My First Aquarium --> Fluval Flex 15g [tfw Build]

This thread will be for my first aquarium!
This is a planted tropical freshwater build with the Fluval Flex 15 tank.

Right now I'm trying to cycle the tank with Seachem Stability and Prime with Ammonium chloride from Dr. Tim. I am 5 days into it.

Question about chemical filtration: since I'm using Stability & Prime I haven't been using the bag of carbon which came with my filter.. is this a good idea or a bad one? Thanks.

Fish Stocking Idea (rough draft):
- Fancy Guppy x 3-5
- Silvertip Tetra x 6 or 7
- Centerpiece fish x1
- Cherry Shrimp x3-5
- Snail x1

Plants:
- Mariomo moss balls
- Java Moss
- Java Fern
- Anubias
- Some kind of grass
- A red plant.

Substrate: 20 pound bag of Eco-complete

 

I only put carbon in my filter when I’m trying to remove medicine. You’re fine

 

First welcome to fishlore..
Your tank is looking good can't wait to see when it's finished. Your stocking looks good as long as your center piece fish is not to big.
I wouldn't use prime while you are cycling unless you are doing it with fish in the tank but if your doing a fishless cycle then it's not needed. hope this helps..

 

Fluval flex doesn’t have 15 gallon as they advertise. The back compartment takes 3-4 gallons of water. So realistically you are looking at a 10gal ish tank. So first, maybe you are over stocking a bit. But the filter is alright. Put more bio media in the compartment. Also, 20 lbs sand will take a thick layer. Prob you don’t need that amount. I usually don’t like thick layer to avoid the anaerobic bubble.

 

Thanks for the advice.

Prime, I have used it on my tap water (city water) for the tank, don't I need it to remove any chlorine?

 

Thanks for the advice.

Prime, I have used it on my tap water (city water) for the tank, don't I need it to remove any chlorine?

Yes you do need to condition the tap water My bad should have known that lol.

 

How thick should the substrate be for a planted tank?

 

Fluval flex doesn’t have 15 gallon as they advertise. The back compartment takes 3-4 gallons of water. So realistically you are looking at a 10gal ish tank. So first, maybe you are over stocking a bit. But the filter is alright. Put more bio media in the compartment. Also, 20 lbs sand will take a thick layer. Prob you don’t need that amount. I usually don’t like thick layer to avoid the anaerobic bubble.

Water volume wise, it is close to 15 gallons, but swimming space is more like 10.

In my 9 gallon Flex, endler fry have decided the back chamber is a great place to hang out.
Yep, forgot to put something over/behind the lower intake grill to keep fry out.

 

The fluval flex is only about 15" long so it doesn't give fish much swimming room and really limits your stocking options. I wouldn't keep silvertip tetras in a tank less than 24" long.
I would start with a few more cherry shrimp. Maybe 15 or so. You are more likely to get a good mix of genders and they should establish a breeding colony faster.
Tank looks good so far!

 

Yeah it's 16x15x15.

So, what about something like this:

Fancy Guppy x 3-5
Something x 1 or 2
Shrimp x 15
Snail x1

 

Would Ember tetras be ok in a 15g?

 

Update!

Well I cycled my tank which took a little over a month. I have finally got fish in it. I started with 4 guppies, 3 shrimp and 1 snail.
It's been 3 days and all of them are still alive!

 

I spoke too soon.. my "sun tail" guppy started swimming upside down and darting about and sunk to the bottom, upside down. It was jerking around down there and now it's just motionless

 

Would Ember tetras be ok in a 15g?

I have seven embers and a female betta in the Fluval 9 gallon so I would assume you are good. Just make sure you get at least 5-6 of them since they are a schooling fish.

 

Ok, thought so. Plan to get 7. So another depressing day.. the purple/yellow guppy has died. I think they are sick, I've seen white noodle poop.