trying to convince son fishless cycle is good

russjet

russjet

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Oct 25, 2004
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greenwich london uk
just before i got my tank we also bought my thirteen year old a 5 gallon tank for his bedroom a couple of weeks before
set up tank and killed the three goldfish that the pet superstore said would be fine in there despite large water changes

now he wants to go tropical as the fish are cooler and he can get more in the tank so we bought the heater

he has been feeding the water fish food till i can get some ammonia for it and is getting nitrites and nitrates and ammonia readings (not 5 but just a pinch of food to keep what is already there going)
nitrites are high and so is the nitrates

i am trying to convince him to carry on with the fishless cycle and then he can get all the fish he wants in there on the same day. he wants new fish at the weekend.

so he now after reading more is worried that his tank is too small

what can he get to put in there when and if he waits out the fishless cycle

i have suggested a betta would be cool but what housemates can fit in such a small tank.

he likes the idea of a kuhli loach

but also wants a couple of other tank mates

cant do frogs they freak out the sister in law

and how much fish food would be right to get the cycle established

he didnt go for being my quarantine tank till we get set up in front room

:( not fair so i may need to get myself a quarantine tank
 
He can just keep feeding it fish food until he sees no ammonia/nitrites. Not sure how much, but shouldn't take a lot. Using ammonia would be easier since you can measure it better. I also recommend doing 50% weekly water changes during a fishless cycle (just readd food/ammonia after the change). The weekly water change just helps to keep things in balance so you don't have a pH crash which can also kill off your bacteria.

Bettas are really fun fish. Mine eats out of my hand and will swim into my cupped hand in the water, it's so cute, but he's completely spoiled rotton lol You are very limited with only a 5 gallon tank. A kuhli loach should be fine in there. If you can find pygmy cories, you could put 3 of those in there (instead of the kuhli, not in addition to), but cories that get larger than an inch or so won't work since they like to be in a group and you won't have room for them.

Might also look at getting a shrimp or a large snail. A few live plants would be beneficial as well.
 
A trio of kuhli's will be better than just one. They are social fish, and when kept singly spend most of their time hiding. In a group, they'll be out and about more often. They will need something to crowd into and hide--the more places they have to choose form, the more often you will see them.

Amano shrimp, or even the ghost shrimp, would be good additions. If he wants something a little different than a betta, look into the paradise fish. They are lovely, and have good personalities.

If he wants to have more fish, look into killifish. A huge variety, most are easy to care for, and there are types that stay very small, allowing him to have more than just 2 or 3 fish.
 
those are all the fish i like/ am getting for my tank. khuli loaches (but i cant find any at any pet stores GRRRR) ghost shrimp are neat, and ill intoduce my betta soon. another cool fish in there would be a spotted puffer. my sister but her finger to the tank and made circles on it and the puffers would crowd over and watch, as if in a daze. they're funny looking too! careful though because they're somewhat agressive.
 
I don't think a 5g is large enough for kuhlis. 3 Kuhlis plus a betta or something is really pushing it, IMO, esp. since the footprint of the tank is so small and that's what kublis use.

Also, I think a paradise fish would be too large (Don't mean to keep contradicting you OG:( ). Paradise fish will hit 4" or so and I wouldn't plop them in anything smaller than a 10g for the long term.

I suggest a betta and some shrimp. Or, a trio of badis badis. Or some small killifish. Or a guppy or two and some shrimp (either all male or all female guppies, of course).

A 5g is really indeed limited.
 
In response to this part of your question:

"so he now after reading more is worried that his tank is too small

what can he get to put in there when and if he waits out the fishless cycle

i have suggested a betta would be cool but what housemates can fit in such a small tank."

Try doing a search with him on Google for "Nano Tanks" - I found some great ones that inspired me to start up another 5 - 1/2 gal (oh great)
for example:
http://www.pbase.com/plantella/nano_tank

Gorgeous!
 
son is sold on fishless cycling
thanks to all who have posted here
seems the words of strangers mean more to him than my advice typical for a teenager
he is also sold on the betta wants to train it to eat from his hand
i think he is hoping it will get out a knife and fork to eat the bloodworms he offers it and wipe its mouth with a serviette afterwards

just the tankmates we have to agree on now
he wants a frog (no can do very frog phobic sister inlaw)
i am thinking some killifish or some white cloud mountain minnows
i guess we will get there by the time we have cycled his tank.

does he need a bottom feeder or is it ok if he doesnt have one cos he isnt sure he wants kuhli loaches if it means less swimming fish

we have a gravel vac to keep it clean
 
No, bottom feeders are not required (neither are algae eaters). Might want to be a bit more careful to not overfeed in a tank without bottom feeders to help clean up your mess though.

Tell him to be sure to wash his hands/arm well before putting it in the tank (without soap!). I'm finally in the habit of doing that myself, well mostly. I'd walk by and just want to "pet" my betta and then think 'Oh no!' and try to remember if I might have any chemicals on my hands for any reason :)

Another fish to look at are endler's livebearers. They are similar to guppies, but a bit smaller. I'd only get a few males so you don't end up with an overpopulated tank full of babies (and only the males are colorful). Hmm at least I wouldn't think they would be nippy on the betta, might want to double check on that.

Or he could always get some neons? :laugh: Sorry :D
 
neons are great its just keeping them that i am no good at yet

:sad

but with some biospira on its way rather soon with any luck it will get easier

we are going to look through all the suggestions on the species profiles
 
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