Tank Shuffling advice

[joylynn]

I have 4 tanks all in various stages and I am preparing to shuffle some of the inhabitants around and/or add a couple of buddies and need soem advice on my set ups:

5 Gallon - silk plants(want to get real), medium gravel substrate, Whisper mini HOB filter - Temp around 72 (need to get a thermometer for this tank) final stages of cycle - ammonia 0, nitrite .25, nitrate 20
1 Male Betta

Question 1- could I add a couple of ghost shrimp or amano shrimp to this tank once it is done cycling or is a 5G only big enough for a betta alone?

Question for all my tanks - what is are some good low-moderate light plants that are hard to kill (I am very plant challenged)?


10G - plastic plants (once again would prefer real), medium gravel substrate, temp 72, Top fin HOB filter, fully cycled - ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate <20

Current inhabitants are goldfish - they are moving elsewhere

Question - what is a good small fish group that I could have a school of that will not reproduce like mad? Are there good small tetras? This tank is in my office/playroom for my daughter and I would like entertaining fish to watch while on conference calls ? and would a small snail or shrimp be a good fit in this tank as well?

35G - small gravel/large sand substrate, real plants (only 2 little stringy things, need better plants) temp 82, still cycling - ammonia 0, nitrite 2.0, nitrate 160 (yes I do daily 50-70% water changes on this tank)

current inhabitants:
9 tiger barbs
3 Opaline Gouramis
3 pictus catfish
1 spotted pleco
1 albino rainbow shark
1 peacock eel

Question - I know this tank is overstocked and I am going to be moving some of the fish to a 75 in the near future. If all I leave in this tank are the tiger barbs, and the eel, and a smaller pleco variety, how many more tiger barbs could I reasonably add?

75 G - in planning stage - will have real plants, 2 filters, probably tropical temps 78-82.

planned inhabitants:
3 Opaline gouramis (not sure of sex) (already have)
3 pictus catfish (already have)
1 spotted pleco (already have)
1 albino shark (already have)
2 peacock eels

question 1 - I am debating between a sand substrate for this tank or small gravel for this tank - anyone with experience with sand who can tell me any problems that come up with sand?

question 2 - I would like to add more opaline gouramis, how many can I have and what is a good M/F ratio to keep the infighting to a minimum?

question 3 - does anyone have any other suggestions for this tank other than adding additional gouramis? Looking for any other fish that will be compatible with what I have, I already have plenty of bottom dwellers, so I need mid and top dwellers.

Thanks!

 

[fishcatch22]

1. you can definely add 1-2 more small fish to your 5g. 2. java ferns are great looking, cheap, grow like mad, and thrive in total darkness, as well as crypts, anubias nana, and java moss. 3. you can't have more than one goldfish per 10 gallons!! I wish someone told you that afore you bought "some" goldfish!

 

[joylynn]

Yeah the 3 goldfish are moving shortly either to another home or to a pond if I can only convince my hubby to let me put a pond in

 

[fishcatch22]

good. I am a goldie lover and love to see them finally in a proper home.

 

[joylynn]

Me too, the good new is I am diligent about water changes for them knowing they are eina tank that is too small, and they are still only about 2.5" in length, so the overcrowding isn't horrible yet, but I want to fix the problem asap. They don't show any signs of stress at all and their tank has the best water of any of my 3 right now (surprising with how messy goldies are )

 

[Rowangel]

I would not add more fish to your 5g, IMO one beta is max for that size. You could, however try a few shrimp. The beta may or may not be interested in eating them though.

Real plants are great! But make sure you have the proper requirements or the plants may not last long. You need a good florescent light (minimum of 15w for a low-light tank), good soil (either fluorite or eco complete are good ones) and a nice fertilizer dosing regiment. If you do a low-light tank you won’t need to add Co2, but I would add Flurish Excel as part of your dosing regime. Checkout plantedtanks for more info.

In my low-light 10g I keep Crypt Wendii(red), Java moss/Java fern, Anubias Nana, Watersprite, Dwarf lily and Hygrophila Polysperma. All do very well.

 

[fishcatch22]

well, if that 10g was mine, i'd have a small school of small tetras, 7-9 individuals, and a nice bottom feeding fish to clean up and look nice, like a coolie loach or a small pleco.

 

[fishcatch22]

I would not add more fish to your 5g, IMO one beta is max for that size. You could, however try a few shrimp. The beta may or may not be interested in eating them though.

Real plants are great! But make sure you have the proper requirements or the plants may not last long. You need a good florescent light (minimum of 15w for a low-light tank), good soil (either fluorite or eco complete are good ones) and a nice fertilizer dosing regiment. If you do a low-light tank you won’t need to add Co2, but I would add Flurish Excel as part of your dosing regime. Checkout plantedtanks for more info.

In my low-light 10g I keep Crypt Wendii(red), Java moss/Java fern, Anubias Nana, Watersprite, Dwarf lily and Hygrophila Polysperma. All do very well.

no, one betta is not max for that size. she can get a oto or maybe 1-2 guppies as tankmates.

 

[Rowangel]

Lol, I added the IMO to that sentence because I was stating my oppinion. In your opinion you would say she can add more. IMO I say for the best health of her fish she should not crowed that tank any more. Betas enjoy some room and adding more fish to an already tight confinement is asking for problems. Add to it the aggressive nature of betas, variance of personalizes and the guppies could be pestered to death.

no, one betta is not max for that size. she can get a oto or maybe 1-2 guppies as tankmates.

This is an opinion…not fact.

 

[joylynn]

For the 5 I don't want to actually add more fish, I was thinking of just a pair of shrimp or a snail just to add another interesting animal in it. Plus the betta has been by himslef and seems pretty content that way, don't want to have him get aggressive with other fish.