pamd

I'm planning to get a new betta and to buy a new tank for him/her in advance. I also would like two panda cory cats. My plan is to purchase just one cory, put him in the tank once it's cycled, then add another cory when the tank is cycled again. Then to wait until nitrites and ammonia are again zero or near zero before adding the betta. Does this seem like a reasonable plan?

Also, I'm stuck in trying to decide what tank to get. I'm planning to replace my recently departed Sparkles' 3-gallon Eclipse tank (by Marineland) with either the six-gallon or 12-gallon Eclipse. I really like the "all-in-one" aspect of it, in theory the Biowheel, and have really enjoyed the simplicity and looks of it. However, I have true second thoughts on whether Sparkles enjoyed it. He was obviously thrilled in his new home for a couple of weeks, but his decline started shortly after I moved him to it from a 2-gallon unfiltered, unheated bowl, in which he seemed just fine, building bubble nests and acting so happy! Probably not a direct cause and effect, but I can't help but wonder. He was probably sick at the time I moved him, maybe even when I brought him home, and I didn't realize it.

Between the two Eclipse tanks, the six-gallon would fit into the small space where I can best interact with the fish. But the six-gallon is taller than the 12-gallon in proportion to its width.

Any advice on which tank to buy between the two of them, or any advice to avoid the Eclipse tanks altogether? I'm leaning toward the 12-gallon, even though it won't fit into my small space as aesthetically. I know the 12-gallon would be more stable.

Also, since I don't know why Sparkles died so suddenly, I feel the need to sterilize his three-gallon Eclipse as a possible future betta or hospital tank, plus sterilize the heater and thermometer that I'll probably use in the new tank. I've read on these forums that vinegar works, but does it really really work? Isn't it a pretty mild disinfectant? What about using chlorine bleach and subsequently giving the equipment a massive dose of inexpensive dechlorinator?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Barbrella

Please don't use corydoras to cycle tanks. Being scaleless, they are particularly sensitive to nitrates, and will most surely die.

You can cycle the tank without fish. It takes longer but is much kinder.

If you want to keep corys, it's best to have a tank with more length than height since they spend a lot of time on the bottom half.

I believe a solution of bleach and water, followed by a zillion rinses, should disinfect a tank. Someone else will surely know the ratio of water to bleach.

armadillo

Hi Pam. Barbrella is right.

Also, panda corys will do better in larger groups of, say, 4 or 5.

COBettaCouple

Cycling without fish will allow you to let the levels go up like crazy and would probably be faster than cycling with just 1 cory, especially in a 12g tank. Most likely he would die without moving the cycle much, if any.

Feed the tank a good pinch of flakes every 12 hours or so, run an airstone in the tank and a heater turned to the max to speed the cycle along.

pamd

Thank you to all for the good advice. I forgot to mention that I intended to cycle the new tank fishless, using Bio Cycle before introducing the first cory cat. Is this an okay idea?

COBettaCouple

no, you would save yourself money to skip using that Bio Cycle. It won't really do much for the cycle and some products like that do more harm than good to getting a tank cycled. I have heard "Stability" works some, but not tried it myself. We just cycled tanks without additivies like that. Bio Spira is great and cycles tanks overnight, but is expensive and not real easy to find.

pamd

Oops, I meant BIO-Spira -- got the names mixed up. Anyhow, I managed to find it locally. After quite a bit of research, I still have some questions about using it. I posted them here:

http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/aq...bio-spira.html

Maybe one of you can help. Thanks again!