What Size Tank

jmbike11 · 04-23-2008, 01:42 AM

Ok well I have had a betta in a 5 gal. for about a half a year now and I want a bigger tank. I was thinking 10 gal. but I want one big enough to have a couple schools of fish. I want fish for the top mid and botom of the tank. Any help at all will be apreciated.

Obsidian · 04-23-2008, 01:52 AM

If you want a couple of schools then I would suggest a 20 long as a bare minimum, a 29/30 would be even better, which will have the same footprint as the 20 long, but be taller.

pokefan · 04-23-2008, 01:54 AM

I'm afraid a 10 wont be big enough for what you want. It's hard enough to find a good school for a 10 much less a couple of them. I personally think a 30 is a perfect starter tank and wish I would've started with one.

jmbike11 · 04-23-2008, 01:55 AM

ok Ill go with the 30 any suggestions on fish

pokefan · 04-23-2008, 02:05 AM

lol, your better off telling us what you like and letting everyone stear you in the right direction. You'll get a lot of biased views otherwise, not really a bad thing but it may not be what you want

Obsidian · 04-23-2008, 02:06 AM

Well it is best if you give an idea of what you like. Such as what size fish do you want to keep, in general? For having schools of fish do you want 2 very different types or do you want some similar fish, etc.

jmbike11 · 04-23-2008, 02:17 AM

I want two different maybe some kind of catfish a shark?(If theres one that will fit in a 30)babrs tetras gournami anything that will look cool.

pokefan · 04-23-2008, 02:32 AM

I'm fairly new at all this too but I'll do what I can. Sharks would be tough, I was set on a red tail when I started but obviously was too big for a 10 it may work for a 30 but your probably pushing it. You could get 5-6 cory cats for the bottom and probably a real nice school of tetras, I'd probably say 12-15. I think that would look great and be a nice setup.

Now just wait for the experts to chime in and tell me how I did.

**Scuba Kid** · 04-23-2008, 02:33 AM

5 false julii cories, 5 panda cories, 8 harlequin rasboras, 8 cardinal tetras, 1 bristlenose pleco, and the betta.
That's not a bad layout for an active community tank. Although there really are endless possibilities for what to do with this tank...that just popped in my head. I'd personally make it planted and have a nice assortment of smaller fish with the betta as the centerpiece fish.

jmbike11 · 04-23-2008, 02:36 AM

ok well I might only be able to get a 20 now could is till get those same fish just half the number of them

pokefan · 04-23-2008, 02:43 AM

Well, it seems my suggestion would be well suited for a 20 according to what SK posted. I'd say forget the shark and drop it to a school of 10 though and I forgot about the HR that would be a nice school to watch.

Obsidian · 04-23-2008, 02:47 AM

Using Scuba's tank suggestion: In a 20 long then you would need to dump one of the schools of cories and lessen the other schools to 5-6 fish each. That should still work IMO. Take note of my signature regarding my 20 gallon. It's a 20 tall but these guys seem to do well in there. If I could do that one over I would go with a 20 long.

jmbike11 · 04-23-2008, 02:49 AM

instead of the cherry barbs because i just read they mate alot could i get guppies or are they about the same mating wise because i would like to eventually breed a fish

Obsidian · 04-23-2008, 03:04 AM

I can't remember how big the HR's get but I think you could do that. If you up any numbers on that up them in the tetra department. Of course that depends on the tetra LOL. I am thinking neon or cardinal type tetra, but that might not be what you are thinking of. Anyway if you do that you could have 6-7 of the tetra's, 5 HR, 5 cories (choose a small cory, but you don't need to go pygmy, peppered stay small, and if I remember correctly emerlad get bigger. Panda would go well, Julies would go well etc.), and the betta.

jmbike11 · 04-23-2008, 03:08 AM

I just read your signature and i like it but instead of the cherry barbs because i just read they mate alot could i get guppies or are they about the same mating wise because i would like to eventually breed a fish

karazy · 04-23-2008, 03:11 AM

dont go with guppies if you want to breed something. its like taking a bucket of hunny in an anthill. it makes alot of ants

Obsidian · 04-23-2008, 03:12 AM

guppies will mate way more than the cherry barbs will. Cherrys are egg scattering, guppies are live bearing. My cherry's have only spawned once and no one survived because all the other fish ate the babies. You will not have a problem with cherry's if you go with them. Doing the HR and the tetras is a great way to go as well. I put in the cherry's because I love their color, but I really like the HR's as well. Also I should have more peppered cories (at least 2 more) but the ones I bought to increase the school died. One of these days I will fix that

jmbike11 · 04-23-2008, 03:13 AM

Im going to get 6 Cherry Barbs 4 fm and 2 m
5 Peppered Corries
5 HR
1 Betta
Is that good not over stocking? or can I add anymore?

vettech909 · 04-23-2008, 10:47 PM

i wouldnt get barbs because the color might spark the bettas agreshion.

jmbike11 · 04-23-2008, 10:59 PM

I could just leave the betta in the 5 if not barbs then what?

04-23-2008, 01:42 AM	#1
jmbike11 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 64 User Feedback: (0)	What Size Tank Ok well I have had a betta in a 5 gal. for about a half a year now and I want a bigger tank. I was thinking 10 gal. but I want one big enough to have a couple schools of fish. I want fish for the top mid and botom of the tank. Any help at all will be apreciated.

04-23-2008, 01:52 AM	#2
Obsidian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Arizona Age: 37 Posts: 1,174 User Feedback: (0)	If you want a couple of schools then I would suggest a 20 long as a bare minimum, a 29/30 would be even better, which will have the same footprint as the 20 long, but be taller. __________________ Obsidian 20 gallon 1 Dwarf Gourami; 6 Cherry Barbs 4F 2M; 8 Black Neon Tetras; 3 Peppered Cory's; 1 Bristlenose Pleco 10 gallon 4 Zebra Danios 5.5 gallon 1 Zebra Danio in QT with columnaris 100 gallon 10 Giant Danios; 5 Long Finned Rosy Barbs, 2 Rubber Lipped Pleco's, 1 Blue Mystery Snail Eventual additional stock: 5 blue rams, 1 rainbow cichlid, 5-7 julie corycats, 5-7 burmese loaches.

04-23-2008, 01:54 AM	#3
pokefan OSU Junkie! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oklahoma Age: 25 Posts: 201 User Feedback: (0)	I'm afraid a 10 wont be big enough for what you want. It's hard enough to find a good school for a 10 much less a couple of them. I personally think a 30 is a perfect starter tank and wish I would've started with one. __________________ Pokefan is not an animated little cartoon character. It's a loyal and true Oklahoma State University Cowboy Fan!! Go Pokes!!!! Oh, Yea. I'm Gavin...

04-23-2008, 02:05 AM	#5
pokefan OSU Junkie! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oklahoma Age: 25 Posts: 201 User Feedback: (0)	lol, your better off telling us what you like and letting everyone stear you in the right direction. You'll get a lot of biased views otherwise, not really a bad thing but it may not be what you want __________________ Pokefan is not an animated little cartoon character. It's a loyal and true Oklahoma State University Cowboy Fan!! Go Pokes!!!! Oh, Yea. I'm Gavin...

04-23-2008, 02:06 AM	#6
Obsidian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Arizona Age: 37 Posts: 1,174 User Feedback: (0)	Well it is best if you give an idea of what you like. Such as what size fish do you want to keep, in general? For having schools of fish do you want 2 very different types or do you want some similar fish, etc. __________________ Obsidian 20 gallon 1 Dwarf Gourami; 6 Cherry Barbs 4F 2M; 8 Black Neon Tetras; 3 Peppered Cory's; 1 Bristlenose Pleco 10 gallon 4 Zebra Danios 5.5 gallon 1 Zebra Danio in QT with columnaris 100 gallon 10 Giant Danios; 5 Long Finned Rosy Barbs, 2 Rubber Lipped Pleco's, 1 Blue Mystery Snail Eventual additional stock: 5 blue rams, 1 rainbow cichlid, 5-7 julie corycats, 5-7 burmese loaches.

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04-23-2008, 01:55 AM	#4
jmbike11 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 64 User Feedback: (0)	ok Ill go with the 30 any suggestions on fish

04-23-2008, 02:17 AM	#7
jmbike11 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 64 User Feedback: (0)	I want two different maybe some kind of catfish a shark?(If theres one that will fit in a 30)babrs tetras gournami anything that will look cool.

04-23-2008, 02:32 AM	#8
pokefan OSU Junkie! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oklahoma Age: 25 Posts: 201 User Feedback: (0)	I'm fairly new at all this too but I'll do what I can. Sharks would be tough, I was set on a red tail when I started but obviously was too big for a 10 it may work for a 30 but your probably pushing it. You could get 5-6 cory cats for the bottom and probably a real nice school of tetras, I'd probably say 12-15. I think that would look great and be a nice setup. Now just wait for the experts to chime in and tell me how I did. __________________ Pokefan is not an animated little cartoon character. It's a loyal and true Oklahoma State University Cowboy Fan!! Go Pokes!!!! Oh, Yea. I'm Gavin...

04-23-2008, 02:33 AM	#9
Scuba Kid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 17 Posts: 3,917 User Feedback: (1)	5 false julii cories, 5 panda cories, 8 harlequin rasboras, 8 cardinal tetras, 1 bristlenose pleco, and the betta. That's not a bad layout for an active community tank. Although there really are endless possibilities for what to do with this tank...that just popped in my head. I'd personally make it planted and have a nice assortment of smaller fish with the betta as the centerpiece fish. __________________

04-23-2008, 02:36 AM	#10
jmbike11 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 64 User Feedback: (0)	ok well I might only be able to get a 20 now could is till get those same fish just half the number of them Last edited by jmbike11; 04-23-2008 at 02:40 AM.

04-23-2008, 02:43 AM	#11
pokefan OSU Junkie! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oklahoma Age: 25 Posts: 201 User Feedback: (0)	Well, it seems my suggestion would be well suited for a 20 according to what SK posted. I'd say forget the shark and drop it to a school of 10 though and I forgot about the HR that would be a nice school to watch. __________________ Pokefan is not an animated little cartoon character. It's a loyal and true Oklahoma State University Cowboy Fan!! Go Pokes!!!! Oh, Yea. I'm Gavin...

04-23-2008, 02:47 AM	#12
Obsidian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Arizona Age: 37 Posts: 1,174 User Feedback: (0)	Using Scuba's tank suggestion: In a 20 long then you would need to dump one of the schools of cories and lessen the other schools to 5-6 fish each. That should still work IMO. Take note of my signature regarding my 20 gallon. It's a 20 tall but these guys seem to do well in there. If I could do that one over I would go with a 20 long. __________________ Obsidian 20 gallon 1 Dwarf Gourami; 6 Cherry Barbs 4F 2M; 8 Black Neon Tetras; 3 Peppered Cory's; 1 Bristlenose Pleco 10 gallon 4 Zebra Danios 5.5 gallon 1 Zebra Danio in QT with columnaris 100 gallon 10 Giant Danios; 5 Long Finned Rosy Barbs, 2 Rubber Lipped Pleco's, 1 Blue Mystery Snail Eventual additional stock: 5 blue rams, 1 rainbow cichlid, 5-7 julie corycats, 5-7 burmese loaches.

04-23-2008, 02:49 AM	#13
jmbike11 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 64 User Feedback: (0)	instead of the cherry barbs because i just read they mate alot could i get guppies or are they about the same mating wise because i would like to eventually breed a fish Last edited by jmbike11; 04-23-2008 at 03:06 AM.

04-23-2008, 03:04 AM	#14
Obsidian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Arizona Age: 37 Posts: 1,174 User Feedback: (0)	I can't remember how big the HR's get but I think you could do that. If you up any numbers on that up them in the tetra department. Of course that depends on the tetra LOL. I am thinking neon or cardinal type tetra, but that might not be what you are thinking of. Anyway if you do that you could have 6-7 of the tetra's, 5 HR, 5 cories (choose a small cory, but you don't need to go pygmy, peppered stay small, and if I remember correctly emerlad get bigger. Panda would go well, Julies would go well etc.), and the betta. __________________ Obsidian 20 gallon 1 Dwarf Gourami; 6 Cherry Barbs 4F 2M; 8 Black Neon Tetras; 3 Peppered Cory's; 1 Bristlenose Pleco 10 gallon 4 Zebra Danios 5.5 gallon 1 Zebra Danio in QT with columnaris 100 gallon 10 Giant Danios; 5 Long Finned Rosy Barbs, 2 Rubber Lipped Pleco's, 1 Blue Mystery Snail Eventual additional stock: 5 blue rams, 1 rainbow cichlid, 5-7 julie corycats, 5-7 burmese loaches.

04-23-2008, 03:08 AM	#15
jmbike11 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 64 User Feedback: (0)	I just read your signature and i like it but instead of the cherry barbs because i just read they mate alot could i get guppies or are they about the same mating wise because i would like to eventually breed a fish

04-23-2008, 03:11 AM	#16
karazy koolioskates Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 523 User Feedback: (0)	dont go with guppies if you want to breed something. its like taking a bucket of hunny in an anthill. it makes alot of ants __________________ 10 gallon -4 female guppies -1 sword tail -1 algae eater -1 electric blue crayfish 20 gallon -4 n.multifasciatus 29 gallon going to be a minireef

04-23-2008, 03:12 AM	#17
Obsidian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Arizona Age: 37 Posts: 1,174 User Feedback: (0)	guppies will mate way more than the cherry barbs will. Cherrys are egg scattering, guppies are live bearing. My cherry's have only spawned once and no one survived because all the other fish ate the babies. You will not have a problem with cherry's if you go with them. Doing the HR and the tetras is a great way to go as well. I put in the cherry's because I love their color, but I really like the HR's as well. Also I should have more peppered cories (at least 2 more) but the ones I bought to increase the school died. One of these days I will fix that __________________ Obsidian 20 gallon 1 Dwarf Gourami; 6 Cherry Barbs 4F 2M; 8 Black Neon Tetras; 3 Peppered Cory's; 1 Bristlenose Pleco 10 gallon 4 Zebra Danios 5.5 gallon 1 Zebra Danio in QT with columnaris 100 gallon 10 Giant Danios; 5 Long Finned Rosy Barbs, 2 Rubber Lipped Pleco's, 1 Blue Mystery Snail Eventual additional stock: 5 blue rams, 1 rainbow cichlid, 5-7 julie corycats, 5-7 burmese loaches. Last edited by Obsidian; 04-23-2008 at 03:15 AM.

04-23-2008, 03:13 AM	#18
jmbike11 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 64 User Feedback: (0)	Im going to get 6 Cherry Barbs 4 fm and 2 m 5 Peppered Corries 5 HR 1 Betta Is that good not over stocking? or can I add anymore? Last edited by jmbike11; 04-23-2008 at 10:21 PM.

04-23-2008, 10:47 PM	#19
vettech909 Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 17 Posts: 217 User Feedback: (0)	i wouldnt get barbs because the color might spark the bettas agreshion.

04-23-2008, 10:59 PM	#20
jmbike11 Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 64 User Feedback: (0)	I could just leave the betta in the 5 if not barbs then what?

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