Son wants 1 gallon tank - need help.

Anne L.

Anne L.

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Dec 3, 2003
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Hello, everyone. I haven't been around here for almost a year, because for some reason the site hasn't worked for me.

Our 10 gal tank is doing well and some of the fish are almost 2 years old.

My 11 year old wants a small tank to put in his bedroom, like a 1 gallon.

What kind of fish would be suitable for such a small tank, and how would we cycle it? I've done the fishless cycle route, but can we use filter media and gravel from our 10 gallon to make it quicker?

He was thinking of a couple of white cloud minnows or a betta fish because these little tanks don't have heaters. It does have an undergravel filter - but we haven't bought a tank yet, so all suggestions are welcome.

What do all of you think?

I'm really glad to see this place is still around. :)
 
Hello again, good to see you back.

White clouds aren't a great choice for a 1 gallon tank. They actually get bigger than neons and really do like to swim in groups.

Really the only suitabel fish is a betta, though I have found that a lack of a heater and higher temps (78-80F) really does seem to slow them down a bit.

Since you already have the UGF (and it will be fine) why not get a cheap 2 gallon tank, put the UGF in and get a cheap heater. Then a betta can really thrive with a plant or 2. Adding gravel from an established tank will do fine, you just may wish to do twice weekly water changes at the beginning to really make sure toxic levels don't creep up on you.

If the 2 gallon isn't possible then a place with a stable and warm temp will be needed. Letting the tank temp drop below 70F is a really bad idea, IME.
 
I would recommend the bigger tank, too, if possible. There are 2-3 gallons from Marineland and Mini-Bow that run around thirty bucks and include everything except the heater. That would open up the possibilities for fish, somewhat.
 
I honestly think that 1 gallon is too small for any fish to happily live in. I say this because I started with a 1/2 gallon "Betta starter kit" and immediately felt sorry for my fish as he had no room to swim. I moved him up to a 3 gallon and he seemed more active. After only a short time, even the 3 seemed too small, as my betta was pacing it like crazy, so I moved him to a 5 1/2 gallon tank. Much better.
 
I'm glad to see you're still around, TKOS, and everyone else, too.

My concern with this tank is that it's fairly cool in my son's room, so I wonder if a betta will be ok in there. You see them all the time in bowls without heaters, but they are pretty sluggish.

I think we'll keep looking around and maybe get a 2 gallon tank if we can. With a heater, would neons be a good idea, or are they too fragile?

Thanks for all the quick replies.
 
I'd say go and get another 10g tank..they're very cheap (about the same price as a 2-3g tank), and you'll have alot more options and fewer problems with a tank this size.
 
I would also suggest at least a 10 gallon tank. The margin for error in a 1 gallon volume is just to small. 2 flakes extra and you could have an amonia problem. Those two flakes extra in 10 gallons still might create some amonia, but the concentration would only be 1/10th what it might reach in the 1 gallon.

It is this reason that I think a 20 gallon tank with a couple fish would be the best beginner setup. Those couple fish in a 5 gallon setup would make the learning curve so much steeper.
 
I'd agree w/ the general consensus, 1 gallon is too small for much of anything interesting. Species small enough to fit are typically not fun to look at.

This video was funny, kind of same topic (kids w/ fishtanks) you probably missed it if this is your first post in awhile:
http://www.fazed.org/video/view/?id=129
 
We have a 10 gallon tank already, and have had great success. If my son's room had space for another one, we'd get that size.

He only has room for about a 2-3 gallon tank, so that's why we can't go any larger.

I think a betta in this size of a tank with a small heater is probably the best idea.

I've had our 10 gallon for a couple of years already, so I have experience with cycling and setting up a tank.

Does anyone have any ideas about the cycling of a small tank like this - see my first post?

Thanks

P.S. We just saw the video and holy cow, that was scary. I hope they saved the poor fish.
 
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