best apistogramma for 15 gallon

[Aquaticloch]

Hello everyone, i'm looking for an apisto that does best in pairs and could fit in this diminutive aquarium. The aquarium would be run with an aquaponics system and the dimensions would be 20" x 10" x 18" or 50 x 25 x 45 cm. Are there any less common fish that would be suitable for this aquarium? would borelli, hongsloi, nijsseni, or atahaulpa (they do better in harems I belive) work in this tank? I will get maybe 3 nannostomus beckfordi and i could move any fish if the need arises.
thanks for any input!

 

[MacZ]

In that size I'd only keep a singular Apisto. Hongsloi I can tell you did not work out in a 60cm tank. Atahualpa are said to be quite agressive. If any maybe borelli.

 

[Ben Rhau]

15 gallon is a pretty common size for a breeding tank, as long as you have other places to move fish when needed. From that list, borellii should work. I think it’s been discussed in other threads if you do a search.

 

[yukondog]

Borellii, would be my pick also.

 

[Mike Wise]

You have what is called a 15 High. Your tank is has the same bottom dimensions as a standard 10 gallon tank. Bottom dimensions are more important, apisto-wise, than volume. Of the species listed I would only be comfortable with housing a pair of A. borellii - and only if I had a way to re-house the male if they bred and produced fry. Then you would need to decide what to do with the fry. A tank this size can easily be polluted by the addition of even small fry. If you were lucky to find them, the best apisto for such a small tank would be A. wapisana/sp. Balzfleck. They are tiny, getting to the size of a mature Neon Tetra. They are not the best looking species, but the reversed courtship behavior is quite interesting to observe.

 

[John Stoller]

One more thing to consider, the pH and hardness requirements of your Aquaponics system may be greatly different that what your apistos require.

 

[JeffInKentucky]

I’m going to second (or third, or fourth, or fifth) borellii. Have my pair in a 15 gallon, although it is a little larger footprint. I also concur with Mike’s suggestion of being prepared to move the male out.