[LongTimeAquarist]

I have a 10g that currently has a male betta and I'm about to add six harlequin rasboras. Right now I'm looking for something to cover the bottom. One factor I'm looking into is algae control and the fish I'm considering are otos, but the problem is that while easy to find, stores have trouble keeping them in stock because they run out quickly. Plan B would be to buy some Amano Shrimp for the algae, but I would also like to buy a catfish, cory or not, and would like to know which one would be the right size for a 10g. I would like to get a few pygmy corys, Venezuelan, regular or another one, but I'm not sure where to find one and I'm not sure how many people have actually heard of them, plus I doubt PetSmart and PetCo sell them, so if anybody can point me to an online store that does, please do.

 

[lilnaugrim]

Well in a 10 gallon, you're very close to being fully stocked with what you have right now. If it's not a fully planted tank then I wouldn't worry much about algae, if you do get it; your lights are too much for the tank so just get a lower wattage/kelvin light and you'll be fine.

Most cories get too big for the 10 gallon, ones that would fit would be C. Pygmeaus, C. Habrosus, Peppered Cory and Julii Cory, the rest usually get too big especially since they need a nice shoal of at least 5 or more for best results. Also you can't have them if you've got gravel, or at least it's not recommended. The gravel can hurt their delicate barbels so best to have sand if you want cories. Cories also do not eat algae, they are scavengers and so they eat the fallen flakes but not rotten food.

 

[LongTimeAquarist]

I've got plants,, in both a ten gallon and a twenty gallon and I said shrimp and cory. I have peppered corys in my 20g, with gravel, and they are doing just fine, especially with the long whiskers. The problem with plants is that I have to be cautious on cleaning out the tanks because I don't want to damage the roots any, which in turn is why I need a few fish to cover the bottom.

 

[lilnaugrim]

Well since you have plants then algae comes about with a misbalance of nutrients and you can fix that with which ever algae comes about. Such as if it is cyanobacteria (blue green algae) you use Potassium spot treatments and it goes away.

The roots will be fine, I've had plenty of planted tanks with gravel and the gravel vacuum doesn't harm them unless you are literally jamming the siphon into the gravel angrily....which you shouldn't be doing anyway lol.

All the still, your tank is still young and wouldn't be able to hold the otos even if you did get them, they'd most likely die with lack of enough nutritional food. Again, cories don't eat algae so if you want something that east algae then don't go for those.

 

[LongTimeAquarist]

my 10g tank is over 19 years old and there is green algae on all four walls. While the plants can cut off the nutrients, I still need to have something to get rid of them, either otos or Amano Shrimp.

 

[lilnaugrim]

Was it set up because last I knew you had your 20 and didn't have the 10 gallon set up when you bought those fish for the 20....unless I'm thinking of someone else that has a similar user name as you...

 

[LongTimeAquarist]

I didn't bring it up until recently until I decided to try taking care of two tanks. The 10g was what help start things for me, and when I got 20g, it was sitting empty somewhere for about a year, and it wasn't until about a month ago when I cleaned it out and got it set up to let fish in again. I just put it on my profile not too long ago.

 

[lilnaugrim]

So the 10 was empty or the 20?

 

[LongTimeAquarist]

The 10g. When I got 20g, I wasn't sure what to do with the 10 until recently. it was either to use it for a new project, like put a turtle in it, or give it to a friend of mine with kids and have them use it for their own project. Due to the sentimental value I had towards the 10g, I just decided to have it filled with life again.

 

[lilnaugrim]

Right, which means that your 10 gallon has yet to mature. Maturity generally happens a good 3-6 months after the cycle is complete. That's why I was asking about the tank, yes the tank itself might not be so new but it still has to go through all that stuff again, even with live plants in it.

 

[LongTimeAquarist]

nice to know somebody finally explained that part to me. I always confused it with age. the tank is mature enough to keep the fish alive, which is a nice thing to have.

 

[lilnaugrim]

Yeah, it's cycled but definitely not matured which means the full biofilm has accumulated, generally you're passed the Diatom bloom. Maturity is different for each tank and what its inhabitants are along with plants and if they are actively growing. Most of the time it's a tank that is 6 months old or older for non planted tanks. Does that all make sense?

 

[LongTimeAquarist]

A little bit. I'm still a little used to the way I started, which was in 1995, which meant from whatever books I can find and trial and error. Basically I'm still a little bit of old school when it comes to some things.

 

[lilnaugrim]

That's alright! I know things change all the time, and some of it can be pretty intense sometimes! But I know it's not easy to change your opinion on something, heck, I even have issues with that now and I'm still pretty darn "green" as far as most aquarists are concerned! haha, but that's the reason we have these forums, so that we can further our knowledge and hopefully understand it as well :lol:

 

[LongTimeAquarist]

And the downside to these forums is that everybody has a different opinion on things and not everybody is going to be right about everything. Sometimes the best lessons come from experience.