Help with first Aquarium

Platypus Gus · 07-15-2012, 10:50 PM

Well I'm doing my first aquarium. It is a 10 gallon with a Marineland filter made for 10 to 20 gallon aquariums I believe. The filter itself is old but was barely used and works like new as a got it from my cousin. I also have a new Aqueon hood and the tank itself is 6 or so years old but is fine with no leaks it was what I kept FBT's in until they got upgraded.

Now to the real question. How many fish can I keep in there? As of now I have 5 neon tetras. I was thinking maybe a few ghost shrimp and 2 corys? Is that too much or what? Also the tank has already cycled. I may do a journal after recieving some info. Thanks!

**Plant keeper** · 07-15-2012, 11:14 PM

corys need to be a group of 5 and you could do a ram cichild.

PlantedRich · 07-16-2012, 12:06 AM

How many fish may depend on what you want from the fish compared to how much time/work you want to do. Small fish can be trusted to do okay in larger numbers than larger. If you don't mind them needing to be moved out as they grow, a whole lot of fry can go into a ten.
The limiting factor is usually the way you keep the water qualities. That often means changing water. More fish, more work, less likely to get the full quality out of the fish.

The setup you suggest should work if you watch the water and do the testing and work needed. Fish may want things but they will often live well without what they want.

Platypus Gus · 07-16-2012, 12:14 AM

Plant Keeper - ok thanks for the cory info im new to all this

PlantedRich - i don't mind doing water changes and such. I'm used to constant water changes as i've kept newts for 10 yrs now and they are very picky about their water

What other options do I have to go with the neons and ghost shrimp then?

DishyFishy · 07-16-2012, 12:41 AM

You could do a couple of ottos. They're so cute.

Platypus Gus · 07-16-2012, 01:17 AM

I may get otos after a month or 2 but how many should I get 1 or 2

DishyFishy · 07-16-2012, 01:29 AM

I think you could do 3 of them.

Platypus Gus · 07-18-2012, 01:11 AM

ok thanks to everyone for help ive settled on the tank gonna keep the neons get a few corys and then in a few months get some otos

Imaginary1226 · 07-18-2012, 01:29 AM

You could always get a couple nerite snails instead of the otos. They are much hardier in my experience.

Platypus Gus · 07-18-2012, 05:12 AM

im not sure if any stores close to me sell nerites not very many good pet stores near bye for inverts only petcos and petsmarts might have to make a drive up to lawrence or order from an online store. does anyone know any good places to order from online?

**AquaPipes** · 07-18-2012, 05:18 AM

Ask for Zebra or Tiger snails. Those will be nerites. I've asked for nerites before just to get a blank stare or to be told they're salt water only, just to find they had tanks full of them.

Often times people will only know the name on the distribution list or what's written on the tank.

CatB · 07-18-2012, 05:27 AM

you should just get more tetras, 5 is a pretty small school. they do best in larger groups, the more the better. you can probably get ehh 12 tetras in there and maybe five pygmy cories or some shrimp.

Platypus Gus · 07-18-2012, 05:36 AM

ok ill probably go for about 10 tetras, 4-5 corys (depending on which kind i like and cost) and im excited because 2 of my shrimps are berried! Will the tetras eat the eggs if they are left in the same tank?

and ive never seen zebra or tiger snails listed at any of the stores near me. ill see if i can spot some out because my tank with some newts is covered in algea!!!

07-15-2012, 10:50 PM	#1
Platypus Gus Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 40	Help with first Aquarium Well I'm doing my first aquarium. It is a 10 gallon with a Marineland filter made for 10 to 20 gallon aquariums I believe. The filter itself is old but was barely used and works like new as a got it from my cousin. I also have a new Aqueon hood and the tank itself is 6 or so years old but is fine with no leaks it was what I kept FBT's in until they got upgraded. Now to the real question. How many fish can I keep in there? As of now I have 5 neon tetras. I was thinking maybe a few ghost shrimp and 2 corys? Is that too much or what? Also the tank has already cycled. I may do a journal after recieving some info. Thanks! __________________ My Tanks 5 gallon 10 gallon

07-15-2012, 11:14 PM	#2
Plant keeper Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (26/100%) Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Brighton Michigan Posts: 1,069	corys need to be a group of 5 and you could do a ram cichild. __________________ I have been keeping fish for 8 year's My 30gallon planted tank http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...nk-update.html

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07-16-2012, 12:06 AM	#3
PlantedRich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pflugerville, Tx Posts: 1,513	How many fish may depend on what you want from the fish compared to how much time/work you want to do. Small fish can be trusted to do okay in larger numbers than larger. If you don't mind them needing to be moved out as they grow, a whole lot of fry can go into a ten. The limiting factor is usually the way you keep the water qualities. That often means changing water. More fish, more work, less likely to get the full quality out of the fish. The setup you suggest should work if you watch the water and do the testing and work needed. Fish may want things but they will often live well without what they want.

07-16-2012, 12:14 AM	#4
Platypus Gus Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 40	Plant Keeper - ok thanks for the cory info im new to all this PlantedRich - i don't mind doing water changes and such. I'm used to constant water changes as i've kept newts for 10 yrs now and they are very picky about their water What other options do I have to go with the neons and ghost shrimp then?

07-16-2012, 12:41 AM	#5
DishyFishy Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SC Posts: 471	You could do a couple of ottos. They're so cute.

07-16-2012, 01:17 AM	#6
Platypus Gus Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 40	I may get otos after a month or 2 but how many should I get 1 or 2

07-16-2012, 01:29 AM	#7
DishyFishy Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SC Posts: 471	I think you could do 3 of them.

07-18-2012, 01:11 AM	#8
Platypus Gus Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 40	ok thanks to everyone for help ive settled on the tank gonna keep the neons get a few corys and then in a few months get some otos

07-18-2012, 01:29 AM	#9
Imaginary1226 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Shrewsbury, PA Posts: 307	You could always get a couple nerite snails instead of the otos. They are much hardier in my experience.

07-18-2012, 05:12 AM	#10
Platypus Gus Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 40	im not sure if any stores close to me sell nerites not very many good pet stores near bye for inverts only petcos and petsmarts might have to make a drive up to lawrence or order from an online store. does anyone know any good places to order from online?

07-18-2012, 05:18 AM	#11
AquaPipes Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: California Posts: 197	Ask for Zebra or Tiger snails. Those will be nerites. I've asked for nerites before just to get a blank stare or to be told they're salt water only, just to find they had tanks full of them. Often times people will only know the name on the distribution list or what's written on the tank.

07-18-2012, 05:27 AM	#12
CatB Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,013	you should just get more tetras, 5 is a pretty small school. they do best in larger groups, the more the better. you can probably get ehh 12 tetras in there and maybe five pygmy cories or some shrimp.

07-18-2012, 05:36 AM	#13
Platypus Gus Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 40	ok ill probably go for about 10 tetras, 4-5 corys (depending on which kind i like and cost) and im excited because 2 of my shrimps are berried! Will the tetras eat the eggs if they are left in the same tank? and ive never seen zebra or tiger snails listed at any of the stores near me. ill see if i can spot some out because my tank with some newts is covered in algea!!!