What sort and how many fish for a 10 gallon tank?

[JennyD1]

Im in the process of setting up a new 10 gallon tank. It’s not ready for fish yet but, having been caught out by not researching on this site and listening to poor advice from the local shop, I’d like to check with the experts here regarding stocking the tank when the time comes. The tank is tall, rather than long - I’m not sure if that would make a difference.
Ideally I’d like shrimp, guppies and corys. I did want tetras but understand I’d not be able to fit enough of them in my tank for them to school properly, so I assume they’re out.
Any advice or suggestions will be gratefully accepted.

 

[Circus]

What are the exact dimensions of the tank, as well as the hardness level of your water? Those will likely be the determining factors of what fish will be comfortable in the tank.

 

[Essjay]

Look on your water company's website for hardness. UK water companies often use units of measurement not used in fish keeping, so can you tell us the number and the unit, please.

 

[JennyD1]

Sorry, the picture is awful. Apparently, my zone is the SP zone (very clumsily highlighted).I know we’re in a hard water area because I have to descale the tassimo every 5 minutes!

 

[JennyD1]

 

[Essjay]

The data you need from that table is 157 mg/l CaCO3 (we call this ppm) and 8.8 German degrees (we call this dH), assuming you are in the Springsmire region. UK water companies always make water sound harder than it really and fish keepers would call your water the upper end of soft. It is fine for most soft water fish, except those which must have very soft water, but it is too soft for hard water fish.
I'm afraid it is a bit too soft for guppies. They need hardness 200 ppm or over.


The water is fine for cories. But with this size tank only one of the dwarf species - pygmies are the easiest to find, with habsrosus (salt & pepper) cories next easiest. These dwarf cories do need a sand substrate though, and a group of 10 or more and I'm not sure the tank is big enough for that many.


Ember tetras, if you like them, and cherry shrimps (of whichever colour you like) would be OK in the tank and hardness.