setting up

Question
Hi,
I want to set up a fresh water aquarium for my 5th grade classroom. I plan on getting neon tetras and would like to be guided toward the best tank mates - including an algae eater - for a 10 gal. tank. Also, the max. # of fish I should plan on supporting. florescent or incandescent? PH? temp? food? filter?

Answer
sounds like a great idea for the children. Always a good idea to let them see the wonders of nature and appreciate nature. Well, one good thing about neons is that they are peaceful, so as long as the other fish you get are not too big pretty much any fish can work. You could choose just about any algae eater. Some of my favorites are the albino algae eaters and the rubbernose algae eaters. However the common ones are just fine as well. Also, some good bottom feeders who are hearty and easy to care for are Cory catfish. They stay small and you could get two small ones for the 10 gallon. They help keep the gravel free of left over food. Some good ideas for other fish are: black neon tetras, skirt tetras, von rio tetras, one small angelfish (small to be able to fit in the tank for a while and to not be tempted to eat the other small fish), platys, zebra danios, one or two male guppies (ones with the big more colorful tails), or pretty much any tetra. The possibilties are endless. Just be sure not to overcram the tank as this will lead to disaster. You should not get more than 7 fish, assuming they are SMALL, and three bottom feeders (these dont really count towards tank stock as they stay mostly at the bottom). You could also get some black, gold, brow, or blue snails. The children will have fun with them. They love to eat lettuce. So you could get some and get a veggie clip and place a small amount of lettuce in the tank and the children could watch the snails gobble it up, as well some of the fish will join in. As for the light, its not a big issue unless you plan on having live plants. The best choice would be florescent as it provides a more natual light but if all you have is incandescent and no live plants its ok. As for the pH, the fish I mentioned are not high maintanence so you really dont have to worry about the pH, however, if you are going to worry about it a good neutral point is 7.8pH. The temp neutral, you will need a heater, should be around 80 degrees. While you may think this is warm, it keeps the likelihood of ICK, a big problem if discovered, from developing in a new tank. This temp is a good neutral and is not too high for any tropical fish and will help eliminate ICK. The food is not a big issue again, just get a quality tropical flake food, such as TetraFin brand. The filter, get a box filter which hangs on the outside of the tank. Make sure it is for a 10 gallon and make sure to get replacement filters to replace monthly. Just take it slow and all should be well. Dont get all the fish at once, get one or two and than wait a few days to make sure all is well and go get some more. Have fun choosing the right fish!!! Let me know if you need more help now or in the future!