Newbie**New tank** help**

Bjork

Bjork

AC Members
Mar 23, 2005
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Hi,

I'm Bjork, I'm new to the forums. I have a betta named white thunder. He was in a miniscule little plastic tank thing. It was torture for me to see him in there so i bought a 25L acrylic desktop tank. I also bought two ornaments, a fake plant, gravel, heater. Now what temperature should i have the heater set at for my betta? Currently i have it set at 27ºC. Here's some pictures.
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I think i've cycled through the water. The ammonia level is at 0. I don't have any other test kits unfortunately. Is it safe to put my betta in? Also is it safe to put in any other fish with my betta in a tank this size? If so is there anything anyone can reccomend? My friends brother has convicts that just bred. He offered to give me one. From what i've read they get big and are agressive fish. I think my tanks to small for it. Am i correct? Anyway thanks for putting up with my stupid questions any help is appreciated.
 
I am kind of a noob also, but until someone else replies I would say go to your LFS and have them do a free water test for ammonia and nitrates, then post back here with the test results, also I know absolutly nothing about beta's, but most tropical fish community tanks are heated at around 80 degree's I think give or take a couple of degree's, unless your keeping discus which like it a little warmer I believe. anyway my help and info is limited but it may get you started in the right direction
 
Welcome to the Forum!

Question: Did you do a fishless cycle? (add X ppm of ammonia per day for two weeks or more until the Ammonia and Nitrite readings were zero 24 hours later)

Your temp is fine for a betta. You are quite correct (your betta thanks you for checking too) Your tank is too small for a convict, and they will be far too aggressive and too large for your betta's tank. However, you could put some other things in with your betta: otocinclus catfish, freshwater shrimp, snails, and depending on his temperment, maybe others.
 
hey, okay i figured so. I havn't added any ammonia but i did add some fish food and some water from my existing tank. The ammonia level is at 0 but i havn't bought a nitrate test kit yet. The waters been in there for about a week. My betta is a hearty fish he should be able to handle the waters won't he? Also he is a very mellow fish and i don't think he'll have problems with many others. I was thinking about getting 1-2 cory cats and 1-3 swordtails for the tank. Or is that overstocking? Also any other input on my tank?
 
Your tank is so pretty. I don't know a lot about overstocking but this seems just fine.
:)
 
do you think its safe to put my betta in? They're hardy fish so i assume it should be able to survive?
 
Welcome to Aquaria Central! Very nice looking setup you have there, the betta will be very happy :)

It's really a necessity to at least be able to test for ammonia and nitrites (not nitrates). If you can test for ammonia and nitrites, I'd say it would be fine to put the betta in there if you're commited to doing daily water changes if needed to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels down (below .50ppm at least). Bettas are somewhat hardy fish really, but any amount of ammonia or nitrites present in the water is toxic to all fish.

As far as tankmates for the betta, if my calculations are correct, that's about a 6 gallon tank. That doesn't give you room for much. In my opinion, it would be ok to add 3 cories, but only if they are panda or pygmy cories which stay very small. Others will probably disagree with me on the cories (looks around for Harlock lol). Swordtails and convicts both grow too large for that tank.

Whatever you decide to add, don't add anything until you've gone a week with zero ammonia and nitrites. Once that happens, only add one fish at a time and wait until you've gone a week with zero ammonia and nitrites again, then add the next, and so on. Doing it this way will keep the ammonia and nitrites from spiking very high and harming your fish and will also save you a lot of extra work with water changes along the way until things finally get stable.

Good luck! I'd definitely love to see some pics once you get everything setup :)
 
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Okay so i need the nitrite test kit. Well i'll go downtown and pick that up and then i'll be broke:P My bank account drastically shrunk to a mere $25. Don't ask how but I am glad payday is tomorrow. What about black redtail shark? I think thats what it was called at petcetera. I'm going to go down there tonight and double check. Anyway thanks for the help. Also what about live plants? I think i saw a rooted plant for sale at petcetera for $10 will it stay healthy in my tank or is this a whole new ball game? Also is there any other suggestions for fish? When i go to the petstore tonight i think i'll bring my digicam and take pictures so i can show you guys what fish i like. I just hope they staff don't get angry.
 
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