10 gallon office aquarium

[Moriarty]

Hello everyone! 

New to the forum scene in general, but excited to see Cory sparking more interest here. I'm currently looking to set up a 10 gallon aquarium in my office at work. Style wise, I'm looking to do something very similar to the one in the link below. Some type of bioactive substrate, with a seiryu stone island surrounded by plants. 

https://www.aquariumcoop.com/pages/help-center#/collection/5203/article/26176

I want the tank to have very dense planting around the island, but with plenty of open space in the front and sides. 

Plants I'm thinking of using:

Foreground/midground:

•  Dwarf chain sword, along the side edges of the island
•  Monte carlo, wedged in the gaps between the rocks 

Background:

• Tiger lotus, along one of  the back edges of the island
• Bacopa caroliniana planted in background and some of the gaps in the rocks along back 
•  Red flame sword, off center behind the rocks

 

Where I'm really struggling is stocking ideas. What I do know is I want a  colorful school of fish that occupy the top/middle areas, an interesting bottom dwelling group, and a small clean up crew (shrimp and snails). Not looking for a centerpiece fish because I want to keep a sense of scale with the island surrounded by smaller fish. Looking for any suggestions or combinations that other people have really enjoyed in the past.

 

Thanks!

[AllFishNoBrakes]

10 gallon is somewhat limiting, but it can definitely be done. 
 

I enjoy my Chili Rasbora and Pygmy Cory 10 gallon tank. They’re both appropriately sized for a 10 gallon, the Pygmy’s will make more over time if they’re happy, and could do well with what you’re describing. 

[Moriarty]

2 minutes ago, AllFishNoBrakes said:

10 gallon is somewhat limiting, but it can definitely be done. 
 

I enjoy my Chili Rasbora and Pygmy Cory 10 gallon tank. They’re both appropriately sized for a 10 gallon, the Pygmy’s will make more over time if they’re happy, and could do well with what you’re describing. 

I'd love a larger tank, but at least to start a 10 gallon is the biggest I want to set up at work.

I could see this combo really working well. Haven't kept either species before as well, so it would be fun to try both! Any issue with these species being too shy?

[johnnyxxl]

Cherry Barb are bright and active.  Mine school pretty nice.  They are smallish, or chili Rasbora, killie fish I kept them with some shrimp in a ten years ago.  Kulhi loaches would be great for bottom dwelling if you have a nice group 5 or more.  I like the look of the red tetra that Cory was showing from the Germany trip.

[Moriarty]

11 minutes ago, johnnyxxl said:

Cherry Barb are bright and active.  Mine school pretty nice.  They are smallish, or chili Rasbora, killie fish I kept them with some shrimp in a ten years ago.  Kulhi loaches would be great for bottom dwelling if you have a nice group 5 or more.  I like the look of the red tetra that Cory was showing from the Germany trip.

I love Cherry Barbs! Personally I feel like they would look better in a planted 20 gallon. Kuhli loaches are a nice one as well! I have some in a 10 gallon at home already, so I will probably pass on them in this tank. Killifish could be fun!

[knee]

1 or 2 trios of Pseudomugil Luminatus. You can also do Gertrudae but I prefer the color of luminatus. Pseudomugil Mellis would be the prettiest but they’re very rare and a bit expensive. 
 

Another option would be clown killifish but these would stay mostly at the top. The only time I ever see them explore the tank is during feeding time and when trying to spawn. I’ve kept about 10 of these in a 5g tank and I can barely see them in the tank. 
 

Corydoras habrosus would be good for bottom dwellers. They stay small and act more like a cory compared to the Pygmy. 

[Whitecloud09]

2 hours ago, Moriarty said:

I'd love a larger tank, but at least to start a 10 gallon is the biggest I want to set up at work. Any issue with these species being too shy?

Pygmy Cories are, peaceful, non-aggressive, and very shy fish, they are best kept in a community tank of non-aggressive and small fish species. They are usually kept in groups of at least 6 and even better in larger groups of preferably 10 or more (more is always better).

Internet. 

With that said you should be fine, with non aggressive tank mates. WCMMS are sick, my personal fav fish of all time. The gold ones with the stone for the decor would look so different and awesome! But they do get a little larger, and with pygmys, (which you need AT LEAST 5) so  maybe no on that.

This video is good, for a 10g.

A type of rasbora and pygmies is pretty much what I think would fit and be great!

 

33 minutes ago, knee said:

1 or 2 trios of Pseudomugil Luminatus. You can also do Gertrudae but I prefer the color of luminatus. Pseudomugil Mellis would be the prettiest but they’re very rare and a bit expensive. 
 

Another option would be clown killifish but these would stay mostly at the top. The only time I ever see them explore the tank is during feeding time and when trying to spawn. I’ve kept about 10 of these in a 5g tank and I can barely see them in the tank. 
 

Corydoras habrosus would be good for bottom dwellers. They stay small and act more like a cory compared to the Pygmy. 

The killifish idea it cool, looked these up, cool lil guys!

[Moriarty]

3 minutes ago, Whitecloud09 said:

Pygmy Cories are, peaceful, non-aggressive, and very shy fish, they are best kept in a community tank of non-aggressive and small fish species. They are usually kept in groups of at least 6 and even better in larger groups of preferably 10 or more (more is always better).

Internet. 

With that said you should be fine, with non aggressive tank mates. WCMMS are sick, my personal fav fish of all time. The gold ones with the stone for the decor would look so different and awesome! But they do get a little larger, and with pygmys, (which you need AT LEAST 5) so  maybe no on that.

This video is good, for a 10g.

A type of rasbora and pygmies is pretty much what I think would fit and be great!

 

The killifish idea it cool, looked these up, cool lil guys!

WCMMs are definitely on my short list of fish! I might try and do a summer mini pond of them next year

[Whitecloud09]

4 minutes ago, Moriarty said:

WCMMs are definitely on my short list of fish! I might try and do a summer mini pond of them next year

If you ever try, try the gold!! If you can, so cool. Or even longfin, but also cannot beat the normal lol.

Edited October 24 by Whitecloud09

[MWilk]

Pygmy Cories in my experience aren’t shy exactly, but don’t act like Cories either. They’re more midwater swimmers, buzzing around like hummingbirds. They’re adorable, and tiny. 
 

when you say bio-active substrate, are you looking at something like eco complete or activ-flora? A clay based / volcanic pellet soil like Fluval stratum or the others like it may clash with the stone. Seiryu stone will raise pH and KH. 

[Moriarty]

1 minute ago, MWilk said:

Pygmy Cories in my experience aren’t shy exactly, but don’t act like Cories either. They’re more midwater swimmers, buzzing around like hummingbirds. They’re adorable, and tiny. 
 

when you say bio-active substrate, are you looking at something like eco complete or activ-flora? A clay based / volcanic pellet soil like Fluval stratum or the others like it may clash with the stone. Seiryu stone will raise pH and KH. 

Looking at activ-flora since it says it will not alter pH. I have hard water out of the tap, so I don't think I'll need to worry about the Seiryu stone changing the parameters. 

[MWilk]

1 minute ago, Moriarty said:

Looking at activ-flora since it says it will not alter pH. I have hard water out of the tap, so I don't think I'll need to worry about the Seiryu stone changing the parameters. 

I think the activ flora lake gems is beautiful. They also have the more finely ground sand like substrate that’s very similar to seachem’s flourite. 
 

In which way is your water hard? GH? Seiryu will raise pH and KH to a point, not generally enough to matter but it can make it near impossible to get a low pH / black water type species comfortable. 

[Moriarty]

4 minutes ago, MWilk said:

I think the activ flora lake gems is beautiful. They also have the more finely ground sand like substrate that’s very similar to seachem’s flourite. 
 

In which way is your water hard? GH? Seiryu will raise pH and KH to a point, not generally enough to matter but it can make it near impossible to get a low pH / black water type species comfortable. 

GH is off the charts, above the 300 ppm on the co-op test strips. KH is between 80-120, and pH is about 7.6. I've learned over the years to accept what my water parameters are, and not chase changing them haha

[Moriarty]

29 minutes ago, Whitecloud09 said:

If you ever try, try the gold!! If you can, so cool. Or even longfin, but also cannot beat the normal lol.

Every time I see the longfin variety I'm stunned. The golds look nice as well, but something about the longfins has me hooked

[MWilk]

7 minutes ago, Moriarty said:

GH is off the charts, above the 300 ppm on the co-op test strips. KH is between 80-120, and pH is about 7.6. I've learned over the years to accept what my water parameters are, and not chase changing them haha

Yea as long as you’re not trying to keep something like crystal shrimp or German blue rams it won’t matter. 
 

 

[Moriarty]

1 minute ago, MWilk said:

Yea as long as you’re not trying to keep something like crystal shrimp or German blue rams it won’t matter. 
 

 

Definitely. If I ever try crystal shrimp, I will do it with RO water and remineralize 

[DallasCowboys16]

45 minutes ago, Moriarty said:

WCMMs are definitely on my short list of fish! I might try and do a summer mini pond of them next year

Did a mini pond of them a few years back in the summer and it was a blast. I did a 40 gallon tub and spawned quite a few fish.

They're really pretty well suited to outdoor setups in the summers.

That being said, they are also a great option for a 10 gallon especially in an office setting where if you happen to be gone for a few weeks at some point they should get along just fine without any intervention.

[AllFishNoBrakes]

3 hours ago, Moriarty said:

Any issue with these species being too shy?

In my experience, no. Make sure you get enough Pygmy Cory’s, though. They are more confident in bigger numbers. 
 

Personally, I would probably start with 12 of each and take it from there. 

[Moriarty]

8 minutes ago, DallasCowboys16 said:

Did a mini pond of them a few years back in the summer and it was a blast. I did a 40 gallon tub and spawned quite a few fish.

They're really pretty well suited to outdoor setups in the summers.

That being said, they are also a great option for a 10 gallon especially in an office setting where if you happen to be gone for a few weeks at some point they should get along just fine without any intervention.

Very good point. Need to extended times away in mind

[Moriarty]

5 minutes ago, AllFishNoBrakes said:

In my experience, no. Make sure you get enough Pygmy Cory’s, though. They are more confident in bigger numbers. 
 

Personally, I would probably start with 12 of each and take it from there. 

12 of each would look impressive! It would give the tank the sense of scale that I am looking for 

[Whitecloud09]

1 hour ago, Moriarty said:

12 of each would look impressive! It would give the tank the sense of scale that I am looking for 

Very social, fishes! They are so cute too

 

2 hours ago, Moriarty said:

Every time I see the longfin variety I'm stunned. The golds look nice as well, but something about the longfins has me hooked

Yeah I need to get some some day. Maybe for a 5g that I will set up prob in early late winter early spring.

Whatever you choose let us know!! A journal would be cool, maybe.

Edited October 24 by Whitecloud09