Cycling a small tank

HI guys, early this week I posted about some ammonia problems my wife and I were having in our 37 gallon tank. Everything seems to be evening out, which is nice, and our fishies are doing very well.
I'm thinking of getting a tank for a betta, but I absolutely refuse to keep him/her in one of those tiny little bowls or other non-filtered and non-heated doo-dads. I've decided on either a 5, or 10 gallon tank, most likely a 5 gallon tank since at most I'll put a snail of some kind in there and my space is somewhat limited. I haven't quite been able to narrow down any information on if it's difficult to cycle, and to a degree, clean, a 5 gallon tank. Can anyone supply me with any information? I also plan on going chemical-free with this tank with the exception of water tests and emergencies.

 

You could cycle it immediately, if you take a bit of established media from your 37 gallon.

I've always seeded my tanks, never done a fishless cycle, so I don't have personal experience to offer. I have heard from many that the smalller the tank, the more difficult it is to keep your parameters in check. Essentially, if a parameter swings, it will be much more drastic in a 5 gallon than in a 75 gallon.

That said, bettas are very hardy and can stand these swings far easier than more sensitive fish can. A 5 gallon tank is more than adequate for a betta.

 

I'd put in a sponge filter in your 37g tank now so that by the time it's cycled, you can take it out and put it into the betta tank 1-2 weeks later.

Water parameters would be more stable in a larger volume of water so a 10 gallon would be ideal but if you can't get it, a 5 gallon would be adequate. You would just need to more diligent in keeping the water pristine.

 

My wife was worried so she did a pretty enormous water change a few days ago and found a ton of old food under the log we put in for the pleco. Once she cleaned it up she filled it again. Right away the ammonia dropped to 2 (previously had 8 til a water change where it would drop to 4 and spike again the next day). Two days of water changes and we have happy fishes with zero ammonia, no nitrites and nitrates between 0 and 5. Will still need to do frequent changes because of 5 goldfish but that's okay. They're so animated and fun to watch.

 

I really recommend looking to return some fish. The ammonia levels are going to be a challenge to keep down with all those messy fish in one tank.

I think the stocking issues were addressed in your other thread but for the sake of the well being of those fish, I hope you look to rehoming them.

 

We're actually going to be upgrading to a 110 (or 105, can't remember) gallon tank to accommodate them.

 

Depending on the pleco species, that may not be big enough and may not be temp compatible. Do you have a picture?

 

He's a bristlenose, and seems to be doing fine with our heater at 70.

 

Their preferred temps are in the mid 70s. Once you upgrade, you could move the goldfish into the bigger tank and keep the plec in this tank with other tropical fish.

 

That's a pretty good idea. Maybe I'll hold off on this small tank and put the pleco and the betta together.

 

You're in Maine!! Yaaayyyyyyy!!!

I keep a betta in a 5g, it was my first tank. I've never had a problem keeping the water parameters stable. I have the betta in there with two nerite snails and he's happy as a clam. Like Xander said, taking a bit of filter media from your current tank and adding it to the filter of a new 5 gallon tank would cycle it immediately. I've done it before with small tanks and small bioload and never seen any ammonia or nitrite readings whatsoever. A pretty betta in a nice little tank (mine is a hex) makes a wonderful nightlight, or centerpiece for a coffee table or something. I love mine

 

That's a pretty good idea. Maybe I'll hold off on this small tank and put the pleco and the betta together.

The betta is not recommended for community tanks. They are not social fish and would do best by itself. There are many other tropical fish that would do great with bn plecos like gouramis, schooling fish and other bottom dwellers like corys and kuhlI loaches.