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What'd be good for a cheap tank?

29 April 2010 7 Comments

I have a 10 gallon tank, as well as a few slightly smaller plastic fish tanks. Which freshwater, low maintenance fish/plants would be good to put in it?

7 Comments »

  • Prince of Pennsylvania Avenue said:

    A new first tank??? The tank water should cycle a few weeks during a phase called the "nitrogen cycle"….
    I sent along 3 websites to look at to see alot of fish types,
    …plants and see how much light each one needs (plants are real picky about light)
    ….and also one website for "nitrogen cycle info" (just FYI)

    In small plastic tanks, you should consider keeping 3 to 6 ghost shrimp or a male Betta, or possibly two females

    In a 10 gallon tank, consider
    the tetra group
    the gouramis
    and danios
    and white clouds
    The first 2 days run the tank with the water filter turned on, then add 2 Zebra Danios or 2 White Clouds….let them enjoy the new tank for about 2 weeks, then their water should be clearing of most ammonia (test a small sample of water at the pet store)
    After ammonia drops off, add neon tetras, head-n-tail lights, etc, etc. and at least 1 gourami or 2

    As for plants, they can be added in the beginning to help clear ammonia
    The lowest light plants include java moss and java fern…java "anything" is easy and low light
    Also "Anubias" are generally all easy/low light plants
    By using easy low light types, you won’t neeed to spend extra money on anything (some plants are more needy and like CO2 and real bright special bulbs that add to the cost of our hobby, aquariums)

    Look at the "Elemer’s" websight and lok up the Tetra group to see lots of excellent, easy to care for fish

    Best Wishes

  • Sam H said:

    If you get a heater and some water then you can put these fish in it:

    -Betta
    -Guppies
    -Neon Tetras
    -Dwarf Gouramis
    -Coolie Loaches
    -Corydoras

    NOTE: The guppies and gouramis are NOT compatible with the Betta

  • Ianab said:

    Get some White Cloud Minnows, a bunch of Java moss and a few Java ferns.

    Lowest maintenance tank you can have, and the fish will probably breed in there. Feed each day, change some water each week, clean filter and glass when they need it, thats it. Apart from taking out the extra fish and plants when they multiply too much.

    Ian

  • Ribbonrose said:

    Danios, Platies,Guppies, Cory Catfish, female Betta, Glowlight tetars, and African Dwarf frogs are great beginner fish. They like to be in a small group of 4 or more and they are extremely low maintenance.As for plants I like Moneywart or Amazon Swordtails. They will flurish in an aqurium that is well lit.

  • christopher.white1982 said:

    one betta and a few small tetras could fit comfortably in that. ludwigia arcuata is an easy plant for beginners.

  • medic911 said:

    i would make a community tank and use
    2 mollies
    3 tetras
    3 play’s
    1 coridora
    its an idea, when you pick out your fish make sure you read about their tank size need
    as far as the plants, i would not mess with fresh plants, get plastic, or a single ornament for the center of the tank, most fish that can survive in a 10 gall tank are not aggressive so you do not need many hiding spaces, i would keep the plants to a minimal amount so you can have visible access to your fish

  • msjmh said:

    Probably the lowest maintenance fish is a betta. They’re relatively easy to care for.

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