14gallon, what to do?

[clancaster23]

I have a small 14 gallon tank that I initially had four various types of goldfish in. Needless to say that even after taking care aof it and changing water frequently, they all perished after six months. Today, the last one went and I have an empty tank. Lesson learned.

Now I want to put something in it that will actually thrive in it but not sure what. What can I stock it with to get the most out of it? Also, will a 100% change of the water hurt the chemical balance of the tank/filter? I have a heater for use so tropical and freshwater are both options.

 

[BristlenosePleco]

Wow how many goldfish did you have in that? Goldfish need at least 20gal to there head, and double the filtration capacity.

As for what type of fish and how many you can have in that 14gal? If you want the most fish you can squeez in there I'd say going with Guppies, Mollies, Platies, or tetras. 100% water change isn't bad sometimes, you just don't want to wash off your rocks or deco. Your better off doing a 25% once a week. Also I have to correct you on this. Tropical and freshwater fish are one in the same. Where you get the difference in freshwater fish in between cold water and tropical. Cold water fish include goldfish, and koi. Tropical fish include Guppies, Mollies, Platies, or tetras. Then you get into brackish, and salt water and I don't think I have the know how to tell you anything about them lol.

You should check out AqAdvisor - Intelligent Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium Stocking Calculator and Aquarium Tank/Filter Advisor

 

[clancaster23]

I had four in it and yes, I know it was a mistake. I didn't learn the 20 gallon per fish standard until well after. And I realized when I was typing it out that fresh and tropical were one and the same. I'm an idiot sometimes lol.

Yes, I want to stock it well but if I go to the max, will I need a bigger filter? I think the one I have is only for a 14 gallon.

You're saying only do 25% at a time (the normal weekly change) but I believe my nitrates are rather high in this tank and I figure since there's no fish in it now that I can just do a total change.

 

[littletankbigworld]

If you stock 100%, a bigger filter will not be absolutley necessary. You will just need to complete larger water changes.

You can change all the water and start fresh and do a fishless cycle for a month before adding fish. Remember to add fish gradually. Only a couple each week.

Well, not all tropical fish are freshwater, and not all freshwater fish are tropical, so they are really not the same.

 

[bassbonediva]

I would do a nice centerpiece fish, like a dwarf gourami (or regular gourami if you like the looks of them) and then a couple of schools of smaller fish, like neons or flame tetras. If you're feeling adventurous, you could even do a pair of german blue rams. I would do something like this:
2x German blue rams (or Bolivian butterfly rams)
5x flame tetras
5x neon tetras
4x panda cories
1x dwarf gourami
AqAdvisor - Intelligent Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium Stocking Calculator and Aquarium Tank/Filter Advisor (I know it says 15gal tank, but the only 14gal they have is a hex)
With that stocking list, you get all your swimming levels stocked, plus you have fun and interesting fish in there. I would do a black substrate (so the cories and rams show up better), driftwood and a whole bunch of live plants (like cabomba caroliniana, swords, water wisteria, dwarf sag, etc).

But, that's just what I would do with it if it were my tank.

 

[clancaster23]

Thanks for the suggestions. So far I have added my new black sand base and put in two new dwarf gouramis. One question is when it gets all settled and I get my tetras, mollies, or whatever else I decide to put in, can small frogs be added to this tank?

 

[bassbonediva]

Are you talking like African Dwarf Frogs? From what I understand, they need a shallower tank. So, if your tank is shallow (like as shallow as a 10gal), then an ADF would be fine.

 

[exhumed07]

I've been wanting to get back into a tropical tank aside from my cichlids again and if it were my tank I'd to a big school of neons. but I just want a simple tropical tank.

 

[clancaster23]

My tank is about 14 inches from sand surface to top of water level. Shallow enough? And yes, I did mean the African Dwarf frog. My wife has always wanted one in a tank so may get one.

 

[Newman]

might as well get 2 frogs. be warned that you NEED to feed them individually with bloodworms and the like. research dwarf frogs before you guy them of course