Right now I have a 29 gal tank with 2 gouramis, a sword tail, and 5 zebras. what else could I put in here? I also want to know if it would be a good idea to get a little 5 gallon tank. I was thinking cool water, 5 white clouds(mountain minnows) and some plants. Would this be a good idea? I've heard they are tough to take care of.
small aquariums
- Thread starter ZannaClaire
- Start date
I dont know about your twenty.
The thing about a 5 gallon tank, as I understand it, is that in that amount of water, changes can happen rather rapidly. Certainly temperature fluctuations can be an issue.
In My oppinion, if you 'cycle' the tank, are mindfull of keeping it at a reasonably stable cool temperature, and do your the water changes very regularly. You'll be fine.
As far as temp goes, I mean keeping it in a cool but not drafty location, and Out of any sun. I don't knowwhat chillers are or if they are even a possibility on a tiny tank.
Some people might think a 5 gallon doesnt allow enough swimming room for white clouds. My oppinion is that it is big enough. Unless....
they start making baby white cloud minnows,
which they are prone to do.
As long as you are prepared to deal with the fry, either using them as food, or otherwise , I'd say you'll be fine.
White clouds are Great fish to have IMO. Possibly my all time fav.
They are hardy, as far as I know, and altogether a great time. Java moss will up the odds of having fry
The thing about a 5 gallon tank, as I understand it, is that in that amount of water, changes can happen rather rapidly. Certainly temperature fluctuations can be an issue.
In My oppinion, if you 'cycle' the tank, are mindfull of keeping it at a reasonably stable cool temperature, and do your the water changes very regularly. You'll be fine.
As far as temp goes, I mean keeping it in a cool but not drafty location, and Out of any sun. I don't knowwhat chillers are or if they are even a possibility on a tiny tank.
Some people might think a 5 gallon doesnt allow enough swimming room for white clouds. My oppinion is that it is big enough. Unless....
they start making baby white cloud minnows,
which they are prone to do.
As long as you are prepared to deal with the fry, either using them as food, or otherwise , I'd say you'll be fine.
White clouds are Great fish to have IMO. Possibly my all time fav.
They are hardy, as far as I know, and altogether a great time. Java moss will up the odds of having fry
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if you want a 5 gallon, i say go for a 10g. its not much more expensive and it give you much more stocking possibilites. or more room for your white clouds. and zazz was right, the water would change real fast.
Yeah, go ten. I would almost bet that it would be the same price if not a little cheaper for the ten. It's not uncommon to see 5.5g selling for 9.00 and 10g selling for 8.00. They are manufactured on a larger scale and can be sold cheaper. Any filter worth a fart will be for "up to ten gallons" and the same goes for the heater. As for lighting/hoods, I don't know that i've ever seen a hood for a 5.5 (never really looked though). They sell those economy hoods for 10g for like 13.00. Get some cheap compact flouresence from home depot (the spiral kind) and your in bussiness for lets see......$60.00 maybe. 10g will be easier to keep cool also (still tough in the summer)
Most 5 gallon tanks I've seen are plastic or acrylic and come in kits with a little hood and sometimes a filter. But they are usually pretty expensive, around 50 bucks. (assuming you have looked at this kind). I had a 2.5 gallon for a while and got really sick of the maintenance it required and finally got a 10g. If you're not against used you can get really good deals in your local papers and especially on ebay (if you can be patient that is!!).
As for the other tank, what kind of gourami do you have???
As for the other tank, what kind of gourami do you have???
I have a really nice little 5 gallon All-Glass aquarium with a striplight and lid. I like it. I have a pair of german blue rams...(small juvies)...in there right now. It's a planted tank with Echo-Complete substrate and a 10 watt compact flourescent bulb which screws into the incandescent fixture. The plants are doing really well, I use flourish excel for a carbon fert. I also have a 25 watt heater and a whisper mini in-tank filter for it.
I don't find this tank too difficult to maintain at all. It's cycled and the balance must be pretty good as I don't have much of an algae issue in it at all. For plants I have some water sprite, lily bulbs, small amazon sword or two and some type of crypt plant. All are doing very well.
There are some very small type fish that you can get for tanks of this size and have quite a few in there...along with some ghost shrimp. I don't remember the name of the particular fish I am thinking of, but the males only get about 1/2 inch long with the females about twice that....and they are supposed to be very good for small nano tank setups.
You could do a very nice planted tank setup in the smaller aquariums that wouldn't cost you as much as a larger tank...thinking lighting and such. And with the Flourish Excel product, you wouldn't have to get into CO2 injection systems. I say give it a go Claire...and show us some pics if you can !
I don't find this tank too difficult to maintain at all. It's cycled and the balance must be pretty good as I don't have much of an algae issue in it at all. For plants I have some water sprite, lily bulbs, small amazon sword or two and some type of crypt plant. All are doing very well.
There are some very small type fish that you can get for tanks of this size and have quite a few in there...along with some ghost shrimp. I don't remember the name of the particular fish I am thinking of, but the males only get about 1/2 inch long with the females about twice that....and they are supposed to be very good for small nano tank setups.
You could do a very nice planted tank setup in the smaller aquariums that wouldn't cost you as much as a larger tank...thinking lighting and such. And with the Flourish Excel product, you wouldn't have to get into CO2 injection systems. I say give it a go Claire...and show us some pics if you can !
I have two mid sized oplines in my 29. I already have a ten gal that isn't set up, I had it before I got my 29, so I could use that... I just didn't really have anywhere to put it in my room and still look good, only a five would fit in my book case, I guess I could give it a shot. If I had any fry from the clouds, I have an outdoor pond that has some big fish in it, they could eat them. Has any one had luck using white gravel, or does it just get gross? I think that would look best if it stayed nice.
Not sure I understood you, but, Please Don't try to put a 10 gallon on a bookshelf that might not hold it.
If its just a matter of how it looks, well then do what you want.
I like the little glass 5 gals that look like miniature 'real' tanks.
Very few stocking options, it's true. I agree with what has been said about the10s. I just think fives have their place as well.
The best argument in favor of a 10, over a 5??
MORE WHITE CLOUDS! :bday:
PS, never tried white gravel. It should not become gross because it should be vacuumed regulary. right???
The other consideration is how good you are ar keeping a tank completely algae free. That would be one of the things that would be more difficult in a very small tank. No personal experience because I like a little green algae.
If its just a matter of how it looks, well then do what you want.
I like the little glass 5 gals that look like miniature 'real' tanks.
Very few stocking options, it's true. I agree with what has been said about the10s. I just think fives have their place as well.
The best argument in favor of a 10, over a 5??
MORE WHITE CLOUDS! :bday:
PS, never tried white gravel. It should not become gross because it should be vacuumed regulary. right???
The other consideration is how good you are ar keeping a tank completely algae free. That would be one of the things that would be more difficult in a very small tank. No personal experience because I like a little green algae.
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If I had a ten gal, I'd have to get a stand for it, I'd never put one in a book case. The five gal I'd put on a little table with a shelf in the middle(the book case) we built. My dad is a contractor, so he built the table very sturdy. Sorry for misundertanding.