CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

I am wanting to get my parents a fish tank and is a 10gal. like a nano but is made by odyssea and was wanting to know when they do a water change do they still need to use a gravel siphon to clean the gravel. IS this nessary or can they just do the water change.

I think it is always smart to clean your gravel. When you feed there wil always be a couple pieces that get wedged into the gravel or when the fish poop breaks down it goes right into the gravel. To keep your nitrate levels in check without having to do water changes every other day I'd say siphon the gravel when you do any water change. It's so easy to do I don't see why you wouldn't want to do it every time. That's unless your parents aren't able to run a siphon for some reason.

I have 2-10 gal tanks that I use for sick to hold baby fry fish..I do vacuum the gravel on water changes. YOU have to as waste and food gets traped in the gravel.

ON a sick tank, I dont' have a lot of gravel, just a good sprinkle to a handfull and if the fish eats at all, their is still waste in the corners to be removed or by the flower pot I use for a shelter.. TAKE OUT ALL DECO FIRST!! it needs to be scrubed anyway.
You have to be fast so don't use more than 1" of gravel in the tank. IF you have it to deep, you wil take out way to much water..BUT if you do, say take out 1/2 to a little more, just pour it back in. Make sure the waste thou, has settled onto the bottom of the bucket..They are already used to this water and the fresh wil delute the toxins..IF you add in to much of fresh, you take a chance on your tank crashing and having to cycle it all over again.

How much to change on a 10 gal tank:

20%: 10x.20=2 gal of water
25%: 10x.25=2.5 gal of water
30%: 10x.30=3 gal of water

Now on a 30% change, you should not have to do this unless your Ammonia OR Nitrite are 1.0 -1.5 ppm.
The 20-25% should do you fine...

It is not they cant run a gravel sigphen They just whant somting that is very easy to take care of bucause they are kind of old. I dont know witch one to get them saltwater or freshwater. How many small fish could you fit in a 10gal. tank without it being to much of a bioload?

Salt water is NOT easy to care for, stay with a fresh water tank..

Any way for you to take care of the tank weekly??
The tank IF you get them one, needs to be cleaned WEEKLY.
IF they are to unable to care for the fish tank, and you can't help them once a week, then maybe you should rethink your plan.

I dont' want to damper your gift of a tank to them, but when the fish keep dieing from lack of maintinance, that can be more discouraging to them than anything..

IF you do this, how about those neon tetras, YOU can pack in a good 10 or so and they are attractive with the light shinning on them. I saw some red tetras (?) that where very nice. Any of those smaller tropiclas like the tetras, Neons, and dwarf Gouramies would work in a 10 gal..NO barbs! they are fighters and fin nippers. You want a nice speices to relax them not make them upset at fighting dead fish..

Just remember 6-7 1" at adult should be the max for a 10 gal tank to be healthy. IF you have a tank, use some of the water/filter media pad for the 10 gal at lest 1/2 way filled to help with good bacteria to maintain the tank instantly. OR use that cycle. follow directions..

Its not that i cant help them that is no problem Just trying to teach them how to take care of fish they are not that good at it .LOL Anyways thanks for your help i think that i will stick with a FW tank.

I see you have tanks from your other posts. So you should know what to do with cycling..

yes if they are new to fish, you may want to just get some tetras and try those..They are hardy fish. I like the drawf gouramines and want a 55 full of them, but to many Africans fry right now and no empty tanks..Maybe next summer..

yea a tank full of gouramines would be nice that may be what i put in there tank. Thanks for your help.