Fluval Flora Stocking

[Fishy friend2]

Hello, Im planing to get a fluval flora for my dad because he wants a nice fish tank for fathers day. I'm planning on having it heavily planted, black sand, some river rocks, a nice piece of wood with Riccia on it, and this is my planned stocking, the stocking I chose is very simalar to the recommended sticking for a 10 gallon tank on the fish for a 10 gallon tank thread. This tank is only 2 gallons less so I don't think that it'll be a problem

1 male Betta imbellis or male betta splendens Or 1 Dario Dario
5-6 boraras brigittae
3-4 Pygmy cories

 

[Fishy friend2]

And I'm open to more suggestions for stocking If anyone has any, and suggestions for plants too Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[Fishy friend2]

And does anybody know if the ferts, Co2 system, substrate, and lights are of any use or if I should replace them

 

[Fishy friend2]

Bump......

 

[Fishy friend2]

Bump...... Again. Will someone please reply...... Please

 

[DrRob]

The CO2 system is the fluval mini, which is a 20g pressurised system with a bell rather than a diffuser. Similar to most of the others of that type. I'm not a fan, they don't diffuse all that well and take up a lot of tank space, plus they're expensive to keep buying cylinders for.

The light isn't all that bad. I'm growing some moderate light level plants under mine with no trouble.

I'm not sure if the substrate in the ebi is the same as the flora, but if it is, it's fairly good.

I'm growing a few crypt wendetii, some Lilaeopsis brasiliensis (which is going absolutely crazy) some Pogostemon helferi (which isn't going quite so crazy, but is pretty close to) and some Echinodorus tenellus (which is doing OK, but has taken a while to get established and could probably do with some more light). There's also some java moss which gets harvested every week. It's mainly what I had lying around. The HC started well but slowed down, so I moved it to the other tank, where it was promptly dug up by the fish.

I use EI ferts, so can't help you with the nutrafin pro.

 

[Fishy friend2]

Thanks for the input on this tank, I guess that the Co2 kit is of no use then. I would just use black sand instead and the light. And hope they help the plants grow. I love those planta and they look rather interesting. I might go and get sme of those when I set up the tank for my dad. And do you think that the stocking is okay

 

[soybean]

I would suggest you leave out the Pygmy corys. 3-4 isn't an adequate number and dwarf ones do prefer to be in larger groups, more like 10+. They are also very active and 8 gallons isn't really enough.

 

[Fishy friend2]

Oh, okay. So are their any other bottom swelling fish that would be suitible for a tank of that size

 

[soybean]

Do you really need to have bottom dwellers? Fish that spend most of their time on the substrate tend to need a larger tank base than a fish that swims in the water column. I can't think of any that would be happy in a large enough group in an 8 gallon.

Amano shrimp? Big enough to hold their own against a betta.

 

[Fishy friend2]

Okay, I don't have to have them, but I really just like them, I especially wanted the Pygmys because I have 4 in my larger tank and they are awesome little fish. I actually find my self more interested in them than any other fish in my tank. Do you think that I could actually have that stocking in a 15 gallon instead as that is what my dad wanted in the first place but we thought he would appreciate the 8 gallon better because he Is fascinated in plants but i suppose I could grow low tech plants in their

 

[soybean]

If possible, consider adding more dwarf corys to your larger tank, aim for at least 8. If you like the, so much you will enjoy seeing them even more in a larger group!

Also consider that bottom feeders and plants don't often mix, as roots can be disturbed.

If you're after the plants being the main feature of the tank, with fish less will be more. A betta and 8 or so chilli rasbora will add movement, colour and interest to the tank without detracting from the plants, maybe a few shrimp as a cleanup crew if your betta tolerates them. I imagine the filter on that tank is pretty small and you wouldn't want to overload it.

 

[StandbySetting]

If it were me I'd just go for Boraras briggitae, a group of 12, it'll look a lot better in a tank of this size, less is more.

 

[Fishy friend2]

I was planning to get 4 more tomorrow evening. And I think that I might get the 15 gallon for my dad as he seems to like pygmies a lot too. I think I will get 12 borraras brigittae, 8 Pygmys and a Dario Dario if I get the larger tank for him

 

[scotty]

the tank may be a bit small for the rasbora