Dorm Room Beginner

[Mickeybags]

Hi all. Come September I would like to purchase a 10 gallon tank for my dorm room. (The max size allowed) I have been researching a lot about the hobby and still can't decide what to put in my tank. I'm not entirely new to the hobby I have had many aquariums before. My goldfish at home started as a little feeder fish for my turtle. It has outlived my turtle and is now ten years old. I also have two male bettas but there in small tanks that I am constantly cleaning. My girlfriend is going to take one and I would like put the other in the new tank. So my question is what do you guys suggest I should put in my new tank? I would like to put my betta in there. I've been leaning towards tiger barbs and Siamese alge eaters. I also want a few plants and want the tank to look natural as possible. Thanks!


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[Mebbid]

Tiger barbs are super nippy and will destroy a betta. Not to mention the fact that they require a larger tank than a 10g. The same goes with siamese algae eaters.


For fish that would work better I would suggest going with a school of 6 cardinal tetras and 6 more cory cats. That would about max out the tank in stocking and give a pretty good mix.

 

[PNWaquarist]

Stocking a 10 Gallon Tank - The Free Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Encyclopedia Anyone Can Edit - The Aquarium Wiki

 

[Mickeybags]

Thanks for the advice. I also should have added what kind of plants should I look into. I have done almost no research into them.


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[electromango]

I like java ferns for foreground plants, anubias for mid ground, and amazon swords/anacharis for background. Anacharis can also be floated to create surface cover and it grows rapidly. Java moss could be used as a carpet. All of these plants are pretty hardy too btw. Good luck!

 

[FWFishTanks]

jungle val would make a good background plant, if the light is strong enough

 

[Sillyfishies]

jungle val would make a good background plant, if the light is strong enough

IMO jungle val would end up being way too big for a 10g. I would suggest look up-
Dosing PPS-Pro
Dosing Glut / Excel
CFLs for fishtanks

With 2 13w CFLs over a 10g, while dosing PPS-Pro, and excel, you can grow a lot of plants.