[Good bottom feeding fish for small 15g heavily planted tank.]

I have a heavily planted tank. See photo. Are there good choices for bottom feeding fish given there isn’t a lot of actual bottom open? 

[Stocking recommendation (medium skilled keeper)]

Looking to add some more eye catching fish to my 15g FluvalFlex. It’s heavily planted with medium flow. 
 

Right now there is one sparkling gourami, about 3 Pygmy Cory’s, a couple Amano shrimp and an assortment of snails including some pests. 
 

Thoughts? 

[Gravel vac very heavily planted tank]

On 7/1/2022 at 7:35 AM, ccc24 said:

I think most people don’t gravel vac a tank planted that heavily. They let nature take its course, decompose the waste and fertilize the plants. 

Cool that’s what I have been doing. 

[Gravel vac very heavily planted tank]

My tank is very heavily planted where they is basically no open space. I find it really hard to clean the bottom while avoiding shrimp, Cory’s ect. 
 

any tips?

 

 

[Making feeding easy while I’m gone]

It’s a flex so don’t think auto feeder is the best idea. I’ll do the other suggestions. Thanks. 

[Making feeding easy while I’m gone]

Hi everyone. 
 

I will be gone over Xmas for 12 days and having a friend with zero experience feeding my tank. Photo below. 

It is stocked with 2 sparking gourami, 3 Amanno shrimp and 5 pygmi Cory’s. also a few snails. 
 

I would like to make the feeding as infrequent and easy as possible.
 

Could I put one of those block things in to cover the shrimp, Cory’s and snail and have just some food added for the gouramis? If they were fed every 3-4 days would that be ok?

 

Thanks 
 

 

[Pygmy cory behaviour]

I have never had these guys. I guess I assumed they would just hang out at the bottom all day filtering through the substrate. In fact, they spend lots of time jetting around up and down the water column. Is this normal? It’s not a sign of something like oxygen issues or anything? 

[Recommend a carpet or base plant?]

On 10/17/2021 at 9:19 AM, ADMWNDSR83 said:

Hey @Clovis,

I like the look of your tank as it is, personally.  I will say I've had some very good results with Dwarf Sagitarius, which has sent runners and carpeted all of my tanks well.  In one of my newer tanks, I'm playing around with some baby tears to see how they do.  If they work, I think they'll be great in that tank, but I know they like Co2 diffusers, which I don't have, so I'll have to see how they do.  All in all, you could try the dwarf sag, but I think your tank is looking great as is.

Thanks. It’s possible I may be succumbing to “want to tinker” syndrome! 😁

[Recommend a carpet or base plant?]

I think I have my algae problem under control.  I’ve added 4 Amano shrimp, 3 ottos, 5 Pygmy Cory’s and 2 sparking gourami to my tank. 
 

I would like to fill out the plants a bit more. Maybe carpet, maybe even mid or upper. 
 

any good idea for this low tech tank?

 

 

[Fixing my algae outbreak]

Thanks for all the help. I got some amano shrimp and a few ottos. 
 

I assume the trick now is not add any food given they are only inhabitants? 

[Fixing my algae outbreak]

On 9/21/2021 at 5:38 PM, Jimfish98 said:

Snails and Amano will do good in there. Pleco could easily outgrow the space in time. Maybe SAE or FW Gobies, or both.

 

Sorry SAE? Also do you think I can deal with this by stocking? No need to tear it apart or chemical treat?

[Fixing my algae outbreak]

I have a 15 g Fluval flex which is heavily planted and had 4 pea puffers. I’ve gotten rid of the puffers and want to stock the tank to balance it and clean up the algae outbreak. 
 

I am thinking of some Amani shrimp, a few neurogenic snails and a pleco. 
 

good or bad idea? Better ideas?

[Anyone know what this algae is and how I can’t treat it?]

My lights are on timer for 6 hours per day. I dose fertilizer once a week and put in substrate pellets once in a while. 

[Anyone know what this algae is and how I can’t treat it?]

15 g Fluval flex. Heavily planted. Just four pea puffers. 
 

 

[How do people feed their pea puffers?]

I feel like I am way over feeding because their food comes in these giant frozen blocks. I am using the standard frozen cubes of blood worms and brine shrimp. 

I have 4 pea puffers. 

do people cut off a small piece of a block to thaw? If so how much? 
 

or do you thaw a block and just give a little at a time? If so do the thawed ones last in the fridge? How much do you feed?

 

thanks

[How can I keep my fish alive?]

I have a fluval 15 very heavily planted. I added 4 pea puffers and 5 ammano shrimp three weeks ago. My mom is now sick in the hospital and I am going to have to leave the tank unattended for a couple weeks. 
 

Anything I can do to help the fish and shrimp live? I assume I can’t get an auto feeder for blood worms? 

[Instantly cycled new tank?]

@Brianindeed I did 

[Instantly cycled new tank?]

I setup a a new 15 flex that is heavily planted. Moved most of the plants and rocks, wood from an old mature balanced tank. Moved the sponges and ceramic media from same tank.  Only new thing in tank is substrate. 
 

This tank should be essentially cycled right away correct? I can add lifestock?

 

[Fluval flex with timer not working]

I put a plug in timer on my flex but it will only start in storm mode. Any idea? 

I tried putting it in white mode and unplugging and plugging back in but no luck  

 

[How many pea puffers?]

@Streetwiseaka pea puffer snacks. 😀

[How many pea puffers?]

Do you think I can get away with 5 in this flex 15g with this level of planting? They would be the only fish. Thinking I will add a few Amano shrimp too. 

[I want to play with co2. Suggestions.]

I set up a new fluval flex 15g today as an aquascape. It’s pretty heavily planted. The plants are all easy low to medium light but I would still like to try co2. Mostly for fun. 
 

I read some bad things about the fluval co2 kits. Any suggestions on a starter setup for someone who wants to tinker?

[Three months into hobby. Had first catastrophe!]

@David W

 

that is the rescue tank. It’s on two small tables. The main tank is on its own dedicated stand designed for it. 

[Three months into hobby. Had first catastrophe!]

Acrylic tanks have no seems? would you say they are safer for leaks?

[Three months into hobby. Had first catastrophe!]

My tank started leaking!!!

I ran to store and bought a 20 gallon to switch over fish and plants. That was not a fun task. I’ll just say this...Zebra Danios suck!

two questions. 

1) how long will my plants live floating like this? I hate to say it but I care more about the plants than the fish  eek!

2) I’m super paranoid about flooding.  Are there any good ideas for secondary containment if the next tank leaks? 
 

I live upstairs for a unit and don’t want to flood neighbours if I miss a leak. 

 

thanks