setting up a 10g, suggestions?

[TylerRuth]

Hello everyone!
I am new here. My friend just gave me his 10g he wasn't using and I want to set it up (fresh water) and am currently looking into different species. This will be my first tank so I'm pretty new at this. I am thinking I want a couple of chiclids. I know they are aggressive, so I wouldn't have anyone else in there besides them, and because its small, I'm thinking only 3. I want something with impressive colors but something that is also fairly hearty. Any suggestions?

[Taiken5968]

Originally Posted by TylerRuth

Hello everyone!
I am new here. My friend just gave me his 10g he wasn't using and I want to set it up (fresh water) and am currently looking into different species. This will be my first tank so I'm pretty new at this. I am thinking I want a couple of chiclids. I know they are aggressive, so I wouldn't have anyone else in there besides them, and because its small, I'm thinking only 3. I want something with impressive colors but something that is also fairly hearty. Any suggestions?

Unfortunately that aquarium is way too small for chiclids. I would recommend neon tetras. They have a very pretty color. They school so you need at least five. Then you could have some guppies or swordtails.

[TylerRuth]

Originally Posted by Taiken5968

Unfortunately that aquarium is way too small for chiclids. I would recommend neon tetras. They have a very pretty color. They school so you need at least five. Then you could have some guppies or swordtails.

Oh ok, thanks for the advice, that sounds like a great combo

[Taiken5968]

Originally Posted by TylerRuth

Oh ok, thanks for the advice, that sounds like a great combo

Have you ever had an aquarium before? If not you may want to do some research on the nitrogen cycle.

[TylerRuth]

I did as a child, that doesn't really count since my parents maintained it. I am a marine biology major, so I.am well versed on that sort of thing. I know a little bit about taking care of fish but not as much as I would like, so I will be doing my fair share of research on it. My tank wont be set up for a couple of weeks anyway, I need to get a filter and decide on my fish

[Taiken5968]

Originally Posted by TylerRuth

I did as a child, that doesn't really count since my parents maintained it. I am a marine biology major, so I.am well versed on that sort of thing. I know a little bit about taking care of fish but not as much as I would like, so I will be doing my fair share of research on it. My tank wont be set up for a couple of weeks anyway, I need to get a filter and decide on my fish

Glad to hear it. If you do get live breeders like guppies or swordtails, keep in mind that you should have all males, or 2 or three females to one male.

[Taiken5968]

You can get a decent filter from Walmart for not too much.

[TylerRuth]

Awesome, thanks for the advice!

[Taiken5968]

Your welcome. Just be sure to let your tank run with no fish for a few weeks. To get the nitrogen cycle going. You can add a little fish food to help it start. It would be a good idea to get a test kit too.

When the nitrogen cycle is started you shouldn't have any ammonia in your tank.

[TylerRuth]

Originally Posted by Taiken5968

Your welcome. Just be sure to let your tank run with no fish for a few weeks. To get the nitrogen cycle going. You can add a little fish food to help it start. It would be a good idea to get a test kit too.

When the nitrogen cycle is started you shouldn't have any ammonia in your tank.

Yeah, I was definitely planning on doing that. By the way, can you tell.me what KH is and will the test kit come with stuff to test that level?

[Taiken5968]

I'm not sure what that is. The most important thing to test is ph, nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia.

[kjacks]

Kh measures the amount of calcium in a tank and it will not come with a regular kit unless it states it gh and kh usually come together the gh rates the hardness of the water

[TylerRuth]

Originally Posted by kjacks

Kh measures the amount of calcium in a tank and it will not come with a regular kit unless it states it gh and kh usually come together the gh rates the hardness of the water

Thank you!