New 5 Us Gallon Tank Journal

[QuantumOptician]

About to venture into my new tropical freshwater aquarium. I hope to document my journey into this new hobby in the below and subsequent posts!

Materials gathered:
5 US Gallon semi-hex aquarium with CFL light (edit: 9W CFL lightbulb).
AquaClear 20 power filter (manufacturer quoted: 5-20 gallons/ 100 gph I intend on testing this when it is set up)
100 50 Watt heater - I know this is overkill, but assuming it does not fail on I do not foresee any problems. Please correct me if this is the case
Play sand - not sure how much I have already washed but I am close to my goal of a 1" layer (It is indeed ~1")
Cheap thermometer
API Freshwater Master test kit
Small piece of bogwood
Net
2 small QT spaces (~1 gallon each)

Materials to be purchased:
Ammonia from Ace or Walmart
Dechlorinator (most likely Seachem Prime)
Food (when I get fish)

Livestock:
Essentially undecided. I have a couple of possibilities I am entertaining (not listed in order of preference).
Waterchanges expected to be 10-25% weekly

Plan 1:
1 Betta Splendens
1 Invertebrate (a shrimp or snail)

Plan 2:
~5 Male Endler's Livebearers (hopefully class N black bar, but will settle for guppy hybrid for now as I assume this is what my LFS will stock)

Plan 3:
1 Male Endler's Livebearers (again preferably class N black bar)
2 Female Endler's Livebearers
Then hopefully sell the offspring either to LFS or online

Plan 4:
1 Male Endler's Livebearers (again preferably class N black bar)
2 Female Endler's Livebearers
1 Betta Splendens (as population control as horrible as that sounds...not too keen on the idea either)
(Not confident this plan would really be feasible)

Plants:
Ceratophyllum demersum (Hornwort)
Anubias barteri var. nana
Microsorum pteropus (Java fern) Probably attached to a rock
Taxiphyllum barbieri (Java moss) Probably attached to piece of bogwood
Cryptocoryne wendtii
Probably end up dosing micro nutrients

Plan:
I know the aquarium is small, but I am in college and this is all they will let me have in my room. Thus, I am planning to begin the hardscape, fill the aquarium with water, make sure the filter works (possibly test the output as well), and make sure the heater works this coming Sunday. After letting everything run for a day I will dose to 4 ppm to kick off the fishless cycle. At the moment I feel pretty confident about pulling off this step.
After the cycle is complete then I was going to do the large water change, plant, and introduce the first few fish (or only fish as the case may be). Any advice on the stocking possibilities will be appreciated. My motivations are to create a natural looking aquarium. I am leaning towards keeping a nice shoal of small fish (the idea with the Endler's Livebearer, based on research on Google it appears they will school but I am not certain on this). Not sure if I want the shoal as the centerpiece of it or if I want something like a Betta as a centerpiece. On the otherhand, I am fond of Betta's but think a 5 gallon tank looks rather empty with a single Betta and no other species.

Concerns
Keeping a tank healthy with a breeding trio of Endler's Livebearers
Bogwood: it seems a bit sharp on the ends is this something that should be sanded down or taken care of in a particular way? Also, interested in letting the tannins color the water, but may soak for a week or so.

I will probably think of something else, but this looks acceptable for now.

Tap: pH low: 7.6 : pH High 7.4-7.8 : Ammonia 0.0 : Nitrite(ppm) 0.0 : Nitrate(ppm) 10
Day 1: 08/09:Ammonia 4.0 : Nitrite NT : Nitrate(ppm) NT
Day 5: 08/13: Ammonia 2.0-4.0 hard to tell : Nitrite 0.25 : Nitrate(ppm) NT
Day 6: 08/14: Ammonia 4.0 : Nitrite 0.25 : Nitrate(ppm) NT
Day 8: 08/16: Ammonia 4.0 : Nitrite 0.25 : Nitrate(ppm) NT
Day 10: 08/18: Ammonia 4.0 : Nitrite 0.25 : Nitrate(ppm) NT
Day 12: 08/20: Ammonia 2.0-4.0 : Nitrite 0.25 : Nitrate(ppm) NT
Day 12: 08/21: Ammonia 2.0 : Nitrite 0.25 : Nitrate(ppm) 10
Day 14: 08/23: Ammonia 1.0-2.0 : Nitrite 0.50 : Nitrate(ppm) 10
Day 15: 08/24: Ammonia 1.0-2.0 : Nitrite 5.0 : Nitrate(ppm) NT
Day 16: 08/25: Ammonia < 1.0 : Nitrite >5.0 : Nitrate(ppm) NT :Redosed to ~3 ppm (didn't have time to thoroughly check was running late for a meeting)
Day 17: 08/26: Ammonia 0.0 : Nitrite NT : Nitrate(ppm) NT :Redosed to 4 ppm
Day 18: 08/27: Ammonia 0.5 : Nitrite NT : Nitrate(ppm) NT :Redosed to 4 ppm
Day 20: 08/29: Ammonia 0.0 : Nitrite > 4.0 : Nitrate(ppm) NT :Redosed to ~5 ppm
Day 21: 08/30: Ammonia 0.5 : Nitrite NT : Nitrate(ppm) NT :Redosed to 4 ppm
Day 22: 08/31: Ammonia 0.0 : Nitrite .25-0.5 : Nitrate(ppm) NT :Redosed to 4 ppm
Day 23: 09/01: Ammonia 0.0 : Nitrite .25 : Nitrate(ppm) 5 :Redosed to 4 ppm
Where NT means not tested.

 

[micko]

Looking forward to updates.

 

[Fishy friend2]

I bet it gonna look soooooo good

 

[loraxchick]

I like the plan so far..just some input on what you have going...
if wanting a betta (wonderful choice for the tank BTW) some thigns to consider..
The filter youve chosen might be a little too strong for them. They need gentle flow as most are not particularly strong swimmer with all that finnage. might want to reconsider if it is really strong current (either one with adjustable flow that you can cut back, or some way to lessen the flow).
Bettas and guppies are a fine mix. Kept them myself many many times, particualrly for the purpose you mention. Let me warn you tho, bettas are not as great for this task as youd imagine. Really, they might pick off a FEW weak/deformed fry but the rest will most likely survive just fine (particularly if planted well and have other decor in the tank). The betta will get lazy (well, they are pretty lazy fish really) and give up. You soon will be overrun. I can almost promise you that...just something to consider.
If you were to keep a betta and "one shrimp" as you mentioned you might as well get more than one shrimp. Shrimp add very little to the bioload. If heavily planted start with 5-10 and see how it goes. Should have no problem. Shrimp appreciate live plants. (so will your betta)
just some input. sounds like youve researched and really thought about your setup. Should be a fun project for you.
all the best
cheers

 

[QuantumOptician]

Thank you loraxchick! As for the betta in the strong current I was planning on baffling the filter, which I imagine should do the trick. The idea of 5-10 shrimp is very intriguing. Off to do some more research about different types!

 

[XeroTolerance]

This looks like it would be a nice setup. I like the idea about the betta and one shrimp. You should add more shrimp though. Are you adding ghost shrimp or cherry shrimp?

 

[Fishy friend2]

Keep us informed

 

[QuantumOptician]

XeroTolerance - I am not sure what shrimp as of right now. My LFS currently stocks cherry, blueberry, crystal, and tiger (I have never heard of the last three before). From pictures I am kind of fond of cherry shrimp, however I have heard accounts of Betta's eating them for dinner. If I chose to not go down the Betta route I may still get 5 or more cherry shrimp, unless I can find out more information about the other three types my LFS offers.

 

[XeroTolerance]

XeroTolerance - I am not sure what shrimp as of right now. My LFS currently stocks cherry, blueberry, crystal, and tiger (I have never heard of the last three before). From pictures I am kind of fond of cherry shrimp, however I have heard accounts of Betta's eating them for dinner. If I chose to not go down the Betta route I may still get 5 or more cherry shrimp, unless I can find out more information about the other three types my LFS offers.

I also never heard of the last three before. My LFS only has Ghost Shrimp so I going to get a few of those for my 10 gallon when its done cycling. Cherry Shrimps are my preference though.

 

[Mowbz]

Sounds awesome, keep us informed! Pictures?

 

[QuantumOptician]

Found some info on tiger shrimp (see here). I think I will go with ~5 ghost shrimp as both tiger and cherry shrimp breed easily in freshwater setups.

Sounds awesome, keep us informed! Pictures?

I will get pictures up either this Sunday when I move back into school or early next week. Thank you everyone for your interest!

 

[QuantumOptician]

I have just finished setting everything up! Got the hardscape done, filter, light, and heater are working (pictures below). I have edited the original post in red to reflect things that have changed regarding the initial set-up.

Here are some pictures:

Empty tank on DIY stand:

Piece of bogwood next to a blu-ray case for comparison:

Hardscaped and filled tank front-view:

Hardscaped and filled tank top view:

Other notes:

• I purchased the wrong ammonia from Walmart, once I got home from the store I realized it had surfactants in it. Hopefully will take that back later this evening and head on over to Ace. Unfortunately, my local store does not carry the quart size, only the gallon size.
  
• HOB filter is too strong, it has created a crater in the sand towards the front of the tank (can be seen in the top view photo, it has gotten wider since that photo). I will probably end up trying to cut the flow down manually (filter has a simple lever for this) or if that doesn't I will baffle the filter (definitely the case if I end up getting a betta).
  
• Looked at some fish at my LFS, they cannot guarantee class N endler's . So, I may be in the market for some shortly . Also, really became a fan of shrimp, will definitely get 5-10. Current thoughts are 5 or so cherry and start breeding them.

Do not currently have water test kit with me, when I get it back I will test the tap water conditions and post as well as initial ammonia dosing (once I get the correct ammonia)!

 

[XeroTolerance]

X-Men is a good movie.

+1 lol

 

[QuantumOptician]

Update: Please see the first post as I have begun the fishless cycle log. Thanks!

 

[QuantumOptician]

Edited log again. Was able to test tap water and Nitrites are showing up! Ammonia is still high, difficult to tell between the 2.0 and 4.0.