Hardy Fish To Cycle My New 5 Gallon Tank

[mwood2]

ok I just finished cycling my gf's tank so I figured I would start my own now.

So far all I have is sand for the bottom, a heater and the tank itself (which comes with a filter and light already). I kinda prefer a fish in cycle right now since it has been keeping me preoccupied.

The tank itself is all set up, its just need plants and fish, whats people opinion of using any of these to cycle and how many?

1-3 Cory
or
3-4 Baby Tiger barbs
or
1-5 tetras (dont know what kind would be best)
or
2 Platy (either 2 male or 2 female)

Any other suggestions would help out as well. Im looking for a nice group of fish for the tank. I know 5 Gallons is limited but that all I can really fit for the time being.

Also what plants are best for sand?

 

[minxfishy]

From that list the platy is the hardiest, you couldnt put tiger barbs in there full stop, the tank isnt big enough for them. So 1 platy would be enough.

 

[mwood2]

would a Platy+Tetra work or would it be best to stick woth just the platy? Kinda hoping for 2 fish to cycle with rather then one but then again if its not the best idea I best be good and hold off. Also im using Aragonite live sand, would that be a issue at all since its more marine sand and raises my PH to 7.7-8?

oh and as i said above I just finished cycling (or just about rather, Ammonia/Nitrite has been very close to 0 since Wednesday), should I put the new filter on top of my cycled one and let the bacteria absorb a bit or would that be a bad idea due to it maybe causing a mini cycle? I heard different opinions.

 

[minxfishy]

Yes you could save the fish the cycle and put the new filter in the other (almost) cycled tank and leave it for about four weeks which will prepare it for use in the other tank, that way the fish dont suffer, and you can add possibly two fish immediately, without the risk of ammonia/nitrIte, of course you will need to test still for both to be on the safe side.

If you still decide to do the fish in cycle, then I really would just use one platy for the size of the tank, also tetras are schoaling fish and a single tetra will be very lost and lonley on its on.

 

[mwood2]

do you mean put the new filter in with it or in place of it? I would leave it there for 2-3 days (on top of the current filter) and then put the platy inside most likely just for a little boost is what im thinking. Would it still help?

 

[minxfishy]

No I mean run both filters simultaneously for 4 weeks to cycle the new filter. If you replace the filter already in there you will start the cycle all over again as its the filter media that contain the bacteria to convert ammonia and nitrite.

If you run it for 2 days it wont make any difference, the fish will still go thru the cycling process as it take approx 4 weeks for the bacteria to multiply in the new filter.

 

[mwood2]

doing some more reading in the fish index, its said Endlers, Sword Tails and Guppies are hardy too.

Also are Mollies and Platy's equal in hardiness?

 

[minxfishy]

I dont know much about mollies to be honest, platies tend to be fairly hard, although guppies used to, they are no longer because of the breeding for the colourful long tail types, so these are no longer recommended as first fish. Again I dont know enough about endlers either.

 

[orli]

Hi there, I am doing a fish in cycle and had 3 platy's and 3 mollies. I very unluckily got 2 male platies and one female! they wouldnt leave her alone!! so then had to go get another 2 females to balance it out. One of the males was so agressive he killed one of my female mollies so he got given away, now we have 4 platies and 2 mollies, they both seem equaly hardy and seem happy to swim together. They dont seem bothered if the water rises in ammonia or nitrites a little, I do change water immediatly though. Only sugestion I would say is make sure to get 2 females to every male or the males will stress out the female, they certainly like to mate

hope this helps and you get some fishies

 

[fluttermoth]

OP; can you not just 'borrow' some media from your girlfriend's filter? Then your tank would be instantly cycled.

Just don't take more than 1/3 of it, and don't add more fish than the amount of media you have will support (so, if your gf has 12 platies and you take 1/4 of her media, you can add three to your tank).

 

[nurglespuss]

Hi there,

I still use fish in cycling (I find its still a good method done in the right way).

I would say, get your plants in first! and next time your girlfriend does a water change, add that water (it will have ammonia etc. in it).

Once the plants are in a few days, ad a single platy (better than wasting money buying more).

Leave it for 2 weeks (with regular water changes), and then add another one.