5 gal betta help

[starzfish]

Before you get carried away, you might want to find out what the general hardness of your water is to make sure it's suitable for a betta

Ok, what test kit do you recommend?

Yes, you can place additional decor after the tank is cycled. What Brand of water conditioner did you purchase?

For plants, I highly recommend the online store and ebay store YourFishStuff. They have a basic selection, but good prices. The best thing I’ve ordered from them was some amazon sword, the pot came with 3 individual plants! The Anubias I ordered also came with 2 individual plants. I have also purchased from the seller rolandpre6 on Ebay, they have good prices, free shipping, and include an extra mystery plant with your order.

@OliveFish05 I bought kordon. I used to have stress coat but that expired.

 

[starzfish]

Don't forget your heater....

What heater do you recommend for a 5 gallon? @CaptainBarnicles

 

[starzfish]

Regardless of the hardness and the fish that are finally bought, the tank needs to be cycled. Unless the tank is to be planted like a jungle with fast growing plants, it is better to cycle the tank first, then add plants. Rocks and substrate can be put in at the start.

This is how to cycle a tank

Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!

Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...

www.fishforums.net

With a tank for just a betta (assuming the hardness is OK for a betta) you wouldn't need to use as much ammonia. I cycled a 6.6 gallon tank for a betta using 1 ppm ammonia and that was plenty.
You mentioned using fish food to provide the ammonia - this is possible, but the food has to rot to make ammonia and you cannot know how much ammonia has actually been made. if you can get some ammonia, or Dr Tim's ammonium chloride, that is a more reliable way to cycle a tank.

I don't understand what the pack means when it says to let the water age, unless it's a translation from another language and it means to cycle the tank.

So I put in the substrate first, then I can cycle the tank. After that, then I put in plants? Is that what you mean @Essjay ?

 

[OliveFish05]

Ok, what test kit do you recommend?

I would recommend getting an API freshwater master test kit, to test PH, Ammonia, Nitrates, and Nitrites. To test GH, you can take a sample of your water to your LFS and they will test it for you!

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

What heater do you recommend for a 5 gallon? @CaptainBarnicles

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081VN41FQ/?tag=ff0d01-20
I'm assuming you live in the US?

 

[fisman]

Ok, what test kit do you recommend?

I recommend the API freshwater master test kit. It tests very accurately.

 

[Essjay]

So I put in the substrate first, then I can cycle the tank. After that, then I put in plants? Is that what you mean @Essjay ?

Yes, that's right. While it is possible to use plants instead of cycling, that needs a large amount of fast growing plants so it is better to cycle with ammonia first. Some plants can't cope with ammonia being added in one dose once a day, so it is safer to cycle first, then add plants. Once there are fish in the tank ammonia is made in tiny amounts 24/7 and plants can cope with that.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

So I put in the substrate first, then I can cycle the tank. After that, then I put in plants? Is that what you mean @Essjay ?

Yes, wash the substrate and then add it to the tank. After doing that, fill the tank up with dechlorinated water. (You can buy water dechlorinator at most pet stores) After that, you can add your heater and filter.

It is recommended to add plants during your cycle, because they help suck up ammonia, which is toxic to fish.

What heater do you recommend for a 5 gallon? @CaptainBarnicles

Tetra makes a pretty cheap heater, that works well in a 5g tank.

 

[starzfish]

Yes, wash the substrate and then add it to the tank. After doing that, fill the tank up with dechlorinated water. (You can buy water dechlorinator at most pet stores) After that, you can add your heater and filter.

It is recommended to add plants during your cycle, because they help suck up ammonia, which is toxic to fish.



Tetra makes a pretty cheap heater, that works well in a 5g tank.

Yes, that's right. While it is possible to use plants instead of cycling, that needs a large amount of fast growing plants so it is better to cycle with ammonia first. Some plants can't cope with ammonia being added in one dose once a day, so it is safer to cycle first, then add plants. Once there are fish in the tank ammonia is made in tiny amounts 24/7 and plants can cope with that.

Wait, so do I put in plants before, during, or after the cycle?

 

[starzfish]

Before you get carried away, you might want to find out what the general hardness of your water is to make sure it's suitable for a betta

How can I test my water hardness at home? Is it possible to do a test with household materials? I still will get an aquarium test kit for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

 

[Essjay]

For hardness (GH) look on your water provider's website to see if they give it. If they don't, you can take some tap water to a fish store and ask them to test it - make sure they give you a number.

I think I have confused things about plants, sorry.

If you want just a few plants, it is better to cycle first then add them. If you want a tank planted like a jungle, that's different. If you tell us which you want, we can give better advice.

 

[Aqua Listic]

You will need a good heater. Make sure your filtration doesnt have a big current, as it can impact the way your betta swims

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Wait, so do I put in plants before, during, or after the cycle?

Before/during.

 

[starzfish]

I plan on getting some java fern and anubias and maybe some java moss to put on some driftwood. I also have this mystery plant lying around that I plan to use.

It floats but I plan to anchor it to the substrate.

Yes, you can place additional decor after the tank is cycled. What Brand of water conditioner did you purchase?

For plants, I highly recommend the online store and ebay store YourFishStuff. They have a basic selection, but good prices. The best thing I’ve ordered from them was some amazon sword, the pot came with 3 individual plants! The Anubias I ordered also came with 2 individual plants. I have also purchased from the seller rolandpre6 on Ebay, they have good prices, free shipping, and include an extra mystery plant with your order.

The store has those plants but they have a bunch of different types of the same plant. For example, Anubias congensis, or Anubias barteri. I also plan on getting driftwood (I am still deciding whether to use driftwood or rocks/caves what do you guys recommend?) I'm so confused on what to buy!

Thanks everyone!

 

[EllRog]

Before/during.

You're confusing the advice given by essjay, who is giving that advice for a specific reason