5 gallon tank - HOW should I keep it cycled?????

I am planning to move my lone occupant ( Male Betta ) in to my Fluval 6 gallon tank tonight.

My question is, what's the best way to keep my 5 gallon where I took my Betta from running? Should I put my 7 zebra danios from my 36 gallon in it to keep it going? I don't want to go any buy any more fish - my danios are the smallest of all my fish and are pretty hardy. Do you think this is a good plan?

I was thinking of putting in the baby snails ( mystery snails ) if and when they do hatch but that may be another 10 days or so.......

I plan on keeping the tank running mostly in case I need a quarantine tank and also because it took me 3 months to cycle it!!! LOL

Junne

 

Put the filter from the 5 gallon or its media into your 36g. Instant QT anytime you need it.

 

Put the filter from the 5 gallon or its media into your 36g. Instant QT anytime you need it.

But do I leave the water in my 5 gallon and running? Or just start it up as needed with the seeded filter?
I was planning to put baby mts snails in there ( if they hatch ) in about 10 days.... Do you think the snails will cause enough bioload to keep it cycled?

Thanks!

Junne

 

If your keeping MTS why not a fish?

If you're emptying the 5g, then leave it empty.

 

But do I leave the water in my 5 gallon and running? Or just start it up as needed with the seeded filter?
I was planning to put baby mts snails in there ( if they hatch ) in about 10 days.... Do you think the snails will cause enough bioload to keep it cycled?

Thanks!

Junne

Shrimp tank :

 

oh maybe I didn't explain..... I have 3 tanks:

Tank #1 - 5 gallon currently has a Betta
Tank #2 - 6 gallon, just put in 7 mts snails and the Betta is going in there tonight
Tank #3 - 36 gallon with the rest of my fish family

So basically, the 5 gallon will be empty tonight after putting the Betta in the 6 gallon. I didn't want to tear down the 5 gallon, nor do I want to "buy" any fish for it. I DO want to keep it cycled and running so that when my snails that are in my 36 gallon tank hatch, I can move them over to the 5 gallon.

I was just trying to figure out the best way without spending any money or getting new fish ( no shrimp amazonpassion ) LOL

 

oh maybe I didn't explain..... I have 3 tanks:

Tank #1 - 5 gallon currently has a Betta
Tank #2 - 6 gallon, just put in 7 mts snails and the Betta is going in there tonight
Tank #3 - 36 gallon with the rest of my fish family

So basically, the 5 gallon will be empty tonight after putting the Betta in the 6 gallon. I didn't want to tear down the 5 gallon, nor do I want to "buy" any fish for it. I DO want to keep it cycled and running so that when my snails that are in my 36 gallon tank hatch, I can move them over to the 5 gallon.

I was just trying to figure out the best way without spending any money or getting new fish ( no shrimp amazonpassion ) LOL

When I go up North, I got to take you to a shrimp breeder who lives SF and once you see his shrimp tanks, you will change your mind

 

Maybe someday shrimps will make it in to my household

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WOAH seven danios wouldn't fit in a ten gallon much less a five gallon. You can put the filter cartridge in the housing of the larger tank's filter housing, then if you wanted fish in the five gallon you could just fill it with water and substrate and stuff.

 

But do I leave the water in my 5 gallon and running? Or just start it up as needed with the seeded filter?
I was planning to put baby mts snails in there ( if they hatch ) in about 10 days.... Do you think the snails will cause enough bioload to keep it cycled?

Thanks!

Junne

Do you mean mystery snails? (I thought MTS were live bearers?) If mystery, then they do have a fairly large bioload. Since you had just the betta in there, they might be enough to match that. But, if you were ever going to need it for a messier fish, then I'm not sure.

If it were me, I'd probably run the filter on the larger tank until I needed it.

 

So my question is, do I keep the 5 gallon running with no one in it????? Wont that cause the cycle to crash as there is no ammonia source?

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Sorry, you're right... Mystery snail babies... Not at my computer and its hard to type and focus with this tiny,
tiny phone...lol
My mystery snail eggs are in the 36 gallon right now.....

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So my question is, do I keep the 5 gallon running with no one in it????? Wont that cause the cycle to crash as there is no ammonia source?

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Mmm, could you feed the tank with a pinch of food every day or so like in the fishless cycling method? Just a thought.

 

Mmm, could you feed the tank with a pinch of food every day or so like in the fishless cycling method? Just a thought.

that was a thought.... hmmm...

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Hello! Congrats on getting your 6 gallon ready! Can't wait to see pics with your betta in there!

Hmmm. Don't you have any pregnant platies you could isolate in your five gallon? And honestly, sticking a few danios in there won't hurt anything (at least three I would think), but some here may disagree with me. But it would only be for a short time, right, until you put the snails in there? I know what you mean about hating to lose a hard-earned cycle!

 

Hello! Congrats on getting your 6 gallon ready! Can't wait to see pics with your betta in there!

Hmmm. Don't you have any pregnant platies you could isolate in your five gallon? And honestly, sticking a few danios in there won't hurt anything (at least three I would think), but some here may disagree with me. But it would only be for a short time, right, until you put the snails in there? I know what you mean about hating to lose a hard-earned cycle!

Thank you! This was my "problem child" tank that took forever to cycle so I just don't want to ruin it - That's what I was thinking about the Danios - they are still pretty small, less than an inch in length and they would only be temporary.......

I am not even sure if the Mystery snails are gonna hatch - if they do, that's what I plan on putting in the 5 gallon - again temporary until they find new homes

I also have tetras but I am not sure I want to put them in there because they are so sensitive to ph changes, etc..... I figured Danios because they ARE so hardy....

 

Could you only move a couple? I think seven would be a lot of fish in there, especially since they're so active. Maybe just two or three, only temporarily?

 

Good morning,

If you haven't already moved the betta to the larger home, I would wait until you have occupants to restock the 5g, even if it's snails going into the 5g.

As others have mentioned, keeping the filter media for the 5 gallon or the filter itself, in/on another established/cycled tank, will keep the media established with beneficial bacteria, then you can set up the 5 gallon for Quarantine as you need it and not have to keep it running 24/7.

I always keep extra filter media in my tanks (hidden) and filter for the purpose of Quarantine and or starting up a new tank.

Ken

 

I think that Risque's suggestion is great since you want to keep the 5 gallon up and running. You wouldn't have to switch fish back and forth either.

 

Thanks - I do have several media stashed in my filters now just for that purpose!!!

I did move my Betta in the tank last night. I think what I decided to do was to put in 4 of my danios from my 36 gallon and maybe a mystery snail ( the one that was originally in the 5 gallon ) temporarily.
I don't know if the egg clutch is going to hatch but I have to be prepared.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Junne

 

Please don't put those poor danios in a tiny 5g.

My suggestion:
Place the 5 gallon filter on your biggest tank. Empty the 55g. When your snails hatch, fill the 5g, add water, add filter, and add snails.

Problem solved.

 

Please don't put those poor danios in a tiny 5g.

My suggestion:
Place the 5 gallon filter on your biggest tank. Empty the 55g. When your snails hatch, fill the 5g, add water, add filter, and add snails.

Problem solved.

Thank you! I will do as you say
At least 5 gallons is not that big of a deal to empty and refill. Thanks for your words of wisdom! I really appreciate it!

Junne

 

WOAH seven danios wouldn't fit in a ten gallon much less a five gallon. You can put the filter cartridge in the housing of the larger tank's filter housing, then if you wanted fish in the five gallon you could just fill it with water and substrate and stuff.

Ouch, I see how it is...don't take my suggestion, but listen when Psalm suggests it

 

I wasn't going to put ALL 7 in there but just 4 of the smallest ones - and it would only be for 10 days or so
I would never put all 7 in there at one time!!!

 

They would be like sardines in a tin can!

 

Hmmm...