What should I get?

Question
How long has your tank been set up?
-Haven't gotten it yet.

How big?
-Will be 10 gallon

What type of fish?
-My question is what kind should I get?

How many?
-Thats my second question.

Type of filter?
-no clue

pH, ammonia,nitrite?
-no clue

How often do you change water?
-I will be doing it once a week or so.


SO yah, I'm going to be getting a fish tank and some fish this weekend, i have NO CLUE what i want to get. I want something that looks nice, and i know i want about 2-3 or even 3-4 fish in the tank, unless its small, then I will get more. What do you think?

Answer
Hi Sean;

I'm so glad you are starting out right! I usually hear from new hobbyists after they buy their first tank and fish, them it's usually because disaster has hit. Wrong fish, too many fish, etc. Let's see what we can do to get you started with a minimum of trouble;

When you get your new tank, don't get your fish at the same time. Let the tank run for a couple of days to be sure everything works (filter, heater, lights, bubbler, etc.), the heater stabilizes the temperature at 76f to 78f and the tank doesn't leak. The fish can't be in the transport bags for more than 1 or 2 hours including travel time and it usually takes longer than that to get everything assembled and the gravel rinsed even if you have a simple setup.

Once the stabilization period of a couple of days is done, you will want to get your first fish. Add water conditioner and slolwy acclimate your new fish to the new tank. Float the bag on the water in the tank for about 10 minutes. After ten minutes, open the bag and add slowly 1/2 cup or so of tank water to the bag. Do this every 5 minutes for 2 or 3 more times, closing the bag afterwards, but leaving a large air bubble. Once the bag has water added 2 or 3 times, gently net the fish from the bag and release the fish into the tank. Throw away the water in the bag. It's full of ugly junk you may not even see, as well as possible pathogens from the fish store you don't want in your tank.

Start out with only one small fish for every ten gallons in order to get it through the break-in period safely. The break-in period takes about 6 weeks. Here is a a link to my own page about new tanks and the break-in period;

http://www.xanga.com/Expert_Fish_Help

Your tank can eventually house a full ten inches of fish, but you have to know what the potential size of the fish are as adults. They should be fish that get to be no larger than 2 to 3 inches at full adult size for living safely in a 10 gallon. Here are a few suggestions for 10 gallon tanks so you can decide on a "starter fish". There is a link to a profile on each one so you can know more about them;

Platies - many different colors available, peaceful.

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/558.htm

Danios - Different types, schooling, surface fish.

http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles/list.aspx?term=danio

Cherry Barbs - The only barb suitable for tanks with peaceful fish, hardy, males become very deep red.

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/505.htm

Corydoras Catfish - also called Cory Cats, very peaceful busy little fish that live on the bottom. Many different varieties.

http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles/list.aspx?term=Corydoras+

Tetras - Schooling, some are peaceful and some are fin nippers or get large so do research before buying a specific one. Here are a few acceptable ones;

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/591.htm

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/577.htm

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/586.htm

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/569.htm

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/566.htm

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/431.htm

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/598.htm

Gouramis - There are two I know of that stay small enough for your tank.

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/317.htm

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/551.htm

Rainbowfish - Lively, hardy and colorful, there are a couple that stay small enough for a ten gallon. They like lots of live plants.

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/334.htm

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/502.htm

For algae control in a small tank, the Otocinclus is the only viable choice. Wait until algae begins to grow and after the break-in to get one. Other types either get too large. or like the Chinese Algae Eater, are very aggressive. Here is a link to Oto info;

http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Catfish,%20Otocinclus.htm

Fish to steer clear of;

~Goldfish - messy, you could only have one in a ten gallon
~Puffers - Cute but are fin nippers and can be very aggressive. Some require salt.
~Cichlids, bichirs, pacu, arowana, goby, sharks  - Many are aggressive, take special care and/or get way too large.

Here are a few site links for you to browse and get to know more about keeping fish and maintaining aquariums;

http://aquariumhobbyist.com/articles/NewAquarium.html

http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/aquariumstartup/a/newtankmistakes.htm

http://www.firsttankguide.net/steps.php

http://www.fishprofiles.com/articles/article.aspx?id=43

http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin.html

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/basics/basics_lighting.html

http://www.fishpalace.org/Tank.html

http://www.acicorp.us/cleaning_aquarium.php

A few notes about chemicals and water conditioners; You only need a good basic Water Conditioner. A couple of examples of good ones I have used are Stress Coat and NovAqua. Whichever one you choose should remove chorine/chloramine, help with stress and bind dissolved metals. That's all your fish need. Don't let the fish store talk you into buying pH altering chemicals, "enzymes" or bacteria starters to help "cycle" your tank, stabilizer, etc. PH altering products can be very dangerous because they cause fluctuations and that is not necessary. Your fish will adjust to the pH your tank tends to be. We are looking for a stable pH, not a certain reading. Partial water changes of 25% weekly keeps it stabilized. The enzymes or cycle starters are totally useless and do absolutely nothing. I and other experts have tried them and they are a waste of money. The type of bacteria that develops to get your tank through the break-in period cannot be kept in a sealed container on a shelf. There is one exception to this and it's called "Bio-Spira". It is kept refrigerated to preserve the living bacteria colonies. It is expensive and hard to find though.

Let me know if you have more questions and we can go from there. And most of all, Have Fun!

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins