(2) 2.5 Gallon Aquariums, How To Get Them Ready?

[Roxxy]

Hey there (first post!)

I have two Mini-Bow 2.5 gallon aqauriums, unused for the longest time after my Beta, Achillies, passed on. I refilled them with tap water, got the filters (with well used inserts for filtering, have to replace those...) working fine. Added the correct amount of TetraAqua "AquaSafe" water conditioner to each tank.

Though as soon as I found this forum, I realized I had already made a few mistakes. The conditioner gets rid of ammonia, which apperently these bacterias need to eat... And why would I want these things in my tanks anyway? To get rid of ammonia thats already gone? And I need to cycle my tank (just set it up yesterday). I'm interested in fishless cycling (if I still need it), but I don't have all those test kits and don't even know what fish to get. I've only owned Achilles before, and wanted to try and get an extremely small community for each tank (a more aggressive tank and a peaceful tank even, or something) Live plants seem a bit beyond me, so I'm sticking to the fake ones I already have.

So what else is there to do? Do I still need to get these bacteria if the conditioner's in? How long should I wait to get some fish? And I don't even know enough about fish to know what kind I want...

I've read all this beginner stuff posted on this forum and on websites, but it's just not making sense or sinking in... And what's a lsf? *Feels like a noob...* Which technically I am... *Cringes*

 

[seanc]

I'v never used TetraAqua AquaSfae personally, but isn't it used to remove heavy metals and decholrinate the water as opposed to neutralise ammonia (like products like ammolock).

In order to do a fishless cycle you'll need a master test kit (get the liquid one for accuracy) and a bottle of pure ammonia.. there's a pinned thread on how to cycle.. http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73365 (read 2nd post). Once you have a sufficient bacteria level you can add your fish, though with only 2.5 gallons to play with you dont have many real options; a betta, an african dwarf frog, shrimp, or a few snails are about the only good options.. I cant think of anything else that wont immediately outgrow the tank, although 4 ember tetras could work if you can find any as they only grow to 1.7cm max, or perhaps a trio of pygmy cories/ ottos?

lfs= local fish store.

 

[soritan]

In tanks that small, cycling is optional. Most people on this forum don't bother cycling tanks under 5 US gallons, as it tends to be difficult to accomplish and maintain. In place of cycling, they substitute 100% water changes (once or twice a week, depending).

If your going for bettas again, and you're going for the 100% water changes... plunk in a thermometer, make sure the water is warm enough, and go get yourself a fish.

If you're shooting for other fish... well, good luck. I haven't seen very many valid options for 2.5g community tanks, and only slightly more for 5g tanks. The only fish I can think of off the top of my head are Endlers, possibly... uh....yeah. Endlers.

(edit: Pretty much any fish that's not a betta will need a cycled tank, or several partial water changes per week (I don't know, 3? Depends on the fish) as most fish can't handle such radical changes in water chemistry, and the same goes for inverts, too).

 

[Roxxy]

The Tetra conditioner does get rid of ammonia, or most of it. "...while reducing both the fish-toxic chlorine and ammonia components." It gets rid of the chlorine and heavy metals too.

I do plan on getting bettas, a male in each tank, with a solid divider between them (the tanks are next to each other) to keep them from flaring each other constantly. Maybe a dwarf frog or two, I've cared for them before. Though it's annoying when a tiny dwarf frog actually ends up as a clawed frog (about three times as large!) Darn stores miss-selling animals... disgraceful! JK.

Happy to know I don't have to cycle both the tanks, though I'll go get a test kit anyway to be safe. Thermometers aren't a problem, they're easy to find here at the lfs.

Thanks guys! I'm excited to start taking care of fish again, this really helped. I'll let you know how this setup works out.