Starting Small Work Aquarium

[magpie]

Essentially I'm starting up a 14 gallon Biocube for the clinic that I work at. It will have live plants.

I'm thinking this for stocking:
-1 male Betta splendens (will add last)
-6-8? Salt and pepper cories (Corydoras habrosus)
-10-12? Blue Neon Rasboras (Sundanio axelrodi)

Stocking questions:
- How many cories, and how many rasboras? Both like larger groups. The neon rasboras are small at 20-22 mm.

I will keep up the tank, however I don't want to overload it. All of the fish like a low current, so I ordered a Mini Jet 404 to replace the Biocube's pump as it supposedly fits and has adjustable flow. I thought this would be easier than worrying about sticking a sponge in the output of the tank, as it's a weird small opening and not sure if it would hang up over time or just pop out and then fly everyone around.

Substrate question:
- My LFS recommends sand for the cories. They said if I use a small amount it shouldn't build up pockets. But then will there be enough to hold the plants down?
- Should I get Eco-complete and mix it together? Or just get some MTS?

Plants:
- Recommendations?
- This tank has decent light built in but I want it to be low maintenance. I do plan on dosing with Flourish.

Anything else I'm missing?

Thanks!

 

[onidrase]

Essentially I'm starting up a 14 gallon Biocube for the clinic that I work at. It will have live plants.

I'm thinking this for stocking:
-1 male Betta splendens (will add last)
-6-8? Salt and pepper cories (Corydoras habrosus)
-10-12? Blue Neon Rasboras (Sundanio axelrodi)

Stocking questions:
- How many cories, and how many rasboras? Both like larger groups. The neon rasboras are small at 20-22 mm.

I will keep up the tank, however I don't want to overload it. All of the fish like a low current, so I ordered a Mini Jet 404 to replace the Biocube's pump as it supposedly fits and has adjustable flow. I thought this would be easier than worrying about sticking a sponge in the output of the tank, as it's a weird small opening and not sure if it would hang up over time or just pop out and then fly everyone around.

Substrate question:
- My LFS recommends sand for the cories. They said if I use a small amount it shouldn't build up pockets. But then will there be enough to hold the plants down?
- Should I get Eco-complete and mix it together? Or just get some MTS?

Plants:
- Recommendations?
- This tank has decent light built in but I want it to be low maintenance. I do plan on dosing with Flourish.

Anything else I'm missing?

Thanks!

The cories you want won't really work, they get too big imo. Try for pygmy or panda cories, much more suitable for a cube tank.

IME, the sand air pocket thing is a myth that people use to keep using gravel even though gravel is total crap. Even if it is true, the cories will turn it over plenty enough for it to avoid getting air pockets.

Try for low light plants like anubias, java moss, and java fern if you don't know what lighting you have. All of them can survive in pretty much any light, and won't even need any ferts for growth.

 

[magpie]

The cories you want won't really work, they get too big imo. Try for pygmy or panda cories, much more suitable for a cube tank.

IME, the sand air pocket thing is a myth that people use to keep using gravel even though gravel is total crap. Even if it is true, the cories will turn it over plenty enough for it to avoid getting air pockets.

Try for low light plants like anubias, java moss, and java fern if you don't know what lighting you have. All of them can survive in pretty much any light, and won't even need any ferts for growth.

The cories I mentioned are actually a type of dwarf/pygmy cory, and are smaller than a panda. Some people call them Dainty Cories instead of Salt and Pepper. Here's Seriously Fish's profile:
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Corydoras&species=habrosus&id=904

What about the numbers?


Re: the sand, I'm just worrying too much, then. I won't put a super thick layer. How much is enough to keep plants down, yet not too much?


The biocube bulbs are:
1 24-watt 10000 K
1 24-watt actinic 03

I could replace them if it would be helpful, though I think that would be sufficient for low light plants.

 

[tribalbrit]

How about a few cherry shrimps?

 

[magpie]

I'd love them! I just worry that the Betta would love them, too.

I might try a few and see what happens. From what I read, it just depends on the Betta.

Might be OK with plants, a bit of wood, and the like?

 

[Jammiedodger]

Depends on the plants really but probably a minimum layer of 2 inches, as for the wood yeah definitely, just be sure to boil it to remove any nasties and leave it to stand for a while afterwards. The shrimps will be a useful clean up crew, they're good at picking food from the sand. Just be sure to stir the sand every once in a while, or you will end up with a smelly black layer of bacteria under it.

 

[onidrase]

I thought you were talking about the peppered cories, those guys commonly found in pet stores that get a good round 3 inches, sorry

 

[magpie]

Depends on the plants really but probably a minimum layer of 2 inches, as for the wood yeah definitely, just be sure to boil it to remove any nasties and leave it to stand for a while afterwards. The shrimps will be a useful clean up crew, they're good at picking food from the sand. Just be sure to stir the sand every once in a while, or you will end up with a smelly black layer of bacteria under it.

Thanks!

I thought you were talking about the peppered cories, those guys commonly found in pet stores that get a good round 3 inches, sorry

That's what I thought you might be referring to. No worries!


How many fish should I add at a time to such a small tank?

Also, how many shrimp should I have in there?

 

[Jammiedodger]

Put them in in the group sizes you came up with per species, the amounts seem right, just go for the lower numbers for now to make sure they aren't overcrowded.

 

[magpie]

Since I'm putting in plants and media from my current tank, you're saying I can add 6 cories right away? How long should I wait to add the rasboras, or does it matter? Don't want an ammonia spike.


This forum is so active and helpful. Thanks to all!

 

[Fishy friend2]

if i were you i would add 5 neons, one week, then the rest the next week, and 4 S&P after that and so on

 

[magpie]

So you think the rasboras first, then the cories?

OK!

 

[Fishy friend2]

either way is fine, it doesnt matter. but i really love those kinds of fish compared to cories, and thats why i would add them before any other fish