Cylcing A Small Tank

[SELINA]

I had a tank about six years ago when I was in my early teens, it was a monster of a thing, more than 5ft long which at the time was my entire armspan. I bought it from a man who lived not far from me so it was already cycled and the filter was well established. It was several months before I started adding decor and new fish so I never had to cycle a new tank, and because of the size adding new things never affected the ph levels etc.
I had to sell the tank after a few years but have bought a small tank recently and have absolutely no idea how to cycle it in. I've read a few bits on the internet but they tend to be conflicting or confusing.
I've got a little 18L tank, in the hopes of enticing my boyfriend into letting me get a much larger one in the future. I've cleaned the filter and tank with warm water and set it up empty. I've got a good air pump which I kept from my old tank and a small heater. Only the filter has been running for the past few days as I saw no point in heating an empty tank. At the moment I have no gravel in the tank, the plan is to maybe get that this weekend with some plants and a few cycle fish? I've heard Black Widow Tetra are good for this, and I did have some of those in my last tank and really liked them.
This is my first attempt into internet forums so please forgive the lack of exciting formatting etc..

If anybody could offer any advice I would be really grateful. I have provided as much information as I can think of.

Thank you

 

[aquariumart22]

Hi Welcome to the forum!

I've heard its hard to keep a small tank cycled. Its actually a lot easier keeping a larger tank. Also you'll be limmited as to what you can keep in that small of a tank. Maybe a betta or possibly just some shrimp and snails. A 5 gallon tank isn't really suitable for any fish.

You can check out the Beginners Resource Center, it should tell you everything you need to know.

Beginners resource center

 

[SELINA]

Hi Welcome to the forum!

I've heard its hard to keep a small tank cycled. Its actually a lot easier keeping a larger tank. Also you'll be limmited as to what you can keep in that small of a tank. Maybe a betta or possibly just some shrimp and snails. A 5 gallon tank isn't really suitable for any fish.

You can check out the Beginners Resource Center, it should tell you everything you need to know.

Beginners resource center

Well I've got to convince my boyfriend to move a rather expensive chest of drawers into storage to make room for a larger tank, so at the moment this is all I have room for, and also at the moment I can't afford to set up a large tank, I know a decent sized set up costs hundreds. I was thinking maybe some little tetra and a siamese fighter, I've not kept one of those before.
Thanks

 

[Essjay]

In a tank that size, you only have room for a betta (siamese fighter). I would be reluctant to even put tiny fish like microrasboras in a 18 litre tank. I can't think of any tetras suitable for a tank your size - ember tetras are the species usually recommended for small tanks but even they need bigger than 18 litres.

But whatever you put in it, you need to cycle it first - look at the link aquariumart gave you, and read the fishless cycling article.