Hello I finally got a 10gal set up and are using cherry barbs from my brother-in-law. and Im trying to figure out what else I could add in the tank. It has fake plants for now and a rock formation. I want to eventually add in live plants and other fish....just dont know what kind and if you have any ideas please post pics of the fish and plants.
10gal fish ideas??
- Thread starter jstfinch
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Fishkeeper26
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2011
- Messages
- 1,537
For plants, what type of bulbs do you have?
Retired_AF
Aquarium Advice FINatic
With a 10g tank, your options for adding fish are pretty much limited because of the smaller size. If you are keeping basic tropicals, the general rule is one inch of fish (when fully grown) per gallon. That is not a hard, fast rule, but something to think about in general. You wouldn't want to put a fish 10 inches long in a 10 gallon tank, so know how big your fish will get to be when fully grown before you buy.
You also have to consider if you are planning on shrimp or anything like that which adds to the bio load. If you want goldfish, well, I wouldn't put them in this tank.
In order to give you better advise could you let us know a few things?
How many cherry barbs are in the tank now?
Are you keeping them or are they 'loaners'?
What kind of lights do you have?
Are you willing or able to upgrade the lights based on plant needs since some plants require more light than others?
What are you using for substrate?
Honestly though, (IMHO) a small tank like this looks better with plants and just 1 fish in the 3-4 inch range (like a betta, dwarf gourami or medium sized angel) or 3-4 small fish the size of neons. The fish have more freedom to move around plus you can add a snail or a few decent-sized shrimp (large enough not to become dinner) without overcrowding or overloading the tank.
You also have to consider if you are planning on shrimp or anything like that which adds to the bio load. If you want goldfish, well, I wouldn't put them in this tank.
In order to give you better advise could you let us know a few things?
How many cherry barbs are in the tank now?
Are you keeping them or are they 'loaners'?
What kind of lights do you have?
Are you willing or able to upgrade the lights based on plant needs since some plants require more light than others?
What are you using for substrate?
Honestly though, (IMHO) a small tank like this looks better with plants and just 1 fish in the 3-4 inch range (like a betta, dwarf gourami or medium sized angel) or 3-4 small fish the size of neons. The fish have more freedom to move around plus you can add a snail or a few decent-sized shrimp (large enough not to become dinner) without overcrowding or overloading the tank.
Fishkeeper26
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2011
- Messages
- 1,537
Retired_AF said:
I disagree, the inch per gallon rule is not very accurate. This may work for some small fish, but there are way too many exceptions. Like the goldfish, oscars, most cichlids excluding shellies, and even smaller fish like tiger barbs and zebra danios. If you want help stocking post a list on this site and you'll get plenty of feedback.
Coursair
Aquarium Advice Addict
I keep Harlequin Rasboras and Neons with my Cherry Barbs, but as was said, it depends on how many Barbs you have or if you plan to swap them out completely.
There are Nano Fish, but they like planted tanks. Celestial Pearl Danios for example. Stay small, but still cool fish.
There are Nano Fish, but they like planted tanks. Celestial Pearl Danios for example. Stay small, but still cool fish.
hippy guy
Aquarium Advice Addict
I have a heavy planted with betta and diff. Shrimps. Its nice to look at
Fishkeeper26
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2011
- Messages
- 1,537
How many cherry barbs and what kinda filter do you have?
Coursair
Aquarium Advice Addict
jstfinch said:
The only issue with one big fish is most larger fish A. Won't fit in a 10g well. B. Larger fish will eat the Shrimp.
A single dwarf Gourami might work.
Retired_AF
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Thats why I wrote it the way I did... It's a BASIC GUIDELINE and not a hard, fast rule... there are definately exceptions but as a general guide, it does apply... there was no mention of oscars or anything else you listed, thats why I asked what he wanted to put in the tank... a little reading does a long way...
Fishkeeper26
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2011
- Messages
- 1,537
It is not a general guideline, and I am positive the majority of the people on this site will agree with me. There are way to many other things that need to be taken into account when stocking a tank and there are way to many exceptions to this rule. If you would like to debate this with me you can PM, but this argument is not relevant to the thread the rule doesn't apply.
Jackie1966
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
good reading in here, oops I think I have too many fish 
Galligak
Aquarium Advice Addict
I will echo on this 'how many barbs do you have?' Without this information there's not much to go on. However these barbs need to be in groups of 5-6. You could put some DWARF corydoras (had to put that becuase everyone gets in a tissy for just putting corydoras...) and some shrimp, or the dwarf gourami would work too. I think that would be a nice tank to watch. As for plants, I'd do either java or xmas moss, some java fern and maybe something like guppy grass or amazon sword. These won't need fancy lighting and co2.
hippy guy
Aquarium Advice Addict
Yeah its all about how you stock, not what... to a certain degree
My tank is kinda over stocked ( a bettas, 4 kuhlis, and various shrimps (vampire, cherries, amano)
And before it was triple filtered, it was a b word to keep up with, and impossibly to keep my levels straight. my word is even if its kinda overstocked, its still about how you stock the tank, and your maintence schedual
My tank is kinda over stocked ( a bettas, 4 kuhlis, and various shrimps (vampire, cherries, amano)
And before it was triple filtered, it was a b word to keep up with, and impossibly to keep my levels straight. my word is even if its kinda overstocked, its still about how you stock the tank, and your maintence schedual
bruinsbro1997
Aquarium Advice Addict
jstfinch said:
That sounds like plenty to me. I think it's fine stock-wise.
Coursair
Aquarium Advice Addict
alex07 said:
But since they already have them I would say, there isn't room for more fish. Unless it's Otos or Dwarf Corys
bruinsbro1997
Aquarium Advice Addict
Why are cherry barbs not for a ten gallon...?
Similar threads
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Nitrates up, pH and total alkalinity down
- Latest: Airborne 82nd
-
