Redoing my 6 gallon

[Lcc86]

So I've decided to break down my 6 gallon which housed my scarlet badis before I had to euthanise him, mainly because I don't know exactly what caused him to go downhill and want to give the tank a good clean just in case. I'm going to put new inert substrate in, throw away the decor (ornament) and bleach the plants so i can reuse them. Going to be cycling from scratch. The tank currently houses one mystery snail so he or she will be the only inhabitant once the cycle gets going. I did contemplate just breaking the tank down completely and putting it away as I'm a bit disheartened but I do enjoy the process of tank building and want to see what I can achieve.

No idea what I'm going to do with this tank, might keep it for shrimp and snails, or a betta. I like the idea of pea puffers but not sure this tank size is suitable. I have ADF's and shrimp in the tank next to this one so may steal the shrimp from that tank but I'm in no rush. I do want some wood as have never had wood before and want to glue some plants to it.

Here's a pic of the tank as it is today before I've started. I've always struggled with the black space at the back, hence the fake plants helping to fill in the background. Hoping the wood helps on this front.

 

[MattW]

Losing fish always makes you think, is the tank worth to be kept up and running? I've had these thoughts recently with my big tank.. I reckon you go ahead with a new scape and try something new

 

[Abaddon]

Oof. I don't think I'd have the energy or patience for that, unless I was absolutely positive I had something contagious on my hands Have you thought about maybe just doing a massive water change and adding a broad-spectrum aquarium-safe disinfectant + maybe running the water through a UV sterilizer, and then just letting the plants and decor stew in it for a while? Some pathogens and parasites will die off on their own if the tank is left empty for a while, even without additional measures. Not sure what products you have available, but there are certain treatments you can do that won't completely nuke the tank, but at the same time will get rid of some of the more popular pathogens.
Seems a shame to crash the cycle and kill the biofilter when you're not 100% sure what it was. And I'm pretty sure that if you boil and bleach the decor, you can salvage it. Unless of course you've been itching to rescape anyway & are looking for a good excuse lol

 

[Lcc86]

Losing fish always makes you think, is the tank worth to be kept up and running? I've had these thoughts recently with my big tank.. I reckon you go ahead with a new scape and try something new

Yeah I get really disheartened by it, I know it's a natural part of fishkeeping but I always think I must've done something wrong.

 

[Lcc86]

Oof. I don't think I'd have the energy or patience for that, unless I was absolutely positive I had something contagious on my hands Have you thought about maybe just doing a massive water change and adding a broad-spectrum aquarium-safe disinfectant + maybe running the water through a UV sterilizer, and then just letting the plants and decor stew in it for a while? Some pathogens and parasites will die off on their own if the tank is left empty for a while, even without additional measures. Not sure what products you have available, but there are certain treatments you can do that won't completely nuke the tank, but at the same will get rid of some of the more popular pathogens.
Seems a shame to crash the cycle and kill the biofilter when you're not 100% sure what it was. And I'm pretty sure that if you boil and bleach the decor, you can salvage it. Unless of course you've been itching to rescape anyway & are looking for a good excuse lol

I don't really mind tbh, I'm working while studying and also about to have an operation so there's definitely no rush with the cycling! It probably is overkill but because I don't yet know what to do with the tank I figured why not do it now. I don't have a UV steriliser unfortunately, the amount they cost is reckon it's cheaper to do a re-scape haha.

 

[Back in the fold]

From what little I know about them that aquarium would be ideal for five or six pea puffers . They’re slow swimmers and like to hunt their food . I say five or six because the one thing I do know for sure about them is that they prefer a group of their own kind .

 

[Abaddon]

From what little I know about them that aquarium would be ideal for five or six pea puffers . They’re slow swimmers and like to hunt their food . I say five or six because the one thing I do know for sure about them is that they prefer a group of their own kind .

I wouldn't tbh, pea puffers can get quite territorial. 6gal would be just fine for one male, but I wouldn't risk it with a group, not even with lots of hides and plant cover. If OP wants a slightly more unique fish, I'd suggest a micro-livebearer like tiger teddies (Neoheterandria elegans) or a small group of male Endlers (if he doesn't want breeding). Maybe even a small school of micro rasboras (chili etc.).

 

[Lcc86]

From what little I know about them that aquarium would be ideal for five or six pea puffers . They’re slow swimmers and like to hunt their food . I say five or six because the one thing I do know for sure about them is that they prefer a group of their own kind .

Yeah I'm not sure if my tank would be big enough to accommodate pea puffers in the size of group that they need. I've no idea what would happen if you kept, say, just 2. I wouldn't want them to be in a perpetual state of stress just because I've tried to put them in a tank that's too small for them. I read a lot of conflicting info about them online and I think the lack of clarity is what puts me off.

 

[Lcc86]

I wouldn't tbh, pea puffers can get quite territorial. 6gal would be just fine for one male, but I wouldn't risk it with a group, not even with lots of hides and plant cover. If OP wants a slightly more unique fish, I'd suggest a micro-livebearer like tiger teddies (Neoheterandria elegans) or a small group of male Endlers (if he doesn't want breeding). Maybe even a small school of micro rasboras (chili etc.).

I've never heard of tiger teddies before so that's a new one on me! I've never kept endlers so that could be an option (definitely male only as you say) if the tank size is suitable. I did want a group of chili rasbora back when I had my 30gal, but never got round to it. I've read different things with some saying it's cruel to keep them in anything smaller than a 10gal. I also used to have pygmy cories and loved those guys but again not sure if a 6gal is too small. I've thought about making it a second ADF tank but it's taller than it is long so it would need resting places and I could realistically accommodate 2 max.

I know my tank size does limit things, I have health issues so this tank size is better for me than anything much bigger.

 

[Lcc86]

Started breaking it down, just plants and substrate left. Found a little bladder snail so there's probably some more in the moss. Plan is to change out the substrate for a new version (same colour, I already have it somewhere just need to find it!), bleach bath the plants and the filter (new sponge incoming).

I also have a red tiger lotus and an unidentified plant in there that I want to try and save.