Arciszewska
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2016
- Messages
- 3
Hi all! I am a new member.
Currently the only fish I’ve got is a betta named Gregory and his best friend Anthony the ghost shrimp. However, I am setting up a low tech planted 10 gallon tank and I was wondering what thoughts are regarding my plans for stocking it/filtering it. (It seems I’ve caught the aquarium bug.)
I’d like to put in:
3 otos
3 platys
6 ember tetras
2 rabbit snails
a handful of ghost shrimp
(eventually the betta)
I intend to make it preeeetty heavily planted, as planted as possible to still allow swimming room but so that everyone can hide. But my schedule in life in general is not regular enough to worry about upkeep of CO2, especially since I am gone for 3 months every summer and I do not trust whoever will be taking these fish for that period to be on top of it. Even though I would love to have huge plants in there, I will have to be patient and wait.
I would like to eventually move my betta in there last, but if he doesn’t get along with everyone then he’s staying in his 1.5gallon although he’s currently chilling with a shrimp in there and has ignored him entirely even with so little space (so I got a starter kit… sue me) so I don’t think that should be an issue. I am looking at a sponge filter (ideally the one designated for 10 gallon aquariums). However, I know I am probably a bit overstocked so regarding filtration (I weighed power filters vs sponge, but if I do ever want to move my betta in there he is an absolute lazy bum and hates hates hates water movement, the tiny tetra whisper internal filter in his tank right now is too much and he always hides!) I am deciding between getting a standard 10gal air pump, or if considering I am overstocked maybe I should get the 40gal pump.
So my questions (to sum up):
1. Is the size of the actual sponge filter itself important (eg getting the size designated for a 20gal tank as opposed to 10gal tank, where the sponge has a larger diameter), or in order to maximise filtration should I focus on getting a larger air pump (40gal instead of 10gal designated). Or, are the suggestions of 10gal for each both pretty accurate and sizing up is pointless? Also, will the added oxygen from the sponge filter impact the amount of oxygen the fish actually have to use or is it negligible? Ideally I would love to avoid getting the bigger sponges just because they take up so much **** room and I’m pretty limited with space, but if its a good idea ofc I’ll run with it.
2. Will the heavily/semiheavily planted aspect of this tank increase my ability to stock these fish as well as their potential ability to get along? How much should that impact it?
3. Is the quantity of each of these fish fine, or should certain of them be less/more considering their group dynamics? So eg is it fine if I get 3 male platys or should I use the 2:1 ratio for females to males?
4. Can anyone suggest a system for what I should do with this tank over the summer? As a student I’m gone from May until I come back in September and I can’t take them home because I live in Poland. I currently study on the Upper West Side in Manhattan: can I pay a petshop to keep them, or is there some kind of forum regarding people who do other people a favour and look after their fish? Any New Yorkers got suggestions? Let me know!
Before anyone suggests: I absolutely can’t get anything bigger. I am a student, and my room is 110sqft and this tank is going to have to fit on top of my mini fridge. If being a bit crowded will absolutely kill these fish, which ones should I not get? Although if at all possible I am keen to get them all.
Looking forward to any suggestions
Currently the only fish I’ve got is a betta named Gregory and his best friend Anthony the ghost shrimp. However, I am setting up a low tech planted 10 gallon tank and I was wondering what thoughts are regarding my plans for stocking it/filtering it. (It seems I’ve caught the aquarium bug.)
I’d like to put in:
3 otos
3 platys
6 ember tetras
2 rabbit snails
a handful of ghost shrimp
(eventually the betta)
I intend to make it preeeetty heavily planted, as planted as possible to still allow swimming room but so that everyone can hide. But my schedule in life in general is not regular enough to worry about upkeep of CO2, especially since I am gone for 3 months every summer and I do not trust whoever will be taking these fish for that period to be on top of it. Even though I would love to have huge plants in there, I will have to be patient and wait.
I would like to eventually move my betta in there last, but if he doesn’t get along with everyone then he’s staying in his 1.5gallon although he’s currently chilling with a shrimp in there and has ignored him entirely even with so little space (so I got a starter kit… sue me) so I don’t think that should be an issue. I am looking at a sponge filter (ideally the one designated for 10 gallon aquariums). However, I know I am probably a bit overstocked so regarding filtration (I weighed power filters vs sponge, but if I do ever want to move my betta in there he is an absolute lazy bum and hates hates hates water movement, the tiny tetra whisper internal filter in his tank right now is too much and he always hides!) I am deciding between getting a standard 10gal air pump, or if considering I am overstocked maybe I should get the 40gal pump.
So my questions (to sum up):
1. Is the size of the actual sponge filter itself important (eg getting the size designated for a 20gal tank as opposed to 10gal tank, where the sponge has a larger diameter), or in order to maximise filtration should I focus on getting a larger air pump (40gal instead of 10gal designated). Or, are the suggestions of 10gal for each both pretty accurate and sizing up is pointless? Also, will the added oxygen from the sponge filter impact the amount of oxygen the fish actually have to use or is it negligible? Ideally I would love to avoid getting the bigger sponges just because they take up so much **** room and I’m pretty limited with space, but if its a good idea ofc I’ll run with it.
2. Will the heavily/semiheavily planted aspect of this tank increase my ability to stock these fish as well as their potential ability to get along? How much should that impact it?
3. Is the quantity of each of these fish fine, or should certain of them be less/more considering their group dynamics? So eg is it fine if I get 3 male platys or should I use the 2:1 ratio for females to males?
4. Can anyone suggest a system for what I should do with this tank over the summer? As a student I’m gone from May until I come back in September and I can’t take them home because I live in Poland. I currently study on the Upper West Side in Manhattan: can I pay a petshop to keep them, or is there some kind of forum regarding people who do other people a favour and look after their fish? Any New Yorkers got suggestions? Let me know!
Before anyone suggests: I absolutely can’t get anything bigger. I am a student, and my room is 110sqft and this tank is going to have to fit on top of my mini fridge. If being a bit crowded will absolutely kill these fish, which ones should I not get? Although if at all possible I am keen to get them all.
Looking forward to any suggestions