[Cuddly Porcupine]

I just got this new 15 gallon tank and I was wondering what the heck should I do with this tank?:confused1: Should I turn it into a saltwater tank or a freshwater tank?:fish1: Plants or Fake plants? Thank you guys so much and I will highly appreciate if you respond.:help:
Thanks,
Cuddly Porcupine:bounce:

 

[Darkblade48]

Since this is the Planted Tank forum, I think the majority of answers that you get will be biased one way

A 15 gallon aquarium is a good size for a planted aquarium. I would shy away from saltwater, since nano saltwater aquariums can be difficult.

 

[THE V]

15 gallon is a lovely size for planted tanks.

In order of difficulty to care for (hardest to easiest):

1: saltwater
2: high tech planted.
3: low tech planted
4: non-planted biotype
5: fake plants and gravel - clown puke is the best.
6: bare bottomed
7: robo-fish

You pick what is best for you.

 

[GuppyGuppyGuppyGuppyGuppy]

I'm thinking some pink and blue gravel for a nice contrast, and a few really cool plastic plants. Maybe a castle and a diver chest that bubbles too, for good aeration. Get a bunch of the low grass plastic plants and put them in a line in the front, then put some taller plastic leafy ones in the back. I'd personally put some betas, goldfish, neons and puffers in there. Maybe like 3 or 4 of each for a nice diversity.

If you're even considering putting plastic plants in the tank, PLEASE do not even think about the word "saltwater"... Erase it from your memory. You'll kill more things in 5 minutes than you have in your entire life.

If you want a freshwater tank, take it seriously and get some nice substrate and live plants. Do your research. I'm sure any reasonable person would choose a nice, realistic planted tank over a gravel-filled tank with plastic plants and guppies.

 

[Bananableps]

Diana Walstad, a trained microbiologist who published one of the most important books in the planted tank hobby, describes a very simple, attractive shrimp tank in this pdf. Try out her directions for a shrimp bowl on your 5 gallon. The DSM 2 gallon tank directions are probably best to ignore. As she mentions in the article, there was a lot of algae to remove. Even if she was able to eventually control this to some extent with floating plants, you have to remember that Walstad is magic; results may differ for you. Raising high tech plants using the carbon imbedded in soil is a risky proposition in my opinion. If this is your first planted tank, go with her bowl method. It should work great for your 5 gallon.

 

[mfurufuru]

Raok

 

[Italionstallion888]

fill it full of rocks

 

[jrill]

fill it full of rocks

Funniest post ever.....

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

[Cuddly Porcupine]

sounds like i need to do more research on planted tanks.
Thanks for you who replied non sarcastically.

 

[Italionstallion888]

I was not picking on anyone. I apologize if my comment came off as rude. The post made it sound like it was a random left over tank. I was suggesting rocks as in a decorative piece. Rainbow rock or a bunch of lava rock. Throw in some air plants and have something easy and nice to look at.

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[Bananableps]

My advice was completely sincere.

 

[Cuddly Porcupine]

There were a couple of sincere replies, thank you to the people who posted those.

 

[Fajita]

deff. planted...i'll never go back to fake plants.....try easy low light ones to start you off...the first i ever bought was hornwort..easy to grow but anchor it down or it will float....but don't bury it...whatever part you bury will die after awhile...good luck whatever you choose:bounce:

 

[CAPSLOK]

Planted, with micro fish would be my vote. Or a species tank of something (small) that you find cool, and maybe even breed them.

If you decide to go SW, you are going to be severely limited in the fish options. So if you are okay with having 1-2 fish in there, and more focusing on the inverts, then do the research about it to see if that's a direction you (and your wallet) want to go.