I've been thinking very hard about and researching aquarium kits, and after mentioning it to Dad, I finally told Mom today. She asked some good questions, like where I am gonna put it, what kind of fish I want, etc. So, anyway, we went to our favorite pet store today, and they had ridiculously good prices on Tetra-brand tank kits, like $40 (US) for a 10-gallon, and $80 for a 20-gallon, and that one included EVERYTHING, light, filter, heater, some food, a net, and a thermometer!

So, Mom said she was fine with me getting another tank. Whoo!

We haven't got it yet, and probably won't until Spring break is over (late April), but that's OK.

Two questions: How would you go about cycling this tank? I have an existing tank running, so I want to do a fishless cycle, and was gonna just put some old filter media into the new filter, and some gravel to help things along.

And, would 4 male guppies do OK in a 10-gallon tank? I've read that when kept all-males, they can be violent towards each other, nipping tails and such. I really would prefer to keep all males though, because I want to avoid fry if I can.

I read the article on here about fishless cycling and took notes, and have one question: What is a "safe" nitrate reading, like what number do I want to see?

Usually the filters that come in kits are under rated so a new filter may be a purchase you need. If the filter is the same on the existing tanks, just transfer the cartridge out of the cycled tank into the new one and presto!! A cycled tank, just make sure not to change that cartridge for alteast a week then. For a 10g I would go for 20g worth of filtration, on my 10g I use 30g rated filters and on my 30g I use 75g rated filters. Use one female to to one male ratio in a guppie tank from what I understand from my research on guppies(not much). You could keep a few male guppies together just not many and you can also keep like a male betta in with them. Are you planning on using live plants or fake plants?

Fake plants, definitely, at least for now.

Ok then you will definatly need higher filtration. I would also use ottos to take care of algae once it starts growing.

I'm not even sure what filter comes with the kit I have in mind, so it may be OK. I'll just have to wait and see on that one. Plus, I'm not using it for a goldfish tank, so if I'm a little under 10x gph, I think I'll be OK.

It highly depends on stocking and I can't force anything upon you. A standard I go by is cutting what the printed rate the filter has in half and that is actually what it can handle. It probably comes with the whisper 10 which is a good smaller filter. If you get 2 then it should do great!!

have to smile..same thing with how pond filters are rated..some even say they are rated without fish!!

It's ok to have all male guppies together--I've done it for almost a year. They chase each other in a playful way and have never been violent or nipped each others fins. Four or five in a 10 gal would be great.

However, I heard it's not a good idea to put male bettas with guppies because he might see the gups as a smaller betta--long bright fins--and attack them. My guppies are getting along good with a male platy I put in though.

Yea I have heard that to and didn't think about that when I posted. I have seen males that lived happily with guppies and some that haven't. It's a trial and error. I think male bettas are fine with about anything as long as it claims his dominance over the others first.

I agree. Male guppies can live together peacefully and are generally not recommended to be placed with bettas. I personally wouldn't get any female guppies unless you wanted babies. One of my friends had some male and female guppies together and she now has tons of babies. She asked if I wanted some but I had to turn her down. No room for any more fish. But I sure would have loved some.

Definitely do not house bettas and guppies together. I tried putting a female betta in with guppies one time and she tore the tails of the males to shreds. Back she went to her own little tank!