pilotshorvath

Hi all,
Just joined today, great website! I plan on cycling my new 3 gallon (12 Litre) fish tank (LxWxH; 31x17x20cm) and get a nice aquarium going. Its my first fish aquarium for me since my goldfish as a kid!* I was thinking of one nice male Betta Splenden and some Neon or Cardinal Tetras. Are they compatible? Also, with this size tank, how many Neon / Cardinals would you suggest!?

I have a pump, heater and nice red gravel. Will washing them in vinegar disinfect them? (I heard soap residue kills fish!)

Cheers everybody and thanks for any help!

Simon! (Australia)

ChrisRamo

Welcome To FishLore

A 3 Gallon tank is not big enough for a Betta and other fish, to be honest i wouldnt reccomend a betta in this size tank.
Neon Tetras i guess would be acceptable tank mates, but they sometimes do nip at fins as for most of the tetras.
I would reccomend something different sorry

Chris

Butterfly

First , just rinse your gravel in plain water until clean. If it's new just rinse the dust out of it.
A lone Male Betta can be kept in a three gallon tank with meticulous attention to water changes(we recommend five gallon tanks). 50% water changes each week and keep a check on the water test readings. Any Ammonia or Nitrites would indicate a need for an immediate water change. But the tank is too small for him to have any tank mates. He will enjoy a few plants whether they be live or artificial.
Most bettas don't enjoy tankmates that swim at the same level as they do unless it's a really large tank as they are severly territorial. But some thing that lives on the bottom works great such as Otocinclus(Otos), Corydoras(Corys), Bristlenose. Hope this helps
Carol

pilotshorvath

Thanks Chris and Carol for the replies!

You guys would be shocked at the Betta market in Australia. Almost every pet shop sells Splendens in tiny 500ml-1 litre tanks and claim "hardy, easy to keep first fish, and IS COMFORTABLE with small tanks!" I remember last valentines day they kept advertising bettas in a heart shape tank the size of your open hand and about 10 cm deep! No wonder beginners get confused!

And i thought 12 Litres would be an olympic pool for him/her!**

I have also been reading books from the library and the tropical ones (about half the books) state a fish density of 2.5 cm (1 inch) of fish per 65-79 sq cm of surface area for an unairated tank (tropical, 130sq cm for cold fish). SO i would have thought my tank (30cm x 17cm = 510 sq cm) would hold about 6x 2.5 cm fish (15 cm total). Given a splenden of 5cm that still leaves one, maybe two extra small fish. Chris said even 3 gallon would be too smal for ONE?

Why is there such a discrepancy everywhere?*

And i know i will need to look after the water but i will have no problem doing that because the tank will be only 4 metres from the kitchen sink so i can do a partial change anytime really easily and quickly!

I'm off to the pet store this afternoon to by nitrate and ammonia test kits! Fun!*

Thanks again for the continuing chat!

Simon.

Stradius011

Well..they can live in a 3 gallon tank, but they won't be happy with such small space. I hate it when people say that you can keep them in such small space because of their labyrinth orgins. They are suffering because of their unique features!!!

Butterfly

The conditions of survive and thrive are two different things .Most fish can survive in apalling(sp?) conditions for a period of time. But thrive, explore, and develop a personality all their own in a larger environment.
If he's that close to the sink I would think water changes would be easy. Don't forget the water dechlorinator I have a five gallon in the bathroom with three guppies and two cory fry and it makes water changes so easy.
Carol

pilotshorvath

Just wondering.... if i put an algae treatment in the water, do I have to remove the carbon from the filter first, or will it work with it in? (I know for like white spot treatments the bottle says i have to, but the algae one doesn't) Just wondering what you fish experts out there think!?