just starting out, few questions - Page 2

vinimack720 · 06-05-2006, 06:01 PM

i would say that a the switch would be a good idea. it will be a lot easier to clean and you will be able to have some live plants. If your going to change the substrate do it soon because its a lot harder to do once you have it filled and put the fish in.

cucci67 · 06-05-2006, 06:11 PM

Yeah, change it to gravel. Much easier to maintain.

LS70 · 06-07-2006, 06:02 PM

here is what i have now

first setup

final setup

friend wanted to give me 2 convicts, but dont thing they will be very friendly to my betta

**JustOneMore20** · 06-09-2006, 10:12 AM

Convicts will get too large, so good job on passing on them.

I think a good setup for a 10g is:

1 male betta
6-8 harlequin rasboras
2 ottos (if any algae develops) or 4-6 pygmy cories

Make sure the cories are the pygmy or habrosus (also known as salt and pepper) cories, because they are the smallest types.

Looks good. You'll like the smaller gravel alot better. Its easier to clean and waste won't get stuck between the rocks.

vinimack720 · 06-09-2006, 04:00 PM

much better! i like the way it looks now, especially that ornament you have on the left, what is that?

Sprite42 · 06-09-2006, 04:12 PM

Yep, I like the look of the gravel better, too! If you are set on the betta, introduce him last. That way anything else in the tank will just be part of the territory. Some bettas are not compatible with anything, no matter when you put him in. It would be a good idea to have alternative housing for him.

I agree with the rasboras, six or eight make a really nice display. You could also add some kuhli loaches, 2 or 3. THey are good bottom guys and are not hard on the bioload.

LS70 · 06-10-2006, 09:30 AM

yeah the ornament is just a fake log with some shrubs and shells, cost me only $20cdn, cheapest large ornament i could find lol. PETSMART is the best for this, better/cheaper then walmart for accessories.

yeah, betta will be last since its kinda my main fish and i want the tank to be well established first

k, ive ran the tank since about wednesday or tuesday,

water is just a little cloudy i think, maybe a little die off the stones came off still, dont know,

want to get fish today, should i do a partial water change before? or just plop the cories or whatever else i get in? dont have a test kit, to expensive! at least $40cdn for a complete kit, and cant find the little kits with the all in one paper strip tests

also friend gave me a vacume, but its the one that hooks up to the tap! lol, gotta get that T valve for it though, should make my life easier. hes got awsome tanks though!, , 1 is 105g with 3 oscars, 2convicts, and some other little guys, and a 70g with convicts. massive filters!!! though and way to much$$$$

**JustOneMore20** · 06-10-2006, 12:01 PM

Check Big Al's for the test kit. I'm not sure how much the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals master kit is in Canadian dollars...but its only about $15 US. Go to http://www.bigalsonline.com. A test kit will help alot. When you first add fish to the tank, ammonia will start to rise, then nitrites, then nitrates. You should track this to see where you are in the cycle.

Liquid tests are better...the paper ones aren't very accurate.

LS70 · 06-11-2006, 12:18 AM

went to big als today, cool store!,
i got a bio starter, but the test strips 5in1 are still expensive, i'll pass on those for now, when i get bigger tank i probably need those alot more.

fish selection

-betta, will go in first, big als said they are better at new tanks then tetras and should go in first.

-5-8 small neon tetras. they said i should wait a few weeks for these since they are not very good with new tanks

Cleaner: maybe 1 otto as my last fish

-maybe: what about swordtails? if i get 2 of those? would they get along with betta or do they nip?

if no sword tails, i may just get 2 panda cories, but are they also cleaner fish or no? dont want them if i get an otto.

vinimack720 · 06-11-2006, 02:07 PM

some one correct me if im wrong here, but the ottos are mainly algae eaters and the cories scavenge food from the gravel, so they would not really bother each other. but i think panda cories are a schooling fish and like to be in a group of 6 or more.

LS70 · 06-12-2006, 07:12 PM

cool otto it is, but thats in a few weeks

just got my betta! nice fish, red, no torn up fins or anything, gonna start posting in the betta forum now, fish seems a little wierd, its like if it stops moving its fins, it get shot up to the surface, or across the tank lol, seems like a big current in my tank or something,

gonna be getting more fish in a week or 2

anyway, thanks for all the help everyone.

06-09-2006, 10:12 AM	#24
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,563	Convicts will get too large, so good job on passing on them. I think a good setup for a 10g is: 1 male betta 6-8 harlequin rasboras 2 ottos (if any algae develops) or 4-6 pygmy cories Make sure the cories are the pygmy or habrosus (also known as salt and pepper) cories, because they are the smallest types. Looks good. You'll like the smaller gravel alot better. Its easier to clean and waste won't get stuck between the rocks. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g

06-09-2006, 04:12 PM	#26
Sprite42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arkansas Age: 46 Posts: 315	Yep, I like the look of the gravel better, too! If you are set on the betta, introduce him last. That way anything else in the tank will just be part of the territory. Some bettas are not compatible with anything, no matter when you put him in. It would be a good idea to have alternative housing for him. I agree with the rasboras, six or eight make a really nice display. You could also add some kuhli loaches, 2 or 3. THey are good bottom guys and are not hard on the bioload. __________________ First, Do No Harm!

06-10-2006, 12:01 PM	#28
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,563	Check Big Al's for the test kit. I'm not sure how much the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals master kit is in Canadian dollars...but its only about $15 US. Go to http://www.bigalsonline.com. A test kit will help alot. When you first add fish to the tank, ammonia will start to rise, then nitrites, then nitrates. You should track this to see where you are in the cycle. Liquid tests are better...the paper ones aren't very accurate. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g

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06-05-2006, 06:01 PM	#21
vinimack720 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Age: 19 Posts: 83	i would say that a the switch would be a good idea. it will be a lot easier to clean and you will be able to have some live plants. If your going to change the substrate do it soon because its a lot harder to do once you have it filled and put the fish in.

06-05-2006, 06:11 PM	#22
cucci67 No Longer Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 481	Yeah, change it to gravel. Much easier to maintain.

06-07-2006, 06:02 PM	#23
LS70 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Age: 24 Posts: 78	here is what i have now first setup final setup friend wanted to give me 2 convicts, but dont thing they will be very friendly to my betta

06-09-2006, 04:00 PM	#25
vinimack720 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Age: 19 Posts: 83	much better! i like the way it looks now, especially that ornament you have on the left, what is that?

06-10-2006, 09:30 AM	#27
LS70 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Age: 24 Posts: 78	yeah the ornament is just a fake log with some shrubs and shells, cost me only $20cdn, cheapest large ornament i could find lol. PETSMART is the best for this, better/cheaper then walmart for accessories. yeah, betta will be last since its kinda my main fish and i want the tank to be well established first k, ive ran the tank since about wednesday or tuesday, water is just a little cloudy i think, maybe a little die off the stones came off still, dont know, want to get fish today, should i do a partial water change before? or just plop the cories or whatever else i get in? dont have a test kit, to expensive! at least $40cdn for a complete kit, and cant find the little kits with the all in one paper strip tests also friend gave me a vacume, but its the one that hooks up to the tap! lol, gotta get that T valve for it though, should make my life easier. hes got awsome tanks though!, , 1 is 105g with 3 oscars, 2convicts, and some other little guys, and a 70g with convicts. massive filters!!! though and way to much$$$$

06-11-2006, 12:18 AM	#29
LS70 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Age: 24 Posts: 78	went to big als today, cool store!, i got a bio starter, but the test strips 5in1 are still expensive, i'll pass on those for now, when i get bigger tank i probably need those alot more. fish selection -betta, will go in first, big als said they are better at new tanks then tetras and should go in first. -5-8 small neon tetras. they said i should wait a few weeks for these since they are not very good with new tanks Cleaner: maybe 1 otto as my last fish -maybe: what about swordtails? if i get 2 of those? would they get along with betta or do they nip? if no sword tails, i may just get 2 panda cories, but are they also cleaner fish or no? dont want them if i get an otto.

06-11-2006, 02:07 PM	#30
vinimack720 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Age: 19 Posts: 83	some one correct me if im wrong here, but the ottos are mainly algae eaters and the cories scavenge food from the gravel, so they would not really bother each other. but i think panda cories are a schooling fish and like to be in a group of 6 or more.

06-12-2006, 07:12 PM	#31
LS70 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Age: 24 Posts: 78	cool otto it is, but thats in a few weeks just got my betta! nice fish, red, no torn up fins or anything, gonna start posting in the betta forum now, fish seems a little wierd, its like if it stops moving its fins, it get shot up to the surface, or across the tank lol, seems like a big current in my tank or something, gonna be getting more fish in a week or 2 anyway, thanks for all the help everyone.

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