WendyAT

I was wondering if a 5 gallon tank would be ok for a having a betta? Does it take as long to cycle a small tank as it does a large tank? I have been looking at these wonderful pictures and how pretty the bettas are, it makes me want one.
Wendy

Amanda

A 5 gallon is great for a betta. Tetra safeStart is a great way to cycle a tank quickly & safely.

pamelakt

So this safestart stuff - you put your water in the tank, turn everything on let it settle for how long before adding this? And then how long after this can you add your fish?

Only I was under the impression you had to wait like a week or so before adding fish, and I just looked up safestart & it said you add them at the same time?!

Would you let it settle a few days, add safestart then do a water test to make sure its ok - THEN go get fishie?

pinkfloydpuffer

Yep, 5gs is wonderful.
Speed of cycling depends on alot more than just the size, from my understanding.

Red1313

With the tetra safe-start you add the fish the same day since without any ammonia the bacteria will die off. What they recommend is not testing your water for a weeks since the parameters will drive you insane since you're basically speed cycling your tank.

As for how long it will take to cycle a 5 gal usually not too long. Since I'm guessing that your 20 gal tank is cycled take an extra piece of filter media and put it in the tank for 2 weeks. This will seed the media with bacteria. Then put the now seeded media in you're new betta tank and you'll be instantly cycled. A lot cheaper then safe-start.
Good Luck!

Matt

That Betta will absolutely love you for giving it a 5 gallon all to itself.

From Matt

Lucy

I agree, 5g for a betta is wonderful.

Using filter media from the 20g probably isn't a good idea since there was an unexplained death recently.

You'll love having a betta, good luck.

Red1313

There was? Whoops didn't know that sorry.

Allie

A 5g is perfect for a betta.

WendyAT

ok. ill look at walmart and petsmart tomorrow. lucy is right . i had a pleco die today and i dont know why. i wasnt planning on using anything out of my 10 gal because i didnt want to contaminate the new tank. i will be starting a new tank cycle. i have my reciept for my pleco and ill be taking him back to petsmart tomorrow.
my glofish are doing good though. no signs of sickness yet. i sure wanted to get three more glofish too. i guess ill have to wait now.
as for the tetra sure start( i tihnk thats what it is) do i put the betta in the tank along with the sure start?
wendy

pinkfloydpuffer

I believe it's Tetra Safe Start
You can add fish immediately when using that. But whether you chose to or not, make sure you add ammonia one way or another.

COBettaCouple

A 5g is good for a Betta and I'd use Prime to treat all your water. If you can't quick cycle it, do 50% daily water changes to help keep toxins low until it cycles.

Alessa

Lets not confuse wendy, here are the methods:

1. adding betta and tetra safe start at the same time... and you're supposed to be done almost immediately.

2. set up tank and add ammonia drops daily (to replace fish waste) until tank cycles. THEN, add fishy.

3. get some filter media to seed new tank, repeat step 2. (faster, though not recommended in this case due to the fish death)

4. get tank and fishy at the same time... do daily 50% water changes with prime water conditioner until tank cycles. (not recommended at all due to it being inhumane; the fish is exposed to high levels of ammonia and nitrite which are harmful and painful and sometimes deadly, to them. Though you also have to take into consideration the conditions in which they already are at the store in those horrid cups).

Also consider most of the 5 gallons make great planted tanks with no effort.

Lucy

Excellent post, Alessa.

Matt

Can u plz post some pics of your betta

Plz Pretty Plz

From Matt
Post Pics or my bananas will attack u (Joking)

WendyAT

Hi all,
I did get a 5 1/2 gallon tank today! I have just finished setting it up. I couldnt find and of the Tetra Safe Start, I do have Prime though. I did go ahead and get this handsome red betta! (my son's favorite color is read, hence the red betta) I have put the water in and put the Prime in as well, however the water is still too cold to put him in. How long can I keep my little guy in the bag before I can put him in the tank? Both the shop I got him at and a lady at Walmart said I didnt need a heater. I was thinking of this website and knew I read somewhere that they need a heater. I didnt get one grrrrrr, and I knew I should have!!!! I can just kick myself for not getting it!!!! Once the water warms up a bit, do you think it will be ok to go ahead and put him in the tank and I can get the heater tomorrow? Also, how often do I feed him? The guy at the shop said only a couple of pellets a day and thats all. He said that would be enough for him. He also said not to worry about cycling... I knew better! As Alessa said above, I will be doing 50% water changes daily until the water has cycled. I understand this is not the best method to use. But I was really counting on finding the Tetra Safe Start.
Wendy

Lucy

If you have a lamp, you can try putting that above the tank to warm up the water. Do you have a thermometer?
Bettas do best in 80F water.
If the water's too cold, it could stress him enough to bring on a host of illnesses.

jdhef

Yeah, you really should get a heater. You could have mixed hot and cold water to get up the room temperature right away. You could always take some water out and replace it with warmer water. I think he will be okay until tommorrow in the tank without a heater. The 5.5 gallons will hold a more steady temp then the bag will.

I would try not to keep him in the bag any longer than necessary. Since it being a smaller volume of water, it will pollute faster. Then again they leave them in cups all day, so anything you do should be better.

Oh yeah, and congratulations on your new Betta.

jdhef

I forgot to answer your feeding question. I give mine a small amount of Betta flakes in the morning and about 4 freeze dried bloodworms in the evening. On either Saturday or Sunday I give him some freeze dried daphnia for lunch, to help prevent consipation.

Since fish are cold blooded they don't need a whole lot of food, since there are no colories used to produce and regulate body temperature.

pamelakt

I feel really confused, I think I'm too thick for all this!

I saw some tetra safe start today but didn't get it as I wasn't sure. How can you be sure if the safestart has worked properly? What if you put fishy in and its not right?! Do you put it in before you've heated the tank or while the water is still cold?

And what other bottled stuff should I buy? For further water changes? Cos there are SO many bottles in the shops its really daunting

Can someone just blo*dy move in with me for a month while I adjust to being a new Betta mum?! Haha

Lucy

Whoa, I'm getting confused between Wendys thread and Pam's

Pam.......get you're heater first before you add the fish.
With Tetra Safe Start, you're supposed to add the fish at the same time. It's waste will feed the bacteria Safe Start contains.

pamelakt

I also saw compelte Betta food which was a flake mix including krill but didn't get that cos I thought I read pellets were better...

My god they're complicated!

Oh and i saw the most beautiful Betta today, but he was in a tiny cup thing. He seemed healthy looking, I wanted to rescue him but I thought I daren't reserve him cos I have to many bottles of stuff to buy & dunno where to start! Plus I still need a heater...... but I can get that any day.

pamelakt

Oh I kno I wouldn't put the fish in cold water, I meant the tetra stuff.

Lucy

They're not really. It's information over load. I think I gave this link to you before......take a deep breath.

Welcome and Betta Care Guide - Please Read First!!!

WendyAT

Ok, I know how you guys love pictures. Here are a couple. I placed a bubble wall in the tank and when I put his bag in the water to set for a while it caused a lot of bubbles to set on the rock and decor. I have since decreased the bubble action in hopes that the bubbles will not form on the decor anymore. He is a beautiful red and I can see his personality already. He likes the bubbles. It looks like he tries to grab them. He is still getting strength, I can see him struggling in the water flow from the filter. The on picture he looks like he was peeking around the ship at me. I have black gravel and a black fake plant. Not sure if I like the colors yet. I thought the black would make his color pop out, but it doesnt seem like it yet. I am going to get a heater today, because it is suppose to get pretty cold tonight. Also, I am going to look at this walmart and see if they have the tetra safe start. the other walmart i went to, did not have it. I did as someone suggested, to empty out some water and replace with warmer water, and that increased the temp where it should be. Now I will do 50% water changes every day and test every day, right? (until cycled)

As for my 10 gal and the glofish, I got blood worms today and gave them a few and boooyyyyyy did they just love that! They went after those quickly!
Wendy

Attached Images

	Betta Fish 1.jpg (430.1 KB, 15 views)
	Betta Fish 2.jpg (47.5 KB, 15 views)

Matt

Yer You Need A Heater In The Tank.

From Matt

Lucy

He's a beautiful boy, Wendy, congratulations.

WendyAT

Got a heater today! My betta is a shy one still. But he is lovely. My husband is going to be surprised when he gets home from his trip hahaha. He doesnt know I got another tank...oops Fish keeping is getting addictive!
Is the Tetra AquaSafe the same as Tetra Safe Smart? I can't find the Tetra Safe Smart.
Wendy

Lucy

No, they're not the same. Tetra Aqua Safe, I beleive is a water condition.

I've never seen Tetra Safe Start in any of the stores around here.

pamelakt

Oh wow he has a little ship how cute