10 Gallon Stocking

harold · 04-14-2008, 12:22 PM

I have a low-tech 10 gallon that is moderately planted with 7 pork chop rasboras. I believe their adult size is no more than 4 cm. I am doing small weekly water changes (10-15%) and am running a AquaClear 30 filter.

My question is, can I add one more fish? I'd like to add something that will be peaceful toward the rasboras and do not need another of its kind to be happy. I really don't care for any algea eaters (cory/oto).

My rasboras are thriving right now so I'd hate to disrupt a good thing. Any suggestions or should I leave well enough alone?

Thanks.

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newshound · 04-14-2008, 01:29 PM

I'd leave well enough alone...
do larger weekly water changes

harold · 04-14-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newshound

I'd leave well enough alone...
do larger weekly water changes

I thought with low-tech tanks water changes should be kept to a minimum. Man, I am so confused! I'm sure I read that some people even do monthly water changes. I wasn't comfortable with that so I figured smaller weekly water changes would be fine.

**lauraleellbp** · 04-14-2008, 03:10 PM

Harold there's rarely any "one size fits all" when it comes to planted tanks

IMO the more water changes you do, the more beneficial it is for the fish. However, you read correctly that in a low tech tank too many water changes can actually strip the water of nutrients (mostly nitrAtes) for the plants.

If you're willing to test your nitrAtes regularly and experiement with different amounts of water changes, this might help you figure out what exactly is the right balance for YOUR particular tank? IMO nitrates between 10-20ppm are ideal for most planted tanks. Ammonia and nitrItes of course should always be 0ppm...

What about adding some shrimp as a cleanup crew instead of cory cats?

**fishscale** · 04-14-2008, 04:19 PM

What were you thinking of? I'd avoid larger, show piece fish.

newshound · 04-14-2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harold

I thought with low-tech tanks water changes should be kept to a minimum. Man, I am so confused! I'm sure I read that some people even do monthly water changes. I wasn't comfortable with that so I figured smaller weekly water changes would be fine.

sorry I always worry about my fish more than my plants...although my plants (in a low tech tank) always do fine

Fat Man · 04-16-2008, 11:33 PM

I'd think about adding 1 dwarf gourami, or leave well enough alone. The desire to add just one more is hard to resist.

valerietheangel · 04-17-2008, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Man

I'd think about adding 1 dwarf gourami, or leave well enough alone. The desire to add just one more is hard to resist.

LOL! That's how it starts...Oh just one more fish...just one more tank...well if I already have TWO tanks, what's one more??

James From Cali · 04-17-2008, 11:08 PM

Honestly I would add maybe 1-3 more Rasbora and shrimp. Other than that nothing. I would avoid gourami's and other solitary fish.

mistergreen · 04-18-2008, 12:19 AM

less is better for a 10G...

harold · 04-18-2008, 07:38 PM

Since I have a moss carpet I could reconsider otos or corys. Which of these would be better to help keep the moss clean? Also, are they large bioload producers? I've read they don't like being alone so I would probably have to get two.

**lauraleellbp** · 04-18-2008, 07:42 PM

For keeping moss clean IMO you want Amano shrimp.

harold · 04-27-2008, 02:20 PM

I'm revitalizing this thread because I would really like to add one more fish. The reason I would like another fish in the ten gallon is mostly for contrast with the 7 rasboras I have now. James from Cali mentioned to stay away from a gourami. Why is that? I was thinking maybe 1 male drawf gourami.

Thoughts?

By the way, I currently do weekly water changes at about 40-50% and feed once a day.

harold · 04-27-2008, 05:24 PM

Well, I went ahead and added the gourami. A neon blue dwarf. I also forgot to mention I lost one of the rasboras because I had increased the filter flow to eliminate dead spots in the tank. I found the smallest rasbora in the filter last night.

With that, I now have 6 rasboras (the smaller porkchop kind) and a dwarf gourami in my 10 gallon. So far the gourami pays no attention to the rasboras at all. And yes, filter flow is back down to where it was before.

valerietheangel · 04-28-2008, 02:32 AM

I think some people may have originally advised against the gourami because it will be competing for the same mid-upper level tank space that the rasboras will occupy. I think most people who chimed in were advising for inhabitants at other levels of the tank in order to provide more activity all over the tank and minimize competition for the same area/food.

04-14-2008, 12:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
harold Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 98	10 Gallon Stocking I have a low-tech 10 gallon that is moderately planted with 7 pork chop rasboras. I believe their adult size is no more than 4 cm. I am doing small weekly water changes (10-15%) and am running a AquaClear 30 filter. My question is, can I add one more fish? I'd like to add something that will be peaceful toward the rasboras and do not need another of its kind to be happy. I really don't care for any algea eaters (cory/oto). My rasboras are thriving right now so I'd hate to disrupt a good thing. Any suggestions or should I leave well enough alone? Thanks.

04-14-2008, 01:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
newshound Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: May 2005 Location: northern ontario canada Posts: 367	I'd leave well enough alone... do larger weekly water changes __________________ under stock over filter

04-14-2008, 03:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 4,192	Harold there's rarely any "one size fits all" when it comes to planted tanks IMO the more water changes you do, the more beneficial it is for the fish. However, you read correctly that in a low tech tank too many water changes can actually strip the water of nutrients (mostly nitrAtes) for the plants. If you're willing to test your nitrAtes regularly and experiement with different amounts of water changes, this might help you figure out what exactly is the right balance for YOUR particular tank? IMO nitrates between 10-20ppm are ideal for most planted tanks. Ammonia and nitrItes of course should always be 0ppm... What about adding some shrimp as a cleanup crew instead of cory cats? __________________ Laura Lee; 10gal planted RCS colony, 46gal FW community w/ el plasticos, 90gal FW planted in progress- see my journal at http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=23207

04-14-2008, 04:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
fishscale duckweed. it's bad, mmk. (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 3,222	What were you thinking of? I'd avoid larger, show piece fish. __________________ Eheim Pimp #254, Eheim Wolverine #1 55 Gallon Work in progress 10 Gallon Shrimp Tank 10 Gallon Planted QT 20 Gallon Shrimp Tank (Work in progress)

04-17-2008, 11:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
James From Cali Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 2,682	Honestly I would add maybe 1-3 more Rasbora and shrimp. Other than that nothing. I would avoid gourami's and other solitary fish. __________________ Tanks: 10g:Pardise Fish, 10g:Zebra Danio Eggs: These eggs will die in 5-7 days. Click them

04-16-2008, 11:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
Fat Man Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Camino, Ca Posts: 17	I'd think about adding 1 dwarf gourami, or leave well enough alone. The desire to add just one more is hard to resist.

04-18-2008, 12:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
mistergreen Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 2,416	less is better for a 10G... __________________ Algae happens.

04-18-2008, 07:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
harold Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 98	Since I have a moss carpet I could reconsider otos or corys. Which of these would be better to help keep the moss clean? Also, are they large bioload producers? I've read they don't like being alone so I would probably have to get two.

04-18-2008, 07:42 PM	#12 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 4,192	For keeping moss clean IMO you want Amano shrimp. __________________ Laura Lee; 10gal planted RCS colony, 46gal FW community w/ el plasticos, 90gal FW planted in progress- see my journal at http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=23207

04-27-2008, 02:20 PM	#13 (permalink)
harold Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 98	I'm revitalizing this thread because I would really like to add one more fish. The reason I would like another fish in the ten gallon is mostly for contrast with the 7 rasboras I have now. James from Cali mentioned to stay away from a gourami. Why is that? I was thinking maybe 1 male drawf gourami. Thoughts? By the way, I currently do weekly water changes at about 40-50% and feed once a day.

04-27-2008, 05:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
harold Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 98	Well, I went ahead and added the gourami. A neon blue dwarf. I also forgot to mention I lost one of the rasboras because I had increased the filter flow to eliminate dead spots in the tank. I found the smallest rasbora in the filter last night. With that, I now have 6 rasboras (the smaller porkchop kind) and a dwarf gourami in my 10 gallon. So far the gourami pays no attention to the rasboras at all. And yes, filter flow is back down to where it was before.

04-28-2008, 02:32 AM	#15 (permalink)
valerietheangel Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: O'Fallon, MO Posts: 111	I think some people may have originally advised against the gourami because it will be competing for the same mid-upper level tank space that the rasboras will occupy. I think most people who chimed in were advising for inhabitants at other levels of the tank in order to provide more activity all over the tank and minimize competition for the same area/food.

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