How should i set up my 5 gallon fish tank?

E

Erin

New member
Many fish get along with bettas, but its usually theopposite. Most fish will pick on the long fins of bettas, and cause them stress or death. In a five gallon, your safest bet would be to get live plants instead of plastic or silk, to help absorb the amonia and nitrite levels.

Aslo get a good ten gallon filter and a heater. if you are using live plants then you won't have to cycle your tank like usual. The plants would absorbe all the amonia before the bacteria could use some of it, causing a low level of good bacteria and a waste of time. Wait two weeks for the plants to settle and leave the filter and heater on.

Then go get a nice pretty male betta. Make sure to have a light and a hood to prevent him from leaping out (bettas are known for their suicide launches) . Leave the light on twelve hours a day, and after a month or so, you will have some brown algae. After that comes in you could go for two otto cats and then your tank would be stocked. If they don't creep you out, you could get one small african dwarf frog. So your stocking list would be...

-1 male betta
-2 otto catfish
-1 ADF

Here is a list of the supplies you'll need...
-filter
-heater
-light/hood (make sure to get full-spectrum florecent for live plants)
-net
-foods for speciific species
-live plants
-gravel/hiding places
-water test kit
-water dechlorinator
-you'll want to have some meds on hand
-gravel siphon
-turkey baster

It can be expensive, but thats the only way to provide a good life for your fishie friends.

Don't listen to the inch per gallon rule. It all depends on the bioload of the fish, and the amount of filtration. With live plants you'll be fine!
 
I have a 5 gallon fish tank that I got from a friend but I do not know where to start. What should I buy (chemicals, parts, etc) to start? And what fish get along with a Betta? Thanks
 
Bettas dont get along with anyone really..I would go with guppies or mollies if you want decorative fish...the equipment you can buy is a filter, a water heater, chemicals you can buy is aquasafe..it takes out all harmful chemicals in the water and provides your fish with a nice slimecoat..if you do get gravel buy a gravel siphon it'll make your cleaning job a lot easier....

If you do end up getting bettas then go with females and to be safe I would get a divider to seperate them they are extremly aggressive fish they dont like anybody
 
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