Ideas for a desktop aquarium
- Thread starter BrettRox
- Start date
Great thread guys-Long time browser and first time poster. I am off to college tommorow, and I am leaving my 29 gallon tank in the care of my dad, and taking my beta with me. Once I have all my stuff set up, and have my roommate all scoped out (heh) as to whether he will be cool with it or not, (cant imagine he would have a problem with it, but people are wierd) I want to get a small 5-6 gallon tank for my desk. Some great stocking ideas.
To bad that is too small for a gourami. What kind of vegitation, if any would you put in a tank that size?
To bad that is too small for a gourami. What kind of vegitation, if any would you put in a tank that size?
Welcome to AC, Tekhna!
A tank that size, you'd want to get some plants that don't require a lot of light. Java moss, java ferns, and swords would do just fine! (by the way, I'm by no means a plant expert... but those are the plants that I have and I have not yet managed to kill them, haha!!). Good luck at college. And if your roomie doesn't want a small fish tank in the room, then you should try to find a new roomie
~Tara
A tank that size, you'd want to get some plants that don't require a lot of light. Java moss, java ferns, and swords would do just fine! (by the way, I'm by no means a plant expert... but those are the plants that I have and I have not yet managed to kill them, haha!!). Good luck at college. And if your roomie doesn't want a small fish tank in the room, then you should try to find a new roomie
~Tara
dwayne said:Welcome to AC, Tekhna!
A tank that size, you'd want to get some plants that don't require a lot of light. Java moss, java ferns, and swords would do just fine! (by the way, I'm by no means a plant expert... but those are the plants that I have and I have not yet managed to kill them, haha!!). Good luck at college. And if your roomie doesn't want a small fish tank in the room, then you should try to find a new roomie
~Tara
Heh, too true. Thanks for the advice. Anyone have any input on the eclipse 6 gallons? It seems like it would be a decent setup that would be pretty self-contained. With a tank that small is a heater very needed, or is that a part of the eclipse system? Do you suppose 6 gallons is too little for a betta, and a Powder blue dwarf gourami (or pair of gouramis?)
I have an Eclipse 3 gallon and love it (though it's not set up currently). When I got it, the only extra things I got were a heater (not included), imho it is necessary, unless you know your room will be consistently the same temp and able to keep the tank at 78ish. Heaters aren't that expensive, and worth the $ imo. I also got a small air pump, and put a bubble stone in the tank (not necessary though).
As far as stocking, I would not put a gourami and a betta together in such a small tank. I had a betta and a gourami in a 29 gallon successfully, but since they are both antabantids (sp?? ie, they both breathe air), they may squabble in a 6 gallon together. Ditto for a pair of gouramis. Of course all fish have different fishonalities, and you could fair better than others have. You could have 1 dwarf gourami and a couple of dwarf cory cats in that tank though, no problems.
~Tara
As far as stocking, I would not put a gourami and a betta together in such a small tank. I had a betta and a gourami in a 29 gallon successfully, but since they are both antabantids (sp?? ie, they both breathe air), they may squabble in a 6 gallon together. Ditto for a pair of gouramis. Of course all fish have different fishonalities, and you could fair better than others have. You could have 1 dwarf gourami and a couple of dwarf cory cats in that tank though, no problems.
~Tara
Wow! Such great suggestions from this forum... I really appreciate ate everyone who took the time to post. So far I think I'm leaning toward this suggestion...
1 betta (male or female)
4 pgymy cories
2 ghost shrimp
...but I'm not sure. I don't really remember seeing Pygmy Cories or Ghost Shrimp at the fish stories in my area. I kept a betta before, and enjoyed it. They are such beautiful fish and have a spot of personality as well.
I also like this suggestion...
... along with the Betta and two African Dwarf Frogs.:dance
What exactly are you referring to? I must say I haven't heard of either of these before, and I consider myself to be reasonably schooled in fishkeeping.
I appreciate this suggestion and will likely take care of this this evening. Also, what would be the quickest way to cycle this tank? I currently have a 55 gallon in my living room, so would it be best just to take five gallons out of that to use for the water in this tank? :dance
1 betta (male or female)
4 pgymy cories
2 ghost shrimp
...but I'm not sure. I don't really remember seeing Pygmy Cories or Ghost Shrimp at the fish stories in my area. I kept a betta before, and enjoyed it. They are such beautiful fish and have a spot of personality as well.
I also like this suggestion...
... along with the Betta and two African Dwarf Frogs.:dance
What exactly are you referring to? I must say I haven't heard of either of these before, and I consider myself to be reasonably schooled in fishkeeping.
I appreciate this suggestion and will likely take care of this this evening. Also, what would be the quickest way to cycle this tank? I currently have a 55 gallon in my living room, so would it be best just to take five gallons out of that to use for the water in this tank? :dance
You're on your way!
As far as cycling goes, remember that beneficial bacteria mostly lives in the filter media, and some in the gravel.... not in the water. You could take some gravel from your established tank, and maybe squeeze your filter media gunk into a bucket and absorb the gunk into a new filter media for the smaller tank. That will help the cycling along!
Good luck!
~Tara
As far as cycling goes, remember that beneficial bacteria mostly lives in the filter media, and some in the gravel.... not in the water. You could take some gravel from your established tank, and maybe squeeze your filter media gunk into a bucket and absorb the gunk into a new filter media for the smaller tank. That will help the cycling along!
Good luck!
~Tara
Ah, well, check out my avatar for a good beginner killifish, Aphyosemion striatum. Killis comes in many shapes, colours, and degrees of difficulty, but all are fascinating!
Sample killis:
Endler's are a small livebearer. They are hardy, easy to keep and prolific.
Sample killis:
Endler's are a small livebearer. They are hardy, easy to keep and prolific.
Am I right in thinking that endler's are not great with bettas though, as they will nip fins?
I am trying to decide right now between a 10 gallon, and the 6 gallon eclipse, if I go with the 10 gallon, do you guys think I could do a small school of cardinal tetras, a betta, and some ghost shrimp?
Thanks for all the stock help.
I am trying to decide right now between a 10 gallon, and the 6 gallon eclipse, if I go with the 10 gallon, do you guys think I could do a small school of cardinal tetras, a betta, and some ghost shrimp?
Thanks for all the stock help.
Tekhna ~ If you did a 10 gallon, you could definately do the small school of cardinals, the betta and some shrimp!!
Dapple2 ~ I've never seen killis at any lfs around here... but they sure are pretty!
~Tara
Dapple2 ~ I've never seen killis at any lfs around here... but they sure are pretty!
~Tara
