Adding Betta to a 60g cycled tank, then adding plants. Is this ok?

W

wickedv6

El Mero Mero
Jan 15, 2006
10
0
0
43
Spring Valley, CA
Alright I purchased a 60g tank last week with 48x16x18 dimensions. It's been running with an emperor 400 power filter and two 150w heaters set at 79ºf for two days. It currently has a plastic cave decoration and a 24" piece of driftwood to lower the ph which is currently at 8.0 (hopefully the driftwood lowers it some more). I bought 50lbs of brown gravel which is about 2" towards the back of the tank and a little over 1" in the front of the tank.

I want to go ahead and begin the nitrogen cycle by adding a betta that is exactly what I'm looking for (white body and red to blue fins) which is why I want to hurry up and purchase it before someone else does. I currently have no plants because I know that the lighting I have is not sufficient enough (only 1 48"x40w flourescent bulb). Any advice on proper lighting required?

If I add my betta now, and get plants later on (three weeks) would that effect my betta, and other fish which I plan to gradually add? I plan to add some java moss for my driftwood, wisteria grass, and some elodea. I currently added some bulbs (6) to the bottom of the tank but it will be awhile before those sprout.

If i'm over looking something please stop me now, since I want to do this correctly.

P.S. I'll be adding some swordtails, neon tetras, and some siamese algae eaters as my other fish.
 
you shouldn't have any problem adding a betta and plants later

i would recomend you plant before you add any other fish however and allow some time for them to establish themselves.

i had my betta in a 20 gallon community with swords and had to remove him b/c they were nipping his fins too much. but apparently these things vary with each instance and you do have a lot more room

i've also heard A LOT from people who know that those algae eaters get nippy and aggresive once they mature and lots of times before then

since your tank will be planted i'd suggest a large school of oto's- lots of personality and much more effective on algae if you want a larger fish bristle nose plecos are great for planted tanks and get to be about 6 inches- i think the yellow/gold ones are especially pretty.

cheers-kyle
 
I would actually consider doing a fishless cycle. If you get to the point where your ammonia and / or nitrites get dangerously high, you will not want to be doing large water changes on a 60g tank everyday. Basically one fish will take a very long time to cycle a tank that size and if you get your whole stock at once, the ammonia and nitrite might get too high. Just something to consider. ;)
 
Holly9937 said:
I would actually consider doing a fishless cycle. If you get to the point where your ammonia and / or nitrites get dangerously high, you will not want to be doing large water changes on a 60g tank everyday. Basically one fish will take a very long time to cycle a tank that size and if you get your whole stock at once, the ammonia and nitrite might get too high. Just something to consider. ;)
Click to expand...

Dang I already added my Betta, about an hour after that I added him, the whole water got crazy cloudy. I'm glad I began the cycle with a betta because that bacteria cloud was hella thick. I would rather take that time with the betta, since I won't be able to afford anything else until my next check; next friday.
Even with just the driftwood and plastic piece it still looks pretty nice. I added four Kyoto plants to give the betta somewhere to chill.
 
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