How does this sound? (15 gallon setup)

[rubysoho]

Well, I am slowly planning the setup of my freebie- what I think to be - 15 gallon square tank. So, here are some options I have come up with (all depends on availability at the LFSs)

Inverts
2-3 Cherry Fire Shrimp (if unavailable, ghost shrimp)
1 Apple Snail

Fish
1 Dwarf Gourami
(more research coming)

Decoration and Plants
Driftwood
Anubias
Java Fern
WaterSprite
Wisteria


Now, the plants I am unsure about. This is most likely a moderate light system. And I need to do some tests on my water to make sure the pH will not drop too far for the shrimp. But, we'll see. I am still figuring out other options for fish. I LOVE rubbernose plecos, but I am pretty sure they need a bit more space than this 15 gallon tank. Being square, I left out tetras and other fast moving fish since there is not too much side to side space for zooming. The other option could be a harem of female bettas. I did that before, and loved my girls. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Oh, and my other idea would be to make this a habitat for brackish like the dwarf puffers or a high flow habitat for a mogurnda nesolepis. I did like the look of the puffers at he LFS. Very cute, and something I have not done before. I just love planted tanks though.

 

[black hills tj]

A dwarf puffer would be neat in a cube. Not sure if you could go with 2 of them though. I think cherry barbs would do alright in the tank. A bushynose pleco may fit in there fine. A few corydoras for the bottom would work alright.

 

[Dt524]

You dont have to make the tank for a dwarf puffer. They are the only completely freshwater puffer from what I know.

I had a herrum female bettas it was really interesting.

Well good luck.

 

[rubysoho]

Dt, I was under the impression that the dwarf puffers were also slightly brackish. If they aren't. then they will be going into my setup, and I figure out the rest based on compatibility. I was excited to see them at my LFS because when I used to have tanks those were never to be found (small town, different state).

Off to do some more research.

 

[fish 'n' fries]

Dwarf puffers are fresh water. However, they're supposed to be quite territorial and not conducive to many tank mates. Dwarfpuffers.com is a pretty good web site about them (there've also been a couple articles in a few of the big magazines lately...can't remember which ones though...sorry!)

 

[Blazeherd2306]

Yep, I believe dwarf puffers are completely freshwater fish.

A dwarf puffer tank would be pretty cool. They're very interesting fish.