10 and 5 Gallon Fish Tanks- Cycling

[kingofallsaiyans123]

where u get those caves

[DrSeussThing1]

@kingofallsaiyans123 - I got them at PetSmart.

[tough5hit]

Great looking tank!

[hamoon007]

can you pleas check out my tank i'm new to fish kepping and i want some tips watch?v=Vh8G-oTdwPY

[sammymunir]

Lol I forgot to cycle mine and had like 22 fish in the tank but the cycle went through (with my changing like 50% water everyday) and all of them survived!!!

[OmgLowBattery]

Even though they are small tank you decorated them very nicely. nice job

[lockerzlover3421]

would it be alright if i had a 5-6 year old comet goldfish and a baby lobster(yea i know a lobster weird but cool)in the same tank cus i just got the same tank as u and i also saw a lobster at petsmart and i asked my mom if i could get it and she said maybe so i just wanna know if it would be safe

[DrSeussThing1]

@lockerzlover3421 - It's probably not a lobster but a small shrimp. And he might go missing one day. When he molts, your goldfish might find him a tasty snack.

How long is your comet? Unless their growth is stunted, they will get to about 12 inches long and should really live outside in a pond.

[g2gpce]

i thought betta nd angel fishes cant live 2gether nd is it ok if i have 8 betta , 3 snials, 1 shrimp, 2 guppy, 2 white cloud, 1 upside down catfish, 1 red lionhead goldfish, 1 dalmatian mollies, 1 zebra african cichlid, 2 sunburst platy, 2 velvet wag swordtail, 1 african dwaft frog, 2 assorted mickey mouse plates in a 20 gallon tank is that ok or a bigger tank nd wat size nd most of this fishes r 1.5 in max nd there a still young so wat size should i have or a 20 is gud

[DrSeussThing1]

@g2gpce - I'm sorry but that is way too many fish to have in a 20 gallon tank. They will be crowded, some will get attacked/killed by the more aggressive fish, and the water will get polluted incredibly fast. I HIGHLY DO NOT recommend it! I mean this in the nicest way. Really. I don't want you to spend alot of money on fish that won't do well together and die.

If you haven't decided on fish yet, I would just get the guppies, the swordtails, the platies, and a few large snails.

[MasterTechRepair]

@DrSeussThing1 umm the more fishes the better and keep it clean and clear is the main priority .....thats why when u buy fishes u ask for what type of fish are they these are the diffrent types: gold fishes, community , semi aggressive , and aggressive then you have the salt watter fishes , and the inbetween salt water and fresh water which i forgot the name for those but yeah the fishes mebtioned above are all community fishes whitch get along just great and there intence colors rock the tank

[vanhalenman60]

@g2gpce only 1 betta

[mattsnyderbmx]

@g2gpce that will never be possible, 8 bettas together in a 55 would still fight doesnt matter if their male or female. cichlids cannot be kept with anything you just suggested. and goldfish shouldn't be kept in anything less than like a 55

[sarahhaspowers]

@mattsnyderbmx Actually, female bbetta fish in a large tank tend to do well together.

[MasterTechRepair]

@g2gpce no man thats fine !!! thats really great ....thats only 23 fishes thats not that much for a 20gl tank i have 16 and a blue gray fish in my 10 gallon

[ddsspecpk5]

i see you shop at petsmart :]

[DrSeussThing1]

@ddsspecpk5 - Yeah, it's kinda hard to not support a chain store. I needed equipment and PetSmart had a better selection than Pet Co.

[austipastie]

@DrSeussThing1 i agree petco has almost nothing

its like petsmart is deticated to fish xD

[acerb45666555]

Lights. i dont use bright lights. just regular room lighting. no heaters either. only room temp. and my fish are happy! and theyre all fresh water tropical cichlids!

[DrSeussThing1]

@acerb45666555 You're right about the lighting. The fish don't really need it, but I wanted to be able to see them and my room lights suck. About the heater, your room temperature has to be just right. I get drafts from the air conditioning so the heater just keeps the water temp. from fluctuating too much. I'm glad your fish are doing good! :)

[CamCool10]

What fish did u send up getting in the 10 and 5 gallon tank

[DrSeussThing1]

@CamCool10 -For the 5 gallon I bought another Betta fish and the 10 gallon had a RTS. Neither lasted very long because of disease. <-- (I feel I am plagued with bad luck when it comes to fish.) I broke the tanks down a long time ago. I don't have the time right now for fish tanks because of all the maintenance involved. Someday I'll have fish again...

[kellybowbelly989]

hey i just put my tank on youtube with my batta male named swimmy i thinking of getting a 5 gallon i think way to small for him and its not fair live ur hole life in a small tank :(.SO PLLZZZZZZ CHECK MY VIDEO OUT AND GIVE ME TIPS

[DrSeussThing1]

I'll post my reply here and under your video: In your video you say that you are thinking of a Marineland Eclipse 5, correct? If you go that route, I DON'T recommend getting the "Hex" or hexagonal tank. Most fish like to have more space to swim left and right, rather than up and down. If you still want to get an Eclipse, I would go for the "Eclipse Corner 5". It isn't as tall and has a slightly bigger footprint, and so I think it's a better tank, but go with what you like. It's your decision.

[DrSeussThing1]

Also, I highly recommend to change half of the water once a week. It looks like your little guy has seen some fin rot. Part of his caudal fin has disappeared. It can be fixed by keeping the tank and water clean. Though there are some products that can speed recovery, unless you have a serious problem, most of the time it's better to not add a bucket-load of chemicals into the tank water. So, just keep him clean and his fin will grow back some. Good luck with everything! :)

[DrSeussThing1]

P.S.- I'm glad you got the 7. Bigger is always better when it comes to tanks. ;)

[videodude4]

i tried to add some food to my 2.5 gallon to start the cycling. how much and nothing is happening filter is running and the water is not foggy. been running for a day. temp is 70 degrees. too cool? heat? thanks,

[DrSeussThing1]

Fahrenheit right? Set it to the mid 80s. Do you have a test kit? You are ready when the ammonia and nitrites are back at zero ppm (parts per million). Make sure the filter is breaking the water's surface to provide oxygen.

[videodude4]

Yes, I got a heatwe and its close to 80's. I also have a aerator and the tank it becoming foggy now. How lond is this going to take? I mean do I just let it go all through the cycle or do water changes. Thanks so much for your help. and Happy holidays.

[DrSeussThing1]

There is no set amount of time that a tank will cycle. Every cycle is different. You only need to do water changes (small ones) if the ammonia and/or nitrites are really off. Your ammonia doesn't need to be any higher than 5ppm. Any more than that and it will take longer to cycle. Your test kit will tell you when to do a small water change and when you are ready for fish.

[AcanLord]

is it safe to fully submerge a visitherm heater like that?

[DrSeussThing1]

Yes. They are made to be submersible. I either place them upright or horizontal just above the substrate.

[soonersadrkewl]

u onley need to cycle for 2 days the bacteria doesnt start growing untill you have fish

[DrSeussThing1]

There are methods of cycling without fish. You just add a source of ammonia. It's what I did here.

[JWALK2828]

can u send me your cycling method please

[DrSeussThing1]

Message on the way...

[valentinecutiee]

how long did it take for your 10g tank to cycle? I started yesterday and some people said it took 2 months! i'm not waiting 2 months!? please tell me how long it took you!

[DrSeussThing1]

It took roughly 1 1/2 -2 weeks with fishless cycling. I wrote down the method in another comment on here. Just click 'view all comments' and scroll down. I don't want to have to repeat myself. Let me know if you have questions...

[soonersadrkewl]

the acual cycling doesnt start untill you have fish so it onley takes 2 days for a fishless cycle

[Fedaykin4321]

try two weeks minimum

plz don't pull statistics like that out of your ass....

[Elkocolo]

was that the aquaclear power filter 30 in a 10 gal tank?. and i just bought the aquaclear 20 thinking that the 30 was goin to be to big for the tank hood. If that is a 10 gal tank should i change my filter 20 for a 30 one?

[DrSeussThing1]

Yep it was a AquaClear 30. I wanted something a little more powerful. Extra filtration can never hurt. ;) It's your choice if you want to change it. It fits the tank hood fine. And there is even an extra 1 1/2 in. clearance, so you could use something wider.

[redgravel92]

not bad tanks thoe why u got the 10 gal on a towel instead of foam , the uneveness of the towel could cause stress on the base of the tank makeing it crack

[DrSeussThing1]

Yeah I didn't think of that at the time. I was just worried about water dripping/spilling on the dresser.

[atomicman4]

Aren't you supposed to cycle with cheap fish? to establish the ammonia levels or whatever?

[DrSeussThing1]

You don't have to. I actually just sent someone a pretty detailed message on the subject but I can post a few comments here for everyone else....

[DrSeussThing1]

There are three ways to cycle a tank. 1. You can let it sit with the filter running for 6+ weeks and the beneficial bacteria from the tap water will SLOWLY multiply. You basically leave the tank completely alone for two months or more and then you can SLOWLY start adding fish. The reason it takes so long is because they have no food. This is very inaccurate and it could take you a lot longer. It depends on how well your tap water has been sterilized by the water company....

[atomicman4]

thanks, i did a little research myself, I learned that to speed up the process, you can just get some feeders to establish the ammonia levels and what not, and they die quickly.

[DrSeussThing1]

atomicman4, why would you do that to the fish?!? Just because they're cheap and they aren't human doesn't mean they aren't living creatures! That's sick! How would you feel if you were a fish and I just threw you into a new tank? Your eyes and skin would itch and burn, then your organs would deteriorate and start to fail. You would start to bleed inside and out, your fins would fray and dissolve...

[DrSeussThing1]

...You wouldn't be able to eat or hardly swim anymore and you would die a very VERY PAINFUL death! Put yourself in the fish's fins. They have needs just like any creature. You don't need to needlessly throw away a life. Read my other posts and do some more research.

[atomicman4]

I didn't do that myself, I just read that on the internet. Go on google and type in "cycling a fish tank with fish". It's what I read to do, besides, aren't the purpose of feeders to be feed?

[DrSeussThing1]

Okay but will they become food for fish later on? That is alright. I wouldn't use feeders (for that purpose or for cycling). They will most likely have diseases. If you still want to go ahead with it follow instructions that require water changes. This is better for the cycling fish. Because ANY ammonia is harmful even just a tiny bit.

[atomicman4]

Yes, feeders are breed to feed larger fish or animals, that is why they are breed, and yes you are right, ammonia is harmful, even in small amounts, that's why the feeders or whatever you use release ammonia which then cause beneficial bacteria to grow in your tank and filter, so when the fish you want come, they don't have to go through the cycling because they may be more delicate and die easier than the feeders which are more hardy and can live with the ammonia easier.

[DrSeussThing1]

2. You can cycle the tank with some hardy (usually cheap) fish. The issue I have with this is that when not done correctly it can stress out, harm, and even kill the cycling fish. This is unnecessary torture in my book. Also, if they survive, what will you do with them? 'Specially if you didn't plan on keeping them. Please research this method before you try it. And don't just dump some unlucky fish in the tank and walk away. This method requires to watch the tank and perform water changes...

[DrSeussThing1]

3. You can cycle the empty tank by adding pure ammonia (from a hardware store). This is the best method because no fish suffer and it is much, much faster. I've read of 10 gallon tanks cycling within a week. Mine took about 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. Also please research this one, because you will need to buy the right ammonia and you will need to get a test kit and perform water changes. Most fish-keepers I know use this method with great results. Also when finished you can add more fish in at a time.

[atomicman4]

And I have another tank which i use for my turtle and my feeders also live in there, and my turtle eats some, and then there are a few left that the turtle just gives up on, it's how life works, some get eaten, some don't, even if you don't believe in eating meat, that's how nature works

[DrSeussThing1]

Yes I know that's how nature works. Did you read where I wrote that most feeders carry diseases? Diseases that can then transfer to the more delicate fish you get later on. And I should correct what I said about the ammonia. It's 1ppm or more that's harmful to the fish. I still prefer fish-less cycling for all the reasons i previously posted but you can do whatever you want.

[xxvolcomkidxx13]

i have the same cave in my 20 gallon

[cohazard]

I love the scape on both tanks especially the attention to detail, you hid the heater and the filter intake with deco. Very nice :)

[DrSeussThing1]

Lol. Really? Thanks. I broke them down but yeah I did like how I scaped them.

[DrSeussThing1]

Are you talking about the Whisper Micro that comes with the kit? Yeah there is a little slide on the back that adjusts flow. Though I dunno if I would depend on it to keep the fish from getting sucked up. My Bettas have had a tendency to hide right under the intake. Even the lowest setting might not be enough (I really don't know). I like to keep it somewhere in the middle to prevent scum from forming at the water's surface. You could test it out if you want.

[DrSeussThing1]

Two other ways to prevent fish suckage: Wrap a piece of netting (taken from a fish net) around the bottom and secure it with something fish-safe like fishing line or rubber bands (these dissolve after a while). I tried this method first. OR the second way is to shove a piece of coarse sponge up the bottom. You don't need to fill the whole cavity with it, just the bottom. And they both act like a pre-filter. Just rinse them occasionally or they can clog up and reduce the efficiency of the filter.

[DrSeussThing1]

Ok guys. I have no fish at the moment. I had two Bettas, a RTS, and some Tiger Barbs, but all of them died from diseases. Sometimes I think I am cursed but it happens to everyone. I also didn't get any videos before they died.

Anyways, I don't think I will get new fish for a while. I dunno at the moment. I have to plan my future first. But I promise next time I will post videos asap and cross my fingers they won't get sick.

[narutoxsasuke104]

how did you use your anti chlorine?

[DrSeussThing1]

You mean dechlorinator? Read the instructions on the bottle and just drop the right amount into the container of new water. Or you can put the total amount of new water (or even the total amount for the tank) into the tank. Does this make sense? I will post an example...

[DrSeussThing1]

Okay so say I have a 10 gallon tank. I am doing a 50% water change and will remove 5 gallons of tank water. The dechlorinator I will use is Prime but you can use what you like. The amount will be different for the different brands. The bottle says to use 2 drops for 1 US gallon (4L) of new water. So if I used a 1 gallon jug to refill the tank, before adding the new water I would put 2 drops of Prime in.

[DrSeussThing1]

Now if I was going to use a 5 gallon bucket and just add all the new water at once, I would put in 10 drops. Also if I was going to use a Python or other kind of refilling hose, just for good measure, I would all 20 drops of Prime directly to the tank before filling. That way you know that all of the chlorine and chloramine will be removed immediately and you won't harm your fish.

[DrSeussThing1]

Also it's okay if you use a little extra, but don't go crazy. Some brands also remove ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates from the tap water and if you drop it directly on your fish I think it burns them. Also the amount won't always be 2 drops per 1 gallon (4L). They are all different. So like AquaSafe is like 7 or 8 drops per gallon. And the larger bottles/jugs will have little cups attached to the top. These will ask you to measure in ml, ounces, teaspoons, or tablespoons.

[DrSeussThing1]

Hope this helps! :) Oh and no need to stir the water to make sure it works and removes all the chlorine and/or chloramine. It will do it's own thing.

[tinytot258]

can you PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO CYCLE A FISH TANK? im getting one in a few days and want to know how

[DrSeussThing1]

I'm sending you a message.

[jorolol]

What fish will be in it a betta?!?!

[SpitRhyma]

DrSeussThing1, I ask that you keep an open mind. You can keep your betta fish MUCH longer if you just make one simple change to your tank to kill the water movement.

Bettas unlike other fish CANNOT rest w/o stillwater. Sure the betta can go into that cave or stuff himself in plants like other fish often do but bettas are air breathers and prefer to hang at the surface so they get much less sleep. Tests have proven that fish that don't sleep (24/7 lights) live 50% the life of fish w/ 12/12

[yneshAshanti]

does this apply to all fish? how do you know that they're asleep?

[honeylovebubble]

you can tell.. in the morning, before i turn on lights my bettas are resting on something.. then when i turn on the light they sort of have this groggy second before happily swimming up to try and get some food :P

[DazzIeBerry]

Beautiful tanks :)

Have you added fish yet??

[simsrule347]

well done! your tanks look great, and you obviously know what your doing! The only thing i dislike is the way you bought a BLUE minibow. I like black tanks ... i am getting a 5 gal elipse tank, and i could really use some help on decorating tips! please send me a message!

[DrSeussThing1]

Sorry this is late. For decorating I would stick to a theme. If you want to get plastic decorations then don't mix it with too many real rocks, wood, or live plants. Also if you want it to look natural then don't add a neon pink castle or something. And if you have a freshwater tank then adding fake corals looks kinda weird. The Blue was all that they had at the store. I would have gone with black if they had them. I really don't like anything other than black (I especially hate fake wood trim).

[DrSeussThing1]

And I appreciate you telling me that I know what I am doing but I still make mistakes and am learning from them. I have never had an eclipse before. I'm not a huge fan of connecting filters because if they aren't that great then it's hard to remove them. P.S.- I will also send this as a message to you in case you don't see it here.

[Checkz3]

why havent u make new video?

[joethejr]

My dads got the wood. it doesnt look too bad in the room though and he got it for FREE!

[DrSeussThing1]

Free tanks are always awesome! :)

[joethejr]

Its pretty simple just go to a store and pick out a few different items and lay them out in the store and see how you like them. never buy all of your deco at once b/c u might want to add something later. I have 2 rocks and 7 plants (3 are tiny) and soon i want to add bubbles. This is in my 10 gal tank.

[ironzeppelinoverhead]

nice

[Panziety]

what is that green thing on your 5 gallon filter?

[DrSeussThing1]

It's the mesh part of a fish net. I put it around the intake so that my new Betta doesn't get sucked up it like my old one was. Actually alot of fish keepers use fish nets or new panty hose to cover up the intake of a filter if they have small fish or fry. The space on the underside of my Whisper mini is quite large. So I do it as a precaution. And it is easily rinsed and reattached.

[ssjgokussjgohan]

the second tank the 5 gallon one is the same like the one that i have did you buy it at petco

[DrSeussThing1]

Yes. I got the 5 gallon from Petco. I also have a 2.5 of the same brand (Mini-Bow) and I got that one from Walmart a while back.

[mwscooters]

you neeed fish to start the process.

[DrSeussThing1]

To start what? Cycling? You can do fishless cycling. It is less stressful for the fish. And less cruel.

[DrSeussThing1]

So I accidentally clicked remove instead of reply...Sorry.

akayei07 wrote: Nice, get a background to complete it =]

I might get a background. We'll see. Some of them I think look a little weird but I guess it is better than seeing the cords and the filter and the nasty baby blue wall color.