So I have just set up a 15 gallon tank that is currently in the process of fishless cycling. This was originally going to be a tank for goldfish, but I realized it would be too small for a goldfish and therefore decided to throw in a heater and make it a betta tank. My first question is the tank has an AC30 on it and I was wondering if I should turn down the flow rate and if so how low should I turn down the flow rate? Also, I was wondering if I would be better off with a schooling fish like cories in the tank or if I should try ghost shrimp or some other shrimp instead? All help is appreciated! Thanks!
15 Gallon Betta Tank Suggestions
- Thread starter deadhead324
- Start date
If you keep the water level high, the filter should be okay. I would pass on the cories in a tank that size but a school of smaller tetras or rasboras would be good. I would go with a betta and school of neons, black neons, glo-lights, or harlequin rasboras. I think either would work out nicely. Of course it is all dependent of the betta. Ive never had a problem keeping bettas with other fish, but thats not to say you wouldnt have trouble. I would say if you do go with a betta and school, add the betta last. This will reduce the likely hood of him being territorial.
I think as long as you're not going for an insane turnover rate with the filtering the betta shouldn't have a problem, Play it by ear and just keep an eye on him/her for a few days and if you see him hanging around near the bottom/trying to avoid the flow then you could throw in some plants etc to break up the current. I would add the betta first and give it a while before adding the school - reason being you're putting in relatively quick fish, theres not much chance of the betta giving them any real trouble - plus I dont reckon putting a school of 8~ into a 15g which has only just cycled is gonna turn out too well.
If the filter doesn't have a adjuster for the flow you could always deflect it. I cut the top and bottom off of a plastic water bottle, make one cut down the middle, fit it around the filter where the water comes out and voila! The water hits the back part of the bottle and flows out the two open ends..works fine for me.
+1 on the baffle. Here's a link with pictures on how to do it: http://www.petfish.net/articles/Do-It-Yourself/currentkill.php
Also, certain types of bettas deal with currents better than others. Plakats and females adjust to currents better than their longer fin counterparts.
Also, certain types of bettas deal with currents better than others. Plakats and females adjust to currents better than their longer fin counterparts.
My male plakat LOVES playing in currents. I actually switched to a stronger flowing filter just so he could frolic. My female crowntail, though, isn't so into them. Honestly, I think it probably depends on the fish (though of course the big-tailed varieties aren't going to be able to deal with much flow). Have you decided what type/gender of betta you'll be getting?
Most likely a crowntail, but even if it isn't, it will probably be a male variety with longer flowing fins. The filter can be adjusted anywhere from 50-150 gph, so there's plenty of room for flexibility
i own 8 bettas curently not to mention the ones in the past. all my bettas have gotten along with cory cats. danio's, tetras, glo fish, pleco(great for keeping your tank clean). oto, fancy guppys, and ghost shrimp are good how ever as strange as it sounds there kind of agressive and will oftine eat all the food before your fish can get to it. and i have also had a german blue ram in with my male bettas and they became friends. so there are a lot more fish they also do well with, but it also depends on your bettaas personality. so if you have a aggressive betta you can still try it but make shore you wach them for a wile to make shore they "play nicely"
An AC30 should be fine on a 15g. Like others have said, you can deflect the current, or just make sure that there is an area with less current that he can hang out in. You can have a great nano community in a 15g with the betta - you can probably fit in a school of smaller cories (panda, habrosus, pygmy) and a school of smaller mid-schooling fish (microrasboras, smaller tetras). Bettas are not always community-friendly fish depending on their personality, so you'd have to watch for aggression when you first add him. That being said, I have a betta in a similarly sized tank with plenty of tankmates and an AC30, and he does great. 