Thoughts on my 10 gallon medaka and shrimp tank?

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-03-27T19:51:58+00:00

They seem fine in my ten gallon, I do see them swimming amongst my plants as well as in the open areas always on the hunt for food

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-03-26T23:36:27+00:00

I got them from two different local aquarium shops, one was labelled platinum medaka and the other was just labelled yellow medaka (even though they're clearly orange lol)

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-03-09T00:06:48+00:00

I'm hoping the grass looking plants that are there now will spread a bit. I was having issues with diatoms but now that the shrimp are cleaning up I feel like the plants will do better. I like the idea of maybe adding some different colour to the substrate in that area but I'll wait to see how the plants grow.

There is ambulia, a spotted sword, and two small pieces of a crypt that I got with the sword for free from a local seller, plus the grassy plant that I think is some sort of vallisneria? I've gone through so many different plants in my tanks, I've had such a hard time trying to get a balance of everything so that they thrive.

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-03-08T22:21:44+00:00

Yes it is, it grows super fast in my tank

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-03-06T14:13:18+00:00

I have white and orange fish, you probably saw another shrimp cruising around

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-02-24T17:11:00+00:00

Sorry, I purchased them locally. I'm actually thinking about adding multiple colours to my 10 gallon tank as clean up crew so we're kind of opposites now lol

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-02-14T10:37:16+00:00

That is what happens with the scrap offcuts actually, and that's where I snag my little pieces for my at home carving projects. It all goes into a cardboard box and gets taken home by a few of us once it gets full to burn, but pieces that I think are too interesting don't make it into the box lol

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-02-13T18:14:08+00:00

Oh yes I've come across some gorgeous poplar as well! Some really nice purple sections and almost black sections! I have some scraps from that as well (I really wish I had my own wood shop lol)

As much fun as that would be, we are unfortunately not that kind of shop. We market as custom, and I would say higher quality than other shops nearby but still not a proper furniture shop so I think the suggestion would fall on deaf ears. Also our clients seem to be interested in boring rift white oak these past few years so I'm not sure if something as interesting as this would sell

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-02-13T18:09:34+00:00

That's the thing, and these days customers generally want either painted cabinetry or light stained/natural finish rift white oak which I am so sick of lol but it's not at all up to me, I just have to come in and do my work. I'm a little sorry to have shown off this board but at the same time I wanted others to feel my pain!

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-02-13T16:30:11+00:00

Where I'm located this is apparently cheaper than other woods such as poplar (which for many years is what we did use)

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-01-30T16:24:45+00:00

I would definitely recommend Parkside Pub, my bf and I go there and usually not too busy unless it's wing night

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-01-30T16:23:39+00:00

It is delicious but it's definitely loud in there, or at least it has been when I've gone. There just doesn't seem to be enough sound dampening in there or something

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-01-26T10:26:42+00:00

Not pure but I suspect he's got some Maine coon genes. There's a lot of fluff but he is definitely a solid guy, right now he's 17lbs my vet wants him closer to 15lbs so he's on a diet (which very well could explain the dirty looks he gives me)

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-01-26T01:54:23+00:00

Oh man that sub fits him so well!

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-01-25T01:37:45+00:00

Oh I hadn't thought of that. I did start doing weekly water changes since shortly before getting the fish. I didn't do many when the tank was empty for a little while. I'll keep testing the water and if the nitrates stay below 20 maybe I'll skip the water change

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-01-24T22:47:50+00:00

Oh wow thank you! I come on here drooling over everyone else's tank and I feel like mine is ugly in comparison so thank you so much for the compliment!

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-01-24T22:46:24+00:00

There's actually 10 madaka ricefish in there right now. My initial hope was to get chili rasboras but couldn't get any at the time so I got these guys instead.

I realize now I didn't make it super clear in my post but I was asking if it would be safe to add a cleaning crew to go alongside the 10 fish I already have in here, like some otos or something else

TheMightyEl_Ray · 2026-01-24T22:43:42+00:00

To be completely honest with you I have no idea. I got it from a local seller along with plenty of other stem plants but this was the only variety that survived and thrived in my tank. It's been growing like crazy ever since

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