5 Gal Ideas

[xweeqtx]

it was my understanding that if you have an unfiltered tank for a betta there is no need to cycle (obviously, as its the filter that you cycle) but that if you do decide to use a filter, then you do want it cycled, otherwise it doesn't do its job properly. so as the tank has a filter it could be worth cycling it.
but i could be wrong.

The filter will still "filter" the water, and keep it clean but it doesn't have to be cycled for a betta. I have never completely understood why, other than they don't like a filter flow in the first place. Perhaps they are "immune" to the effects of ammonia etc that are deadly to other fish.

Cycling a filter is to create good bacteria that will keep you're water healthy and free of the bad bacteria, so since a betta doesn't need a filter, it doesn't need to be cycled.

Really there is no need for a filter in a 5gal betta tank, keep up you're water changes every second day and do a 100% clean every week and you'll have a happy betta, with both clean water and no filter flow.

ETA: Although I will stress that you continue using water conditioner etc, its still vital because of chlorine levels etc.

 

[Viettxboii]

Well if it's heavily planted, ammonia is hte prefered nitrogen source for plants, so obvious they'll suck it up pretty fast.
In a heavily planted tank, cycling a tank would be hard, as the plants will use up the nitrogen before the bacteria can get to it.
But this only applies if the plants are in healthy condition and growing.
Also, i would leave the filter on for the sake of water movement, but i would somehow diffuse the flow, and replace the biowheel with perhaps a sponge, so that the plants will ahve mre food, however this is the concepts of a low-tech tank, if you want to go high tech that's anotehr story, i don't bother with high-tech, too poor too busy lol.

Edit: i should note that betta like every other fish are sensitive to ammonia, but they're hardy little buggers.

 

[Esfa]

If it has a filter, it needs to be cycled. Full stop.

When people say "bettas dont need a cycled tank" what they actaully mean is that bettas dont need a filter. You dont cycle the tank - you cycle the filter.

So saying that bettas dont need a cycled filter is rubbish, as the ammonia spikes when the filter is cycling (fish in) will probably just kill him.

So always cycle if you have a filter.

 

[Snooks1!]

Welp....I'm back from Florida....Coldest it's been in 5 years, got down to 25F while I was down there....

Anywhom, I bought some plants at this really nice aquarium shop down there.A small piece of driftwood, 2 marimo balls ( only adding one to my tank ) , this little mint looking thing which the name of escapes me at the moment , and another plant ( yet again their name leaves me ) the leaves sort of look like little pine boughs, and lastly... a bag of riccia.


I'll try to get some pictures of them once I have them all positioned....but... I do need help anchoring them though...any ideas?

 

[Snooks1!]

Le' Bump

~edit~ By the by.......What sort of substrate should I be using for my plants? I was thinking about getting some laterite. ( not sure why I didn't buy that first....Lapse of better judgment I suppose ) Though, how often would I need to replace the laterite, if at all?

I also have a slab of slate I was thinking about getting some riccia started on that...I'm going to do some research on it but.. if anyone has ideas that'd be great

 

[joycould]

Le' Bump

~edit~ By the by.......What sort of substrate should I be using for my plants? I was thinking about getting some laterite. ( not sure why I didn't buy that first....Lapse of better judgment I suppose ) Though, how often would I need to replace the laterite, if at all?

I also have a slab of slate I was thinking about getting some riccia started on that...I'm going to do some research on it but.. if anyone has ideas that'd be great

If you don't want to go through the mess and expense of changing the substrate go with anubias of some form since they are tied to either rocks or drift wood, java fern and some form of moss. If youwant a plant that floats on the top go with salvinia, frogbit or red rooted floater. Riccia is a high light plant.