New Betta Setup-5 Gallons

[nikkifro8994]

My betta passed away last night and I am looking to get another. I need to take down the tank and wash everything because he was sick. Then I have to cycle again. I want to have 1 male betta and 3 pygmy cories. Would this work in a 5 gallon tank or do I need to use a 10 gallon if I want cories? I would add the cories after the cycle and add the betta a week or so later. That way he doesn't have to defend any territory.
I want to keep live plants in the tank. My lfs doesnt sell silk (which I'd perfer). I read that cories like sand. Will live plants do well in the sand or do I need to plant them in a soil-type substrate and then add sand on top?
I have:
internal filter - tetra 5i
heater - 50 watts
different caves for the betta to hide in
API liquid test kit
I can pull filter media from another tank to help cycle faster
Do I need anything else for the beta or the cories?
Thanks!
Nikki

 

[Tuxyu3]

I would just like to point out the betta will still claim territory, adding territorial fish later only stops them claiming the whole tank as theirs but in this size tank the betta will likely do this anyway. Whether or not he gets along with other fish depends on his personal temperament. Most plants do fine in sand, mine prefer it to gravel as it is more dense and allows them to root easier. Some people may disagree but i personally think the tank may be unsuitable for the cory's as even though three will probably fit they would prefer more friends, which would not fit. Although three cory's may be ok as long as they are happy enough, my advise would be to try it and see how it goes, try to find a non-aggressive betta to (easier said than done, i know).

 

[nikkifro8994]

I have an lfs that keeps bettas with tetras in the store. I would probably get one of them. I have 2 5-gallon tanks. So if the betta doesn't get along with his tank mate, I can always move him to the other 5 gallon.

 

[nikkifro8994]

There is one small issue. My tap water has 2 ppm ammonia in it. Every time I do a water change, my ammonia levels go up. Since this is a smaller tank, I would probably do 1-2 gallon water changes once a week. The ammmonia doesn't get very high, just 1 ppm. My filters on my other tanks are all mature enough to handle it within 2 hours.
Would this be bad for the corries? I have read that they are very sensitive fish and they have to go in a tank that has been established for 3 months.

 

[Tuxyu3]

TBH i am unsure, would it be possible to do a change on a larger tank, wait for the ammonia to process and then use water from the tank to do a larger change on the 5 gal? Does that make sense?

 

[nikkifro8994]

That makes sense. I'm reading more about the pygmy corries and most of what says not to keep them in a tank that small. I'll probably just have a betta.