New Tank Advice

Murloc · Mar 8, 2011

Hello!
I've lurked for a little while and I've bought myself a Fluval Edge tank to get into Tropical Fish with, I was wondering what variety of fish I could fit in without overcrowding.
Looking about I've seen people keep bettas in with Neon Tetras, which made me worry a little because I thought the fighter would go for the neon, but they looked comfortable, so I like the idea of that.
On the other hand, I love the idea of keeping a clownfish, but I've heard this can be quite difficult, any advice?

Thanks in advance

Jenste · Mar 8, 2011

In order to best help you plan a stocking, could you tell us what size fluval edge in gallons or liters?

Murloc · Mar 8, 2011

It's the 23 litre one, six gallons

Jenste · Mar 8, 2011

ok, unfortunately that is considered quite small so your options for stocking will be slightly limited.

Smaller Tetras, even neons are best in 10+ gallons because they can be active swimmers and need the room.

You could do : (not all at once!)
a betta
a pair of african DWARF frogs (make sure to lower the water line by about 3/4 of an inch so they have access to fresh air and make sure they cannot get sucked in by the filter)
a shrimp colony

you could do the betta alone, frogs alone, or shrimp alone, the betta with the frogs, or the betta with the shrimp. The betta would enjoying eating the baby shrimp the adults would surely provided so its free treats!

If you go the betta and frog route, you need to have a back up plan because upon maturity some bettas become increasingly aggressive and may pick on the frogs (biting off eyes or toes). When you have frogs with fish you also have to take great care in feeding the frogs because the fish find the food faster and frogs require different food than fish.

KittyKat · Mar 8, 2011

Murloc said:
Hello!
I've lurked for a little while and I've bought myself a Fluval Edge tank to get into Tropical Fish with, I was wondering what variety of fish I could fit in without overcrowding.
Looking about I've seen people keep bettas in with Neon Tetras, which made me worry a little because I thought the fighter would go for the neon, but they looked comfortable, so I like the idea of that.
On the other hand, I love the idea of keeping a clownfish, but I've heard this can be quite difficult, any advice?

Here's my contribution..
* 6 Endlers or 6 ember tetras or 6 espei (not harlequin) rasboras
* group of shrimp

I feel the tank is not suitable for Bettas because of the tiny surface area.

6 neons or 3 male guppies may work as an alternative for the first point on the list, but they're very fragile so I personally wouldn't try it. Basically, it is not a nice tank to stock.

Pixel · Mar 8, 2011

I wouldn't go for a betta. I was looking at this tank myself however the issue is that betta's breathe from the surface and the edge's surface is minimal to say the least. Add to the fact that the filter is right below the tiny surface area (bettas aren't keen on strong currents) then that's what ruled this tank out for me. You could (if you're desperate for a betta) lower the water line but then it 'ruins' (or at least it does in my opinion) the look of the tank as the top will get quite a bit of condensation (I saw one in the flesh the other day with a lowered water level and you could barely see through the top it was that misty).

Now, there are people who do keep bettas in their edges if you do a quick run around google, but I'd still be extremely wary of popping a fish that likes it's surface area to breathe in an edge. Not a clue about keeping it as a marine tank, but the edge on show at our LFS had it set up as a marine with some live rock and it looked fantastic.