I am setting up a 5 gallon tropical fish tank, any advice?

Question

What fish to include, a checklist of what equipment/kit I'll be needing, etc. I think I like neon tetras and a couple of bottom-dwelling fish(not plecos), suggestions?

Answer 1

Well I think I can help you as I have a 150 gal tank of fresh water fish myself.

You need a filtering system...any pet store or walmart will have one...just look for the brand you can afford and check tank sizing on the box.

You need an airator a little one should do the trick with a small tank (ship wreck ones to little green round ones.) Don't forget the airator tubing...very important

you can use live plants or artificial. The live plants help put additional oxygen into the water, but are not as colorful as the plastic ones...your choice.

If you decide on live plants you will need a source of sunlight. Some aquarium have lids with florscent lights that works best or place a light over the plant from the wall its next to.

Dont forget a heater. The wand type work best for a smaller aquarium.

The most important thing you can do BEFORE adding your fish is let the fish tank run approximately 1 week full operational BEFORE adding your fish. This gives the tank enough time to level out.

AS for the fish, bottom dwelling fish can be catfish, if you don't like the plecos. But I recent bought a "dianosaur fish" he is awesome. He looks like an eel but with scales and fins. He actually sits at the bottom of the tank holding himself up on his dorsel fins rasing his head and looking around but swims the tank like an eel. Can't explain it, but you should at least look for it at Pet Smart or aquarium store and see if for yourself. He is known as a novelty fish and he wasn't too expensive. The tetras and Barbs are nice coloring fish. The guaramis are not bad either. Best of luck on your tank.

Answer 2

The best suggestion I can make to any beginning fish keeper is to get a good book about the hobby and read through it BEFORE you start a tank. It may seem like a watse of money at first, but I promise you in less than a year you'll be so glad you have that book and will probably have bought additional books along the way as well.

A 5 gallon starter kit with a heater should providce all the basic materials you will need for the tank. You will also want an ammonis / nitrite test kit. I suggest a master test kit that will handle all of the common tests you are likely to need to run and I would strongly suggest you get the one with the bottles of liquid instead of the dip in test strips. The liquid type is far superior in every way that counts. It takes a little longer to use (minutes instead of seconds) but is far more accurate, lasts longer and less likely to be damaged or go bad before you use it up.

Here's a good website where you can start your reading until you can get a book. Besure to follow the links through the additional pages at the bottom of this first page, it's well worth the time to read.

http://www.firsttankguide.net/

Hope that helps and welcome to the hobby! If I can ever help feel free to email me.

MM

Answer 3

Don't use an undergravel filter, use a whisper or something similar. You still need to do water changes, and you need to let the tank set up for a couple of weeks to get the bacteria properly cycling. Otherwise your fish will die. Don't overstock the tank, 5 gl is small, you should only have maybe 3 to 5 neons and a couple of cory catfish. They will stay pretty small. You could add a male beta in that size tank for some color. But you will want to do 25-30% water change each week once the tank is established. You probably don't need a heater unless your room stays cold.

Answer 4

for 5 gallons that is a few distance overstocked. There fairly isn't lots you may put in there. the only ingredient i will advise is a dwarf puffer, yet you will be able to desire to only placed one as they like 3 gallons consistent with fish. I easily have a one hundred twenty five gallon, a fifty 5 gallon and a 20 gallon. I save discus in the enormous ones and dwarf puffers in the 20.

Answer 5

5 gallon is a little small to put too many fish in, but I think a betta would be good. And maybe one or two African dwarf frogs. If you want to be tropical, you will probably need a heater and a small filter. And yeah, you could get a small cory catfish or two to feed on the bottom. So a betta, african dwarf frogs and a couple small catfish may be a good combo. Good luck!

Answer 6

checkout http://www.drsfostersmith.com. this site will give you a good idead what use for your 5 galon setup. checkout the Articles section of the website.

Answer 7

u will need 5 gallons of water =D