Beginner! 10 gallon ..small aquarium

[ndntakeover]

Hi!
I am an ultimate newbie when it comes to aquariums. I bought a simple 10 gallon tank and bought a mechanical filter for the tank. So far all i have done is add two types of aquatic plants, one of which is a grass type. I havent added fish in about 3 days of buying the aquarium. It is currently running...but i am not sure as to what fish I should buy.

I do not want goldfish.
I saw some cheap minnows at the petsmart and im interesting in buying some. What other fish are advisable for a tank my size?

Thanks in advance for the help!

[ndntakeover]

I also bought a visitherm heater (50watt).

[Northernguy]

Welcome to the AC!
Have you cycled your tank yet?
Please check out the free E-book on the left!
I like tetras for a small tank.Maybe a beta male as well.

[brianyu]

i'm sure u will buy other bigger tank
go with a school pearl danio ... they move a lots like tetra

[ndntakeover]

by cycling do you mean leave the tank running?
because ive done that for about 4 days now.

the filtration i use has the carbon activator in it

Wont bettas attack tetras?

[Northernguy]

Please read this link it will help.http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ead.php?t=5640
I also suggest the free e-book.You need to understand more about how a tank works and this will help.

[NickFish]

Nope, you haven't cycled yet. Cycling involves adding some form of ammonia and usually takes a period of weeks.
Read the e-book, you need to have at least a general idea of how things work within your aquarium.

[Rue]

While cycling can happen quickly, if you don't do anything to speed up the process it will take approx. 6 weeks.

One male betta per tank with compatible fish only - you can also have 3 cories on the bottom (cories school, you need 3 min., and that's all you can fit in a 10g).

OR have a small school of tetra (also a min. of 3) and 3 cories on the bottom.

Do not mix a male betta with tetras.

A 10g is too small for any goldfish. One goldfish requires 20 gallons...additional goldfish require an extra 10 gallons or more each. Goldfish are also schooling fish, so it's not advisable to get only one.

[Rue]

Okay...I'll clarify a bit more.

You can house a male betta with tetras if you want to...neons and zebras for example would likely be fine. If you notice, they have a sleek, bullet-like body shape - they're fast.

Tetras that are more 'betta-like' and slower moving are not as good a choice. So long-finned serpaes may be more problematic for example. This is because male bettas are aggressive and may take fish with a similar body shape or finnage as a threat...

However, in a 10 g tank, you can't have many fish - it's very easy to over-stock, and that's why I'd avoid mixing too many species together.

[Jellygirl]

Hi there and welcome to the forum.

I believe that there are some tetras who will 'fin nip' your betta because of his long finnage so be aware of that also.

Good luck with your choices and I've found this to be a lovely site full of good advice. You will need to cycle your tank first though as this will otherwise result in deaths, it can be helped along, but there are no cutting corners. It needs to be done properly with water parameters taken to check that it has cycled properly. Water test kits are available from most petshops/lfs.

That being said - good luck with your fishkeeping - its such good fun and I do agree with the others - a larger tank will hold more of the fish you like and you are not so limited. Also a larger tank is easier to keep the right parameters.

Jellygirl

Jellygirl.