Dorm Tank Stocking

[Pandlers]

I'm leaving for college this week, and like many other college bound kids, I'm considering getting some fish. My dorm rules say that a 5 gallon tank is the max size. I'm looking into getting a 3-5 gallon tank - but I've heard and read so many different and contradicting stories on what you can keep in these. Most people recommend bettas and leave it at that - and I'm considering it, but I really want to hear about any other options I may have. A few threads said dwarf puffers could live in a five gallon tank, and they're pretty freakin' adorable in my opinion. Would this and maybe a snail work? What type of snail if yes? Lastly, I'd love to get some recommendations on what tank to get plus filters, pumps and etc. I'm fully willing to research and take care of any fish that might require a little extra care than normal: I want my fish(ies) to be happy and healthy! Thanks in advance!

 

[MrGT500]

the aquion mini bow 5 is a really nice self contained tank. it has a built in filter and light that you can get compact flourecent bulbs for and grow live plants. i would not go with a puffer though.

if it where mine i would get the compact flourecent light, a small heater and some seachem flouright substrate. put in some nice live plants and then do a really nice betta or maybe a few very small tetras. other additions could be a snail or two or some ghost shrimp. if it where me i would go with the shrimp as snails tend to breed like mad, and may end up comming with your plants by mistake anyway. (like mine did)

this is also a cheap set up, you can probably get out for around a $100-$120 if you buy the tank on sale. (it goes for like $50)


i have a mini bow 5 set up like this right now, minus the fish cause i have the snails in the tank. i use it just to grow my plants befor transplanting them to my other tanks right now, but i will be putting a betta in it eventually.

 

[Electric Warrior]

Hi, I wouldn't go with the dwarf puffer either. I think that yes, a 5g tank could be the minimum size for a dwarf, but the thing is that they are very sensitive to water conditions, and are still quite messy, even for their size. They produce a fair amount of waste, so you are looking at doing wc's every day with a tank like that, and I know from being a student myself at one time, that's not really practical. They need very good filtration, and as you might know, the smaller the tank, the harder it is to maintain good water quality. I personally wouldn't consider keeping one in less than 10g.

 

[FishLover66]

I would recommend a betta--either male or female (but only one). They have quite the personality (will come up to you and you can hand feed them), are beautiful, and very hardy. You could also put a couple shrimp in there and/or an African dwarf frog (but make sure there are no open areas at the top, as they are escape artists).

 

[MrGT500]

just so you know dwarf frogs like to be kept in at least pairs, but they are also very fun, i have 3 at the moment and love them.

 

[Bobjoefredsky]

I'm leaving for college this week, and like many other college bound kids, I'm considering getting some fish. My dorm rules say that a 5 gallon tank is the max size. I'm looking into getting a 3-5 gallon tank - but I've heard and read so many different and contradicting stories on what you can keep in these. Most people recommend bettas and leave it at that - and I'm considering it, but I really want to hear about any other options I may have. A few threads said dwarf puffers could live in a five gallon tank, and they're pretty freakin' adorable in my opinion. Would this and maybe a snail work? What type of snail if yes? Lastly, I'd love to get some recommendations on what tank to get plus filters, pumps and etc. I'm fully willing to research and take care of any fish that might require a little extra care than normal: I want my fish(ies) to be happy and healthy! Thanks in advance!

Dwarf puffers need at least 5 gallons of space for one, roughly 5 gallons for each additional puffer. 5 gallons is very small compaired to the general scale of fish tanks, but it is large enough to go through a nitrogen cycle. This will be your main focus, while you cycle your tank, you can think of stocking ideas, although they are limited with a tank that small. Honestly, the nitrogen cycle is a very simple concept of kick starting bacteria like ammonia and nitrites, then reducing them to an invisible reading, while raising necessary bacteria (nitrate) which NEEDS a reading in order for your tank to be cycled. It goes in the order of ammonia (rises, then becomes invisible) then nitrite (rises, then becomes invisible) and nitrate (rises and should stay at a rate of under 25)

To start the nitrogen cycle, you need an ammonia source, and nature will take it from there. Using fish is considered `inhumane` unless you use hardy fish that are capable of surviving a nitrogen cycle. For a tank as small as 5 gallons though, it would just be easier to go fishless, and use a different ammonia source. The most simple is just using fish food. This will result to ammonia, then the ammonia will die, and continue into the cycle. You can read plenty of articles and posts on how to do it as well as specifications and details.

Now to stocking. 5 gallons is too small for almost any fish besides dwarf puffers and betta splendens. Know that if you have one dwarf puffer, you cannot get anything else. They are very territorial and because of their small size, your tank will look rather empty. Dwarf puffers are also sensitive to water quality and are probably intermediate level so if you have no experience with fish, I advise against it.

I myself am only 14 but I am telling you this out of experience and research, and I can say for SURE that 5 gallons is the smallest tank size for a well suited community tank. The ideal and most proper community tank set up is probably having 1 betta, 2-4 ghost shrimp, and a small mystery snail of some sort.

Other small fish like neon tetras and danios that could seemingly fit in a 5 gallon tank would actually grow much too active and probably need 10-20 gallons of space.


Remember that your water quality must be good and better than mediocre, if mediocre consists of ammonia at .25 and well above 0, which is what it should be at. This is a good guideline:

ammonia = 0
nitrite = 0
nitrate = <25


Keep the 5 gallon tank for as long as you are in that dorm, then begin to upgrade once you have a place of your own. If you are really interested in the hobby, you can invest in multiple large tanks and participate in professional activities and services.

I watch the show Tanked a lot, and I recommend it as well. It is fun to watch and also quite helpful in terms of fish keeping.

 

[JohnDyer]

I was in the exact same situation a few years ago. College dorm was limited to 5 gallons as well. Bettas looked great in a planted tank, and shrimp too. I actually gave dwarf puffers a run too, but they are pretty difficult. They poop like crazy, and they're also quite picky in terms of food. If you can find time to keep buying live food and cleaning the substrate, though, they do look quite nice.