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new fish in a 15 g tank

2K views 17 replies 3 participants last post by  Angel079 
#1 ·
hi im malanoman and i was wondering if you guys could answer a few of my ?'s Im currently moving 2 cichlids out of this tank because they are getting too big for it. i want to make this tank into a community tank because i have nothing else to do with it since im moving the cichlids into a bigger tank. ok so i was wondering what kind of fish can i put in there and how many i can put in there. i have a aquaclear filter for 30 g tanks on there. thanks :-D
 
#2 ·
Small schooling fish such as tetras, or White cloud minnows. No livebearer's, for they would soon produce fry and the tank would be over crowded. With proper maint, you could keep a dozen small fish such as those mentioned. IMHO.
 
#3 ·
Welcome to the forum!
Do you know what your water parameters are, pH & KH? Its much easier t name a list of fish that would thrive in your water as it is, rather then to get fish XYZ and then afterward try to adjust your water to their needs.
 
#4 ·
Dohh! Good catch Angel 079.
Some of the tetras prefer(need) soft water and depending on your source water, some might not be comfortable with hard water that cichlids enjoy. As Angel suggested, have the ph tested . This will give you a better idea of what fish would do best in your water. If the ph of your tapwater is no higher than 7.8 or lower than 6.0,, there are more choices as to what fish might work.
 
#5 ·
thank you very much for your advice :) ill check the ph levels later today. I have kits at home the packaging they came in said that they expired (the kits) a few months ago. none of them are wet so are they ok to use? Theyre test strips and i dip them in the water and pull them back out and let them sit for a few min. Also is is possible to make my tank water softer if my tap water is hard? THe last time i tested my tank water was on the harder side.
 
#6 ·
Strip style test's aren't always very accurate and I would invest in a test kit such as the API FRESHWATER MASTER KIT. I say invest, because these test kits are a very good tool to help[ keep fish healthy by identifying possible problems BEFORE they have negative affect on your fishes health.
Perhaps the local fish store could test your water if you brought them a sample. If they too use the strip style tests, even though they will give you a ball park number,,,I would opt for purchasing my own test kit thereby allowing me to keep an eye on my water with some degree of accuracy and without relying on fish store.
I would want test results before considering attempts at softening my water. You want to test your tapwater after it has set for a few hours for this is the water you will be using to do weekly water changes of 20 to 25 percent.
I will assume, (always a bad thing) that the water in the tank we are discussing has had no additives to buffer the pH or special substrates and or rock that may affect the pH and perhaps render it hard or alkaline? If it is ordinary gravel or sand,and no additives other than dechlorinator have been used on regular basis, then perhaps softening the water isn't needed but we shall have to wait for test results to know.
 
#7 ·
I can only second 1077. Keith have the LFS test your KH & Ph and write you the numbers down, or also for future use, buy an API set. These things last FOREVER and are super accurate and also this is cheaper then the strips in the long run because you can do much much more testing with the drops then with the strips.

There's way's to make hard water soft, but its not easy nor all too cheap, but don't worry about this, whatever your water parameters are I bet ya we'll find plenty of fish that will enjoy your water and I'm sure amongst that list you'll find something you really like :)
 
#8 · (Edited)
ok here it is. ive had water sitting in a 30g for my other fish for 2 days, havent done anything to it.

this is with the strips so its ballpark like you guys said

hardness is moderate (says about 50)
alkalinity is low (says about 80)
my ph is probobly anywhere from 6.6 to 7.0. its a fairly low level
and of course the nitrate and ammonia levels are low cuz the theres no food or fish in there.

oh and i have a separate ammonia test kit thats API that uses drops.

thanks
 
#9 ·
That's some pretty awesome softer water if you're asking me
Alkalinity is you KH and in degrees of hardness that's 4.5KH in your case with a pH combo of let's say 7...there's a lot fish that will love that:
Gourami's, Ram's, all sorta Tetra's, Danio's, Livebearer's (only recomannding males here, otherwise your tank will be overpopulated in NO TIME). There's really a ton of options with this water.
Also if you'd rather have small cichlids you could harden up your KH with crushed coral or dolomite, which will then also up your pH (you will never just adjust 1 parameter w/out the other 1)

So uhm yea...really the question is now WHAT DO YOU LIKE?? :) I'd figure out what fish you like, discuss them here or research by yourself, which ever you prefer, just make sure you know what you're getting into before buying it :)
 
#10 ·
I agree ,I would love to have water parameters posted. My personal choice would be a school of a dozen neons (cool water)or cardinal tetras (warmer water) over a black substrate with maybe a few cherry shrimps. 15 gal will limit fish to small fish but the choices you have without doing any adjusting of your water (wise), are numerous. Threadfin rainbows,Sparkling gourami's,lemon tetras,pristella tetras,the list goes on and on.
Yes your water could be made harder for fish such as cichlids but that, is a topic for another thread.
 
#12 ·
Just make sure you chose fish that will get along both with the tank size and one another, apart from the parameters. Unfortunately a lot times the people at the LFS will sell you just about anything whether it really works for your tank or not.
 
#14 ·
I'm in TN so I sure ain't gonna drive shopping in NJ :) Sounds nice thou
 
#15 ·
This time of year in Jersey can be cold. If transporting fish for any length of time, I would use a cooler to help keep the fish warm during the trip home. I have ordered fish online, and always keep the styrofoam boxes they arrive in for just such an occasion. You may be surprised at how much better fish act after acclimating by doing the same. Cheap styrofoam coolers can be used as mentioned or small playmate coolers. Smaller works better at holding heat than larger ones. Have also taped those hand warmers to the underside of the lid in an effort to preserve heat.;-)
 
#16 ·
thanks for the advice 1077. should you do the same for plants that you buy? hey, i have just like a random question. when you buy fish online and you get them shipped to you, how do they ship? i mean like i guess like you said in a Styrofoam cooler but like in bags with the fish in them???
 
#17 · (Edited)
Fish I have ordered have all come in bags of water. I nearly always opt for next day delivery if possible. I'ts expensive but I feel better knowing that the fish won't be in the bags long. I have also gotten fish that took three days to arrive and usually had a fatality or two. Plants I have ordered in the past (not for a while) have all come wrapped in damp newspaper and then placed in plastic bags (no water). Some arrived in good shape,others not so good. P.S. Fish shipped during cold months will usually be shipped with heat packet similar to hand warmer I mentioned.
 
#18 ·
If you pick up plants at the store and its cold where you're at, I'd suggest the same procedure for the plants. Most commonly used tank plants are tropical, so they want Temp ~70 and up, being exposed to let's say freezing Temps may not kill them but harm them, after all you want pretty plants.
The plants I ordered here HOME_PAGE_TITLE also came wrapped in wet paper separately packed in plastic bags& labels all that wrapped up again in 1 bundle with heat packs and in a box.
 
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