Good Community fish for a 15 Gallon Freshwater

[paperdog9]

OH and also, I was wonering if my plants will ever take root. I think they are clippings, and I have been having problems anchoring them down. The perason at the pet store said that they will eventually, so I was wondering if that was true. Also, otos eat plants, right, so is it bad for the plants to keep otos with them, will the otos eat the plants faster than thy can grow?

 

[OrangeCones]

I was wonering if my plants will ever take root.

What type of substrate and light do you have? Given the right root medium and light, they should root, yes. They like a minimum of 3WPG to thrive.

Also, otos eat plants, right, so is it bad for the plants to keep otos with them, will the otos eat the plants faster than thy can grow?

Otos do not eat plants. They WILL eat dead/dying/decaying plants though.

 

[paperdog9]

OK, I have lowes pea gravel, about the size of peas, and very bright lighting (don't know how many wpg though. PLEASE LOOK AT MY EMERGENCY THREAD, I NEED HELP!!!!!

 

[paperdog9]

OK, I was thinking about getting java fern and java moss because my substrate isn't really right for deep rooted plants. The flourecent bulbs say gental white light, 9 watts per bulb, but it also says equivilent to 40 watts. there are two bulbs in the aquarium makin it either about one watt per gallon, or about five watts per gallon, but I don't know which is the accual wattage. I'm pretty sure it is 40 watts per bulb.

 

[paperdog9]

I'm gonna get my water tested soon now, so hopefully I can add my first hardy fish to start cycling.

 

[OrangeCones]

OK, I was thinking about getting java fern and java moss because my substrate isn't really right for deep rooted plants. The flourecent bulbs say gental white light, 9 watts per bulb, but it also says equivilent to 40 watts. there are two bulbs in the aquarium makin it either about one watt per gallon, or about five watts per gallon, but I don't know which is the accual wattage. I'm pretty sure it is 40 watts per bulb.

The substrate can be used (I have pea gravel in 2 of my tanks, fully planted) with rooting plants. I think the problem you are having is the lighting. The bulbs are not meant for plants and the 'equivilent to 40 watts' is what it LOOKS LIKE to our eyes, not what energy it puts out that a plant can use for photosynthesis. You need about 30-40 total watts over the tank to grow moneywort. Java fern and moss can exist in lower light tanks, so you might be able to grow them with your existing light.

 

[paperdog9]

Ok, thanks. Will the moneywort still grow/live, or is it going to eventually die, because I'm not going to get the higher wattage light just to keep a two dollar plant alive. I might move them all to the five gallon eventually because i can use on bulb and at least get 2 watts per gallon, hopefully enough to keep them alive longer than in the 15 gallon. Thats very good to know, those petsmart people must not really know a lot about the section they work in, because they told me it would be fine. Thanks again OrangeCones

 

[paperdog9]

Hopfully when run out of light bulbs I can go buy higher wattage ones and THEN go get some different plants, but that might be a whil, because I got a four pack and they're flourecent. But for now, I'll get the java fern and java moss

 

[OrangeCones]

This website has a good plant guide. You can search for plants by their light requirement, placement, etc. Might help you pick out plants that will work for you (as well as avoid buying the non-aquatic plants that a lot of pet store sell for your aquarium).

PlantGeek.net - Plant Guide

 

[paperdog9]

Coolio, thanks again orangecones!!

 

[paperdog9]

Do corys have any special feeding requirements, or do they come up to the top to eat flake food?

 

[paperdog9]

If they don't go to the top to feed, is it possible to train them to ?

 

[Doomhed]

no, you need to feed them sinking algae wafers and sinking shrimp pellets.

 

[aspiringangel]

The point of buying the jug of ammonia is so that you don't cycle using fish. Check out the many threads / articles about fishless cycling all over this board and the internet at large.

 

[paperdog9]

Ya, I decided to just cycle using fish, because it is already looking good from here.

 

[paperdog9]

I don't know if I really want the corys if they require special feeding, does anyone have a suggestion for what I could use instead of dwarf corys?

 

[Newman]

you cant be serious...you cant spare 5 seconds to drop 2-3 pellets into your tank for each night? -_-

Also cories will eat shrimp pellets, not so much the algae wafers, but certainly the carnivore catfish pellets

 

[bassbonediva]

Are you looking for algae control? Otos are the bestest! Although, I wouldn't call dropping a couple of algae wafers in your tank to feed the cories "special" feeding. :/

 

[Newman]

once again, cories wont really eat algae wafers with as much glee as shrimp pellets/carnivore pellets.
If the algae wafers are high in fiber/protein, like the hickari brand then maybe theyll decide to touch them..

 

[paperdog9]

well, I guess you are right, I'll get them. And I am getting 3 Otos. So right now It's 3 marigold variatus platy, 3 Otos, 4 dwarf cory cats, and 7 harlequin rasboras. Thanks for making me stick with the corys!!!