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I just bought a 10 gallon start up tank with the filter and everything but a heater included. i have it cycling and will let it cycle for a month before getting fish. Will it help any with cycling if I put some of the water from my 55 gallon tank water changes in there? I'm thinking about making it a guppy/mollie tank, however, i know that they multiply, but my black shark would love them.... any ideas would be greatly appreciated in my new expanding fish experience. thanks!

chelle

the water wont really make a differance, however if you have some substrate from your 55 you can add in with the rock you already have in the ten that would help.

also, if you have some sponge,foam,or floss material from your 55 gallon you can put in the filter that helps "jumpstart" the tank.

you will need waste to keep the bacteria alive on the filter floss you put in the ten gallons filter, so, i would add some fish food to the bottom, and the decomposition will provide enough ammonia to keep the bacteria alive, you can also add ammonia bacteria agents such as "Cycle" that put benificial bacteria in the water.

leave it for a while before you add fish, if you do it right you will see a ammonia spike in less than a week, and your tank should be ready for a single inhabitant in under 2 weeks, again, thats if you do it right and it completes cycling. i managed to make my 29 gallon cycle in a week this last time,lol, but it was very tricky.

if you are going with a "centerpiece" fish and dither fish, get your centerpiece (beta,male dwarf gourami,bolivian ram) and add only him to the tank, even after it has cycled...too many fish at once and the tank will crash.

next i would add a school of dither fish such as something readily available and smallish, like lemon or neon tetras.

Mollys wouldnt be too happy in a 10 gal, they get big and you would need to upgrade. A rainbow shark gets too big for a 10g as well...

Inky

Guppies would multiply and quickly overcrowd the tank (unless you got only males).

I suggest neon tetras. Get 6 neons (regular or black), cardinals or glowlights and a male betta and that would make a great 10g. Or get about 5 male guppies.

Make sure when you seed the tank that you either put pure ammonia, fish food, or fish in there because the bacteria need something to feed off of.

Last edited by GirlieGirl8519 at 21-Jan-2006 18:23

*Kristin*

Yes, the water from the other tank will help you fasten the 10 gal. tank cycle. Guppy's & Mollies will multiply quickly, but as you said, you can feed the fry to your Shark.



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I agree that Mollies grow too large.
I have a regular "dalmation" molly female,
and I know by her size (3.5" she would be very unhappy
in a 10g tank. She scoots all over in my 75g, very happy and very active- much more so than guppies.

Guppies or Endlers are the way to go in a 10g tank.
I would stock say, 3-4 females and 2 nice males
and in no time you will have a fresh supply of food for your shark. You also could consider doing just all of one sex, like all males (the general preference) or all females (my preference). If you did all females- they would provide with you fry for about 1 years time, after which they would no longer produce fry and be very happy.



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thanks guys, lots of great ideas. I have been thinking over the weekend that i would LOVE to have a male beta as a center piece and neons sound like my other new choice! i truly appreciate all of your help. i put the new filter in with my 55 gallon filter all weekend and i have it in the new tank now. i got out some of the substrate as well, so maybe before long i can get my beta and get going. THANKS!!!

chelle

my mollies dont do anything besides hide behind structure

If you are thinking of a M Betta be carefull of your choice some can be rather aggressive I am refering mainly to the "reds". Before someone jumps on me I did say "some" There are also certain varieries to steer away from. There are far more quialified here on FP than me to inform you which varieties they are.

Also consider Cardinal Tetras as they are usually a stronger variety that the common Neon Tetras.

Have a look at my Profile and Photo Bucket links for more info about my Betta and Cardinal tank.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

[link=Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos]http://photobucket.com/albums/b209/keithgh/Betta%20desktop%20tank/" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]

Keith

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Keith,
I have also found red colored bettas to be
much more aggressive. Interesting indeed!


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