Over the last 15 years some of my ideas on fishkeeping have changed dramatically. In 2016 I bought my first nano tank - a Flex 15G. At the time it was intended as a shrimp tank because in my opinion (at the time) it was inhumane to keep fish in such a small body of water. Over the years I have had a number of tanks of various sizes and stock levels. I am pretty good at my 50-75% weekly water changes. Not saying that's what you have to do but it works for me so no plans to mess with it 
. I recently got rid of some tanks because I'm getting older, life seems to get busier and I was struggling to maintain the water changes (especially as I had a shattered shoulder - which has now recovered.)
I have also moved towards keeping fewer species in tanks. My 200L community tanks today contains only 3 species and a bristlenose. I happen to think its quite sensibly stocked but sites like Aqadvisor assure me that it is hideously overstocked. (There are around 60 fish in there)
My Flex currently has a single species of tetra (embers).
Earlier this year I decided to replenish my nannostomus marginatus. So I put a dozen of them into a 27L QT. I liked them in there so much I left them there as another species tank, where they are living happily ever after. But as everyone knows this tank is way too small. Most weeks it gets a 50% water change which only takes a couple of minutes. Occasionally I do an 80% change. Yes I still have the fake grass in there but the plants are real. I am also still relatively confident that they will spawn for me once they reach maturity.
Now Christmas is coming and I rather hope Santa is eyeing out another Flex 15 for me. I rather fancy a little group of lemon tetra. I know boring tetras aren't everyone's cup of tea - but I know what I like. Most on-line sites suggest you need a 20G for a group of 6. The thing is I would never buy a group of 6 social fish. My own experience tells me that 12 is much better than 6 and 18 is better than 12 (and 24 is probably too many
)
And if Santa happened to spring for a pair of 15s I would seriously consider re-creating my Thai Wonder, probably 8-10 sids and a dozen or so microdevario kubotai. I really miss those little monkeys - but don't fancy another large tank.
Am I just being silly or do either of those options seem realistic?
Those that know me and my tanks know that I am definitely not about seeing how many fish I can cram in.
For the sake of completeness here is the existing Flex
. I recently got rid of some tanks because I'm getting older, life seems to get busier and I was struggling to maintain the water changes (especially as I had a shattered shoulder - which has now recovered.)I have also moved towards keeping fewer species in tanks. My 200L community tanks today contains only 3 species and a bristlenose. I happen to think its quite sensibly stocked but sites like Aqadvisor assure me that it is hideously overstocked. (There are around 60 fish in there)
My Flex currently has a single species of tetra (embers).
Earlier this year I decided to replenish my nannostomus marginatus. So I put a dozen of them into a 27L QT. I liked them in there so much I left them there as another species tank, where they are living happily ever after. But as everyone knows this tank is way too small. Most weeks it gets a 50% water change which only takes a couple of minutes. Occasionally I do an 80% change. Yes I still have the fake grass in there but the plants are real. I am also still relatively confident that they will spawn for me once they reach maturity.
Now Christmas is coming and I rather hope Santa is eyeing out another Flex 15 for me. I rather fancy a little group of lemon tetra. I know boring tetras aren't everyone's cup of tea - but I know what I like. Most on-line sites suggest you need a 20G for a group of 6. The thing is I would never buy a group of 6 social fish. My own experience tells me that 12 is much better than 6 and 18 is better than 12 (and 24 is probably too many
)And if Santa happened to spring for a pair of 15s I would seriously consider re-creating my Thai Wonder, probably 8-10 sids and a dozen or so microdevario kubotai. I really miss those little monkeys - but don't fancy another large tank.
Am I just being silly or do either of those options seem realistic?
Those that know me and my tanks know that I am definitely not about seeing how many fish I can cram in.
For the sake of completeness here is the existing Flex
