another betta tank

[emmaS]

Hi. Thanks for the advice for the 2.5g. Now I have a 10 gallon that I'd bought just to house a crayfish found in the wild, but was released back in the "wild" yesterday--so the tank is empty. I believe the crayfish lived in the tank for about 7-10 days.

I'd like to make the 10g a betta tank w/ a divider. When I'd gone to my LFS to ask about how to cycle the 2.5g for a betta, I was told I really didn't need to cycle for a betta. Is this true? For the 10g do I have to cycle still or can I just set up, maybe run it for a day and then put in the fish? I can put in plants and rocks from the other tank.

[guppygirl123]

You need to cycle a tank for any kind of fish. Even though a beta could (probably) survive in a tank that isn't cycled, doesn't mean it should have to. I would cycle the tank first, that would be much better for the beta. Decorations from another tank might add bacteria into the water which will start the cycle.

[KeithL]

I started a 10 gallon tank on last week Saturday. On Monday I added two small Bronze Corys, and moved three plastic plants over from my established 55. I have a Wisper 60 filter in the 55 and a Whisper 20 in the 10, so I moved a used filter pack and sponge over from the 55. On Wednesday I had trace amonia, Thursday the amonia was gone and I had nitrites, Friday the nitrites were gone and I had nitrates. I did a 50% water change and things are fine. I have three tetras to move over, and when things settle down from that I plan to add a Beta.

Moving over the plants and media made this cycle so quick it is really gratifying.

[Ms.Bubbles]

If you've got filter media from a tank that's been running (with fish) for a month or 2, you can use that and your cycle time will be very short. Plants and rocks alone will not impact the tank's cycle.

Otherwise, you need to cycle your tank before adding the bettas (warning: bettas can quickly develop finrot &/or pop-eye in an uncycled tank).

I'm afraid that running a tank empty won't do anything for your tank's cycle. You need to "feed" the empty tank with pure ammonia or fish food to build good bacteria. Without a used filter, this could take up to 6 weeks.

[KeithL]

Apparently I didn't express myself well. The tank was only empty (no fish) long enough to be free of chlorine. I added fish and media from a fully cycled tank. Bacteria also clings to all things in a tank so adding gravel, plastic plants, rocks, etc. bring bacteria into the new tank and speed the process. And in a week the cycle is done for the bioload in the tank now. I know there will be another cycle when more fish are added.

[Ms.Bubbles]

My comments were in response to the original poster, not you Keith.

[emmaS]

I find cycling kinda confusing. I have 3 empty tanks and the reason I haven't set them up is partly the fear of cycling. The other is deciding what kind of fish I'd like. The only tank set up was given to me set up w/ fish and everything in there.

For the 10g or 2.5g, what kind of fish should I use and how many? The LFS recommended goldfish but I was wondering if there was a fish that could live w/ bettas (but again for the 10g I would like to use a divider to house 2 bettas).

Thanks!

[Candycat21]

Stay away from goldfish. At the bare minumum goldfish need a 20 gallon for one and then an additional 10-15 gallons for each additional goldie you plan to add...so with the tank you have, they wouldn't be a good match at all.
Stick with your smaller community type fish. One betta in the 2.5 gallon would work...make sure it has a heater and filter. Bettas are tropical fish.
For the 10 gallon you could do things like neon tetras and maybe a couple cory cats for the bottom etc.
Personally I would house a betta in both tanks....one if the 2.5 gallon and then 2 in the 10 gallon(make sure you have a nice secure divider though) Fully planted tanks....java moss and java fern are my favourites with some driftwood..easy to maintain.

[Ms.Bubbles]

No need to be afraid of cycling...cycling is GOOD! :)

If your 20 gallon has been up and running for more than 2 months, you can do as Keith suggested and simply take some of the filter media and gravel from the old tank and put it into your new tank. Feed the new tank some ammonia or fish food and moniter the ammonia and nitrite levels every day. When both are at 0 (which shouldn't take long) you're ready to do a big waterchange and add fish.

Since you're planning on getting a betta for your 2.5g, why not try something different in the 10g? Guppies are easy-care. Neon tetras are pretty, but a little bit delicate, health-wise. Take a look in your local store and see what you like while your tank is cycling. By the time it's ready, you'll know what kind of fish you want. If you're not sure about it's tank size requirements, just post again--you'll get lots of suggestions!