makewaralot

Ideally, I would prefer to go out and buy a 10 to 15 gallon starter kit at Wal-Mart. However, I'm a college student with a limited budget. Transporting a large number of fish back home over the summer is also a problem.

I found an old fishtank that I used when I was younger. It's roughly 3 gallons. It was a ziploc bag of black and purple substrate, the small kind you usually see in stores. It also has an air pump.

We filled it up with tap water and let the pump run for a day before we stocked it up with about 8 fish and 2 ghost shrimp. The shrimp did fine. 3 fish died. The rest were a school of what I beleive were Zebra Danios. They seemed to do fine for about a year, although I can't remember how they met thier end.

I've read through your website twice, as well as a few others, and I'm surprised by all the things I managed to do wrong the first time around. I was hoping to get some advice from some more experienced members to help me get my tank up and running. I'll spend the extra money to get the chemicals balanced, but I was hoping that I could get a coldwater fish to avoid having to buy a heater (although I'm also to willing to buy that).

I'm trying to decide what my best options would be. I'm interested in a single fancy goldfish, a single betta, a single guppy, and also a very small community tank similiar to what I had before (Danios, Shrimp, possibly Neon Tetra). I know my tank is not ideal, but is there a setup I can achieve without harming my pet fish?

Thank you.

Lucy

Hi makewaralot welcome to Fish Lore.

Your aquarium info says you know about the nitrogen cycle, but your first experience with fish, you said you let it run for 3 days, that's not near enough to complete the cycle unless you're using Tetra Safe Start (Bio-Sira) or seeding it with used filter media from an established tank, so I'd suggest you start here and learn how to cycle a tank with out fish.

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

You'll need to get a test kit, the API is recommended by several of our members. It's very reliable, please don't waste your money on the strips.
Also you'll need a water conditioner to remove the chlorine and other stuff from your tap water. Prime is a good one.


There aren't too many choice when it comes to 3g. A goldfish would need at least 20g, they're huge waste producers.

Neons need a school of 6-8, that would over stock a 3g. Same with Danios.

A betta would do great in a 3g, of course you'd need a heater.
Or a colony of shrimp, they're lots of fun to watch.

Please ask any questions you might have, the members here are more than happy to help.

Good luck.

clinton1621

I agree with Lucy... and also without a heater pretty much the only thing you could put it in there would be a goldfish, but they are way too big of waste makers to put in a 3g not to mention most would rapidly outgrow it.... I would say get a heater and either put in a betta, or maybe 2 guppys (preferably both males or you will have 50 more in a month) and a couple of shrimp... its not an ideal setup either way but since thats all you have to work with then thats all I can think of =) Good luck

Edit: Also maybe add a small low light live plant (like java fern or java moss)
this will help with absorbing wastes from the small tank

makewaralot

Thanks for the quick response, Lucy! I had figured that the 3 gallon tank would limit my options, so I'm trying to make sure I don't buy a fish that wouldn't do well.

I do have a few questions:
Could a guppy do well in a 3 gallon tank?
Could either a guppy or a betta live with ghost shrimp? (I agree, they are quite fascinating.)
Lastly, I'm interested in live plants. What would you recommend for these particular fish?

Blub

Guppys need at least a 10gal tank - so that's a no-no. Betta are fine with ghost shrimp, until the shrimp molt and the Betta has them for dinner.

I'd get yourself a heater and API master test kit. Then, cycle your tank. Then either get a Betta or start a shrimp colony. I'd go for the Betta myself!

Live plants need light - if you don't have one, then a desk light will do fine. Then, Low light plants are the only ones you can get (High tech tank can be expensive - even in a small tank) so think hornwort, anacharis, anubias, java moss, africa fern and java fern.

Lucy

I'm not knowledgeable about live plants, but from what I understand (like clinton said) java moss or java fern would work.

I'm glad you're doing your research before setting up your tank.

clinton1621

I agree that guppys in general need a 10g, especially with breeding concerns or with females... but you could get away with 2 males because they stay a lot smaller than the females and you wont have to worry about them breeding (or eating shrimp like the betta). Again this isnt ideal at all but it will work.

makewaralot

Awesome, thanks for all the replies! I think I'm going to go with the betta. I'm going to give him plenty of cover and will eventually add ghost shrimp. Do bettas need a light or will they be fine with natural sunlight? (I keep my tank near a shady window.)

I've read that it's hard to use a heater in a tank smaller than 5 gallons. Will this be a problem for me? Also, I'm reading that you don't plant java ferns into the gravel. What does it mean by planting them on a rock?

Lucy

Careful with the shrimp, they'll probably end up as a snack for the betta.

clinton1621

There are some heaters that are made for 'betta bowls' that should work fine, check around a little and you should be able to find them. As far as lighting, the betta doesnt need a lot of light but live plants do... you will have to have at least a flourescent desk lamp or some type of compact light thats not incandescent to be able to support live plants. You CAN plant java ferns in gravel, BUT DO NOT cover the long green part at the bottom (the rhizome) only cover the actual roots coming out of it or the plant will die. It is better to just use some sewing thread to tie the rhizome onto a rock or other decor, but you can do it either way.

Randall

It is hard to maintain the proper temp in such a small tank.There are heaters made for tanks less than 5 gallons however.Make sure you have a thermometer,and while you are cycling check the temp,without a heater.I would leave the light on in the tank while you are cycling.This will let you know what the temp without a heater is.If the light can heat the water to at least 76 degrees,I would not worry about buying a heater.I know that when the light is off the temp will drop a but,the same thing happens in the wild when the sun goes down.Water looses it's heat very slowly,so if the light heats the water enough,and you leave it on for 11 hours a day,a Betta should be fine without the heater.Just make sure the room you keep the tank in never gets too cold.If you think this might be a problem in the winter,buy a heater,and just keep a close eye on the thermometer.
You don't have to bury the roots of Java ferns in the substrate,but you can if you want.Many people plant them on their driftwood,or placing them on a rock.

Blub

I used a heater rated for up to 10gal in a 3gal with a Betta - it was perfect. I think it was a Visi-therem, but it's been such a while I've forgotten exactly.

Fish do fine without any kind of light - but live plants need light.

Blub

Bear in mind that Betta need 78-80 degrees farenheit. Any higher shortens their lifespan, lower they are left more prone to ick and fin rot.

Lucy

Bettas do best in 78-80F.
I have a jr heater from walmart, made for small aquariums, but I wouldn't recommend it. There's no way to adjust the temp.
I tried it in my 3g kritter keeper (frog in quarantine) and it would go anywhere from 74 to 80F......not good. I took it out.
I've got a 50w in a 5g, I just keep it low and the temp stays a consistent 76F
Maybe a 25w on low? Just a guess, I'm not sure about that.

Like Randall says, it's hard to maintain a consistent temperature in such a small tank.

Edit: Hatchet posted while I was typing.
Thanks for the info Hatchet

Randall

And if you do not have a light,you will need a heater.