help with small tank

manda · 02-09-2006, 12:47 PM

i am going to try to find a cheap 20 gallon fish tank. i want to know about cycling with fish.
are mollies good to cycle with?
in my fish tank i am wanting either a beta, goupies, and an apple snail
OR
dwarf gourims, apple snail, black widow tetras, and neon tetras... maybe something else.
can i put these together?
i have had a pair of gourims before but they would always fight!! are they spose to be the only gourmi in the tank?
what does the tempature in the tank need to be, and what all do i need besides the tank to get started.

Georgia Peach · 02-09-2006, 01:12 PM

I think the best thing to do is to cycle your tank without fish (which will take about 3-4 weeks) and in the meantime do some research to decide what fish you will have. It will be better in the long run - in my opinion anyhow. Any time you just throw fish in a tank NOT knowing anything about who goes with who and who eats who and so forth, you are asking for a disaster.

manda · 02-09-2006, 01:55 PM

after doing some research just now on the temp, ph and kh balance i know i want a male betta, some goupies, a few zebra danio and my apple snail.
just out of curiousity why is it better to do a fishless cycle rather than a cycle with fish?
oh those fish i mention were in the same range with the ph, kh balance and water temp.
its untrue that bettas need to be house alone, isnt it?

Georgia Peach · 02-09-2006, 02:56 PM

Im not a betta person so I cant answer that for you.

I just personally beleive a fishless cycle is better because most of the time people choose fish that they dont want in the first place to cycle with - its very stressful on the fish and alot of them die due to the cycle. I beleive it takes about the same amount of time with or without fish..

I look at it this way - I wouldnt want someone cooking a meal for the first time, feeding it to me and not knowing whether or not Im gonna live to see the next meal.. LOL

manda · 02-09-2006, 03:37 PM

lol, yeah thats true.
and you are right, the fish i read are good for cycling i dont really want.

fishfreaks · 02-09-2006, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manda

after doing some research just now on the temp, ph and kh balance i know i want a male betta, some goupies, a few zebra danio and my apple snail.
just out of curiousity why is it better to do a fishless cycle rather than a cycle with fish?
oh those fish i mention were in the same range with the ph, kh balance and water temp.
its untrue that bettas need to be house alone, isnt it?

The betta may eat the guppies, not so sure about the danios, and you should add the snail first incase the betta is very territorial

Zildjian-Man · 02-09-2006, 08:32 PM

hey manda, just one thing, a 20 gal isn't really a "small tank".

kristian18f · 02-09-2006, 10:42 PM

If you get fancy tailed guppies the betta will most likely tear up the guppie's fins. I'm not sure on the short finned ones.

Same goes with long finned dainos and bettas, most bettas will nip at long fins period.

The second situation seems better to me. I have always heard not to have two groumies together. I have:
Neon's
Long/Short finned zebra dainos
Dwarf Groumie
Male Fancy Guppies
Ghost Shrimp

all in one tank, they seem pretty happy.

manda · 02-10-2006, 06:20 PM

i am thinking about maybe just getting a betta and a snail. if thats possible. i am trying to do some research on it.

sambi7878 · 02-11-2006, 01:42 AM

If that would be your choice of fish, the 20 gal tank will be big. a betta and a snail can do well in a 5 gal tank.

As what Zildjianman said, 20 gal is not really a small tank. if you still want this size, what type of fish do you really like? community or single-specie tank? aggressive or peaceful? fish colors?

About cycling a tank...The reason i know why we do fishless cycle (besides from what is said above) is that the cycling time is short and once youve cycled enough, you could put the fish you want at the same time.

fishboy · 02-11-2006, 11:08 AM

a betta and a snail in a 20 gallon? That's like giving a guppy its own pond! You have so much a room with a 20 gallon, don't let it go to waste. Add 2 schools of small tetras(~2" each) at least to add some color to the tank

manda · 02-11-2006, 04:10 PM

yes, i was wanting tetras and dwarf gourmis, but now i am pretty set on a 5 gal tank with a betta and maybe a snail.

sambi7878 · 02-14-2006, 06:35 AM

Good choice!

**SueM** · 02-14-2006, 02:36 PM

manda here is a couple great articals on fishless cycling,
I personally think its the only way to go, mainly because
I dont like putting any fish under stress.
Have fun, SueM

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article14.html
http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Fishlesscycle.htm

these are very helpful also..........
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/beginner.htm
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-chem.html

manda · 02-14-2006, 03:16 PM

thanks sue

02-09-2006, 12:47 PM	#1
manda Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: southren KY Age: 21 Posts: 450	help with small tank i am going to try to find a cheap 20 gallon fish tank. i want to know about cycling with fish. are mollies good to cycle with? in my fish tank i am wanting either a beta, goupies, and an apple snail OR dwarf gourims, apple snail, black widow tetras, and neon tetras... maybe something else. can i put these together? i have had a pair of gourims before but they would always fight!! are they spose to be the only gourmi in the tank? what does the tempature in the tank need to be, and what all do i need besides the tank to get started.

02-09-2006, 01:12 PM	#2
Georgia Peach Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gray, Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 1,608	I think the best thing to do is to cycle your tank without fish (which will take about 3-4 weeks) and in the meantime do some research to decide what fish you will have. It will be better in the long run - in my opinion anyhow. Any time you just throw fish in a tank NOT knowing anything about who goes with who and who eats who and so forth, you are asking for a disaster. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Cichlids have more personality than most people I know !*

02-09-2006, 02:56 PM	#4
Georgia Peach Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gray, Georgia Age: 42 Posts: 1,608	Im not a betta person so I cant answer that for you. I just personally beleive a fishless cycle is better because most of the time people choose fish that they dont want in the first place to cycle with - its very stressful on the fish and alot of them die due to the cycle. I beleive it takes about the same amount of time with or without fish.. I look at it this way - I wouldnt want someone cooking a meal for the first time, feeding it to me and not knowing whether or not Im gonna live to see the next meal.. LOL __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Cichlids have more personality than most people I know !* Last edited by Georgia Peach; 02-09-2006 at 03:02 PM.

02-09-2006, 10:42 PM	#8
kristian18f Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 340	If you get fancy tailed guppies the betta will most likely tear up the guppie's fins. I'm not sure on the short finned ones. Same goes with long finned dainos and bettas, most bettas will nip at long fins period. The second situation seems better to me. I have always heard not to have two groumies together. I have: Neon's Long/Short finned zebra dainos Dwarf Groumie Male Fancy Guppies Ghost Shrimp all in one tank, they seem pretty happy. __________________ This whole fish thing started with ONE betta. http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=kristian18f

02-11-2006, 01:42 AM	#10
sambi7878 "I am SAM" Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Philippines Age: 30 Posts: 163	If that would be your choice of fish, the 20 gal tank will be big. a betta and a snail can do well in a 5 gal tank. As what Zildjianman said, 20 gal is not really a small tank. if you still want this size, what type of fish do you really like? community or single-specie tank? aggressive or peaceful? fish colors? About cycling a tank...The reason i know why we do fishless cycle (besides from what is said above) is that the cycling time is short and once youve cycled enough, you could put the fish you want at the same time. __________________ SAM For every evil under the sun There is a remedy or there is none; If there be one, try and find it; If there be none, never mind it.

Members currently in the Chat:0
	Users In Chat Room: There are several users in chat now! Don't Be Shy - click here and come on in!

02-09-2006, 01:55 PM	#3
manda Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: southren KY Age: 21 Posts: 450	after doing some research just now on the temp, ph and kh balance i know i want a male betta, some goupies, a few zebra danio and my apple snail. just out of curiousity why is it better to do a fishless cycle rather than a cycle with fish? oh those fish i mention were in the same range with the ph, kh balance and water temp. its untrue that bettas need to be house alone, isnt it?

02-09-2006, 03:37 PM	#5
manda Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: southren KY Age: 21 Posts: 450	lol, yeah thats true. and you are right, the fish i read are good for cycling i dont really want.

02-09-2006, 08:32 PM	#7
Zildjian-Man yes i am a member.... Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nanaimo, BC, Canada Age: 16 Posts: 37	hey manda, just one thing, a 20 gal isn't really a "small tank".

02-10-2006, 06:20 PM	#9
manda Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: southren KY Age: 21 Posts: 450	i am thinking about maybe just getting a betta and a snail. if thats possible. i am trying to do some research on it.

02-11-2006, 11:08 AM	#11
fishboy Custom User Title Join Date: Feb 2005 Age: 17 Posts: 1,656	a betta and a snail in a 20 gallon? That's like giving a guppy its own pond! You have so much a room with a 20 gallon, don't let it go to waste. Add 2 schools of small tetras(~2" each) at least to add some color to the tank __________________ It is only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything

02-11-2006, 04:10 PM	#12
manda Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: southren KY Age: 21 Posts: 450	yes, i was wanting tetras and dwarf gourmis, but now i am pretty set on a 5 gal tank with a betta and maybe a snail.

02-14-2006, 06:35 AM	#13
sambi7878 "I am SAM" Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Philippines Age: 30 Posts: 163	Good choice! __________________ SAM For every evil under the sun There is a remedy or there is none; If there be one, try and find it; If there be none, never mind it.

02-14-2006, 02:36 PM	#14
SueM Administrator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kennewick, WA. Age: 50 Posts: 1,056	manda here is a couple great articals on fishless cycling, I personally think its the only way to go, mainly because I dont like putting any fish under stress. Have fun, SueM http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article14.html http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Fishlesscycle.htm these are very helpful also.......... http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/beginner.htm http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-chem.html __________________ Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled

02-14-2006, 03:16 PM	#15
manda Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: southren KY Age: 21 Posts: 450	thanks sue __________________ Proud mom of a SHELTIE 10 gallon: 6 black neon tetras, 1 male betta, 6 ghost shrimp 5.5 gallon divided: two male bettas 1/2 gallon: male betta 1 gallon: male betta 5.5 gallon: empty!!! ALSO mommy to two house rabbits! Ryo and Alex

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Important Basics For Sw Newbies.	hail_sniper	Beginner Saltwater	18	03-21-2008 07:57 AM
Is having/maintaining a SW tank harder/more demanding than a FW tank??	fishfrenzy	Beginner Saltwater	9	06-12-2005 10:39 AM
Small tank for Betta?	guppycat	Bettas	7	03-30-2005 05:01 AM
Small tank maintanence	Vivid-Dawn	Livebearers	1	03-27-2005 06:11 PM
Small frogs for an 8gal tank?	[bt]	Beginner Freshwater	4	03-27-2005 10:04 AM