What To Do About My Tanks?

[AlitaConejita]

I have a problem saying no ... To others and myself. Feel free to skip the next paragraph.

In August, my son got a betta as a present in a 2 gal critter keeper (no filtration or heater). My daughter thought he'd be lonely and should have a friend. The pet shop suggested an ADF and I said yes. Then, the betta kept eating the ADF's food and stressed it out. I got the ADF a 5 gal tank but it still wouldn't eat and the pet shop said I could return him for a refund- so I did (planning to put the betta in the 5 gal) but they talked me into getting 2 new ADFs. Then I got two ghost shrimp for the ADF tank to clean up their mess. Next I got talked into 2 more ghost shrimp and some more java moss when I just wanted a java fern (hey! There's a sale on aquatic plants and animals - buy 3 get one free AND the java moss is $1 off!).

I have a bunch of pets and small tanks - what to do?!

Also, it seems I will be out of town for 2-3 weeks (got offered plane tickets and couldn't day no).

Here is what I have:
Animals-
1 male betta
2 African dwarf frogs
4 grass/ghost shrimp

Tanks-
2 gal
5 gal
10 gal

Equipment-
2 25watt heaters
1 50watt heater
2 sponge filters
1 whisper air pump for 10 gal
1 whisper air pump for 20 gal
1 automatic fish feeder (ordered)

Plants-
LOTS of Java moss
6 tiny marimo moss balls
1 java fern
3 medium silk plants
2 small medium silk plants

Substrates-
Black gravel
Small and medium sized river stones

Other stuff-
Ceramic beta log
Teracota plate
Leaf hammock

Water parameters -
7.6 pH
Tap water is 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates - hard water
Temp is 80 in all the tanks right now

The 10 gal is set up with a DIY divider because I was planning on getting a second betta.

None of the tanks are cycled but I'm trying to cycle the 10 gal. I am hoping to keep all of the pets in the 10 gal while I'm away.

What do you all think? What should I do? Is the 5 gal over stocked?
Tank pics (ugly ):
2 gal:

5 gal:

10 gal:

 

[Ch4rlie]

Ok, what I would do is make the 10 gal the home for the Betta and the 2 ADF's as believe a minimum of 3 gals per frog is best so your 5 gal would be too small for 2 ADF.
 
But the divider makes things tricky maybe, a ADF in each half and the Betta in one of these as well to share with 1 ADF.
 
The 5 gal would be good for a shrimp tank, as believe ADF and possibly the Betta as well would probably bully or attempt to eat the shrimps!
 
The 2 gals is pretty much too small for anything, except maybe shrimps but would not really advise it as might be better to keep that tank as a standby just in case anything goes wrong, like a hospital tank if you like.
 
Difficult to decide exactly what would be best really.

 

[AlitaConejita]

Oops - didn't mean to post this in the emergency section, meant to put it in the general tropical discussion section

3 gal per frog? The info sheet on this site (http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/133204-african-dwarf-frogs/) had 2 frogs in a 2.5 gal, which is still probably on the small side but quite different from 3 gal PER frog. These dwarf frogs do stay quite small. Not surprisingly, the pet store said 1 gal per frog

The divider on the 10 gal can be removed ... Although kinda a bummer since I did put it in for a reason.

I'd like to keep the ADFs and the betta apart because they are really slow to get their food and I'm worried Jack (the betta) would over eat while the frogs didn't get enough (even though supposedly Berta's and ADFs can be kept together ) Although for the time I'm away I'm thinking of putting ALL the pets in the 10 gal with one auto feeder. Maybe I could keep the partition and have the feeder drop in the partition so that some food goes on each side.

The ghost shrimp info sheet pinned on this site says that they can be kept with ADFs but I agree that if it wasn't for all the java moss, the frogs may have eaten one of the smaller shrimp.

I agree the 2 gal is too small for anything other than a QT.
Berta's -> Bettas (phone auto correct)

 

[fluttermoth]

Oops - didn't mean to post this in the emergency section, meant to put it in the general tropical discussion section

Can't help you with your tanks, but I've moved the thread for you!

 

[daizeUK]

This may be a silly question, but you said you were trying to cycle the 10 gallon.  In the photo I see a betta in the tank and a bottle of Dr tim's ammonium chloride next to it.  You're not adding ammonia to the tank with the betta in, are you?

 

[AlitaConejita]

The betta is a crayon drawing of Jack (in the 2 gal) my kids drew/colored to "reserve" his spot in the 10 gal

 

[daizeUK]

Haha!  Had me proper fooled!

 

[KirkyArcher]

Nice one Daize  Sorry but it made my laugh, your eyesight is sharp enough to read bottle label but couldn't make out fish was a drawing (although a very good drawing it indeed is)

 

[daizeUK]

Yeah I was looking closely at the bottle and not the fish!  (that's my excuse anyway!)

 

[Ch4rlie]

Yes, there is a lot of conflicting information for ADF care and tank sizes, even though I have never kept ADF myself. But really believe that the minimum stated size of tank is 2 Gal per frog, bear in mind this is the minimum, I do err on the side of caution though, so 3 gals per frog is better than 2 gals IMHO.
 
In fact I saw one site that actually stated 50 litres (13.5 gals) is the minimum size!

 
Other frog keeping sites  generally say between 2 to 3 gals per frog. Some say 5.
 
Its seem ADF's do stay a fairly small size but need space and do have quite a bio load apparently. So hence my saying 3 gals per frog to be on safe side.
 
This is where I saw the recommendations, although I will accept heartily if am wrong and if I have given wrong information through misguided by other sites, then apologies in advance.
 
http/www.frogforum.net/aquatic-clawed-frogs/3152-african-dwarf-frogs-care.html

 

[AlitaConejita]

Replied - but touched something in my phone and it disappeared before I could click post - grr

Shorter version- bio load: I believe it! My frogs are super messy - that's actually why I added the first shrimp, to clean up after them. The tank is way to crowded with the java moss I added for the shrimp, but the floor is so much cleaner since the shrimp

Still with a 30 to 50 percent weekly water change, I haven't seen any ammonia in the tank (the variance In the % change is due to how quickly the gravel vac works).