Stocking Advice?

[fluttermoth]

What's your water hardness and the dimensions of the tank?

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Conveniently I just tested. pH is around 7.1; the exact dimensions of the tank I am not sure. But if I had to guess, maybe 25" by 15" by 20"? All guesses there so it might be wrong...

 

[HarpyFishLover]

So I've been hearing lots about this fish species known as "cichlids". How big do they get, what water parameters do they need, and do they get along with guppies and tetras?

 

[fluttermoth]

So I've been hearing lots about this fish species known as "cichlids". How big do they get, what water parameters do they need, and do they get along with guppies and tetras?

Cichlids are a whole family of fish like 'barbs' or 'tetras'. There are literally thousands of species of cichlids; some are very small and fairly peaceful, some grow very large or are very aggressive. Some like soft water, some like it very hard.

 

[FishCat_16]

I'm going to pop in with my seriously fish recommendation again.  You can take all of the advice you get on different fish options and look them up.  You can search them by common name or by scientific name.  Once you know your water's hardness as well as the pH you will be able to use that to help in narrowing down your choices.  Seriously fish has pictures of each fish along with a description of their natural habitat and aquarium requirements-- size, water parameters, and numbers that need to be kept together as well as compatibility.
 
I have a little notebook where I'm currently keeping track of my cycle that I also have a list of fish that I have written down with their requirements.  This way when my cycle is done I just have to go back to my notebook and look at which fish will work within my water parameters and I don't have to go try to remember or look them all up again.  Even though everything is electronic and online, I like the old fashioned pen and paper.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Cool! What exactly is "Seriously fish" though?

 

[fluttermoth]

Cool! What exactly is "Seriously fish" though?

It's a website devoted to detailed profiles of just about every fish you'd ever see in the shops. We often link to it, as they have far more detailed information than we can host here. It's a great resource; one to consult before you ever buy a fish, so you can be certain you can give it the right conditions.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Ah thank you! I will certainly use it.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

So, I'm going to get more fish soon. Shall I get 2 tetras every week for 3 weeks, or shall I get a snail or pleco first, and THEN get the tetras?

 

[Jeremy180]

If it were me, once the tank is ready, the first thing I would get would be 3-4 more male guppies. 
In groups of over 5, any aggression among schooling fish like guppies is spread out, so no one fish gets picked on too much.
After that, keep an eye on your ammonia/nitrite levels, if they stay below zero for a few days, I'd add the snails next, as with the exception of mystery snails, they tend to have less bioload than most fish Personally, I like the nerite snails, they have such pretty shells, and they are probably the best algae eaters suitable for a 10 gallon tank, but they will need to be fed a bit unless there is heavy algae in the tank.
Personally, I would recommend against plecos for a beginner's ten gallon.
Ottos are about the only ones that are really small enough for a ten gallon, and these tend to be on the delicate side for the first few weeks.
a couple weeks After that, a school of 6-8 of the same kind of any tetras or rasboras that do not get over 1.5 inches long, and aren't nippy should be added all at once, because these types of fish get very stressed if kept in insuficcient numbers.
Just be sure to do your research here, While many tetras and rasboras can tolerate your water, 7.1 PH and 200ppm hardness, there are also several that need softer water than that

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Some interesting live plant choices I like the looks of. Any other ideas?

Lindernia sp
Ludwigia senegalensis
Rotala indica
Sagittaria subulata

I also want something that looks like a small tuft of grass but does not spread.
I have a fake plant that has red leaves tinged with green. Anybody know what that might be?

 

[HarpyFishLover]

So I read somewhere on these forums that guppies don't get along with tetras. From your own experiences, is this true? If so, what other pretty schooling fish can I get that DO get along with guppies?

 

[jag51186]

I'm kind of surprised everyone is recommending so many fish for a ten gallon tank. I feel like you are flirting with the line of overstocking at 8 tetras and 6 guppies. I definitely wouldn't put a pleco in a ten gallon personally, they are poop machines, and I just don't feel like ten gallons is big enough for them.
 
Generally speaking, guppies prefer hard water, and most tetras prefer soft water. Besides that I think they generally get along fine. But, I haven't really looked into that too much because I've never really considered keeping them together since their water preferences are so different.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

So my plan was to put 2 guppies and 6 tetras, not 6 guppies and 8 tetras. I read to only put 1 tetra-sized fish per gallon.

 

[fluttermoth]

I did ask before, but can you post the dimensions of your tank and whether your water is hard or soft please?

It's not worth us recommending fish until we know that.