Aquarium Plants from Aquarium Gardens UK | Live Aquatic Tropical Tank Plants

Aquarium Plants and Planted Aquarium Supplies UK. Buy live aquatic plants online, algae free & shrimp safe guaranteed, high European quality, suitable for tropical and cold-water fish tanks.

www.aquariumgardens.co.uk

Alternanthera rosaefolia - Aquafleur Aquarium Plant

Aquatic Plants for your Aquarium, grown in Holland. 100% Shrimp and Invert Safe.

www.pro-shrimp.co.uk

 

[Ares Warrior]

Thanks