New to the hobby 5 gallon non tech tank

[froggie1911]

I am new to the hobby and have a 5 gallon tall decorative tank that my husband helping me cycle. It had a top pump driven filter on top with a waterfall feature built in ( Petco Special). I have fake rock substrate with 3 Anubis attached to a branch to hide the hose for the bubbler and the pickup tube. My husband took a filter from his established tank and put it in the filter up top. We are doing a fishless cycle by adding ammonia. Today was the first day seeing the nitrites spike. I am going to run the cycle out completely before adding fish.

I understand it is a small tank, I would like suggestions on fish that I can put in there to maximize the fish to water ratio. I really like schooling fish. what are your thoughts?

 

[ZxC]

I am new to the hobby and have a 5 gallon tall decorative tank that my husband helping me cycle. It had a top pump driven filter on top with a waterfall feature built in ( Petco Special). I have fake rock substrate with 3 Anubis attached to a branch to hide the hose for the bubbler and the pickup tube. My husband took a filter from his established tank and put it in the filter up top. We are doing a fishless cycle by adding ammonia. Today was the first day seeing the nitrites spike. I am going to run the cycle out completely before adding fish.



I understand it is a small tank, I would like suggestions on fish that I can put in there to maximize the fish to water ratio. I really like schooling fish. what are your thoughts?

You could maybe get away with a handful of chili rasboras, but mine really preferred a larger tank, they didn’t really swim/explore the confined 5 gallon.

 

[Angellove78]

I am new to the hobby and have a 5 gallon tall decorative tank that my husband helping me cycle. It had a top pump driven filter on top with a waterfall feature built in ( Petco Special). I have fake rock substrate with 3 Anubis attached to a branch to hide the hose for the bubbler and the pickup tube. My husband took a filter from his established tank and put it in the filter up top. We are doing a fishless cycle by adding ammonia. Today was the first day seeing the nitrites spike. I am going to run the cycle out completely before adding fish.

I understand it is a small tank, I would like suggestions on fish that I can put in there to maximize the fish to water ratio. I really like schooling fish. what are your thoughts?

If y'all took a filter from a established take (cycled) then there's no need to add ammonia. I'd do a water change and test for nitrate first. Small fish I'd get endler guppy, or some neon tetra, or a betta. fish that are bright in color.

 

[ksimmons8001]

Even with media from a cycled tank you have to establish the bio filter in a new tank. You will still have to go through the cycle. It will definitely shorten the time. From the comment above they are seeing a nitrite spike which means the tank has not cycled. It is smart to feed the BB with ammonia until you get a pure reading of zero on ammonia and nitrites. That means the nitrates are doing their job.

 

[froggie1911]

The nitrate reading is at 20ppm according to the api test kit.

 

[Angellove78]

Even with media from a cycled tank you have to establish the bio filter in a new tank. You will still have to go through the cycle. It will definitely shorten the time. From the comment above they are seeing a nitrite spike which means the tank has not cycled. It is smart to feed the BB with ammonia until you get a pure reading of zero on ammonia and nitrites. That means the nitrates are doing their job.

I wasnt sure if they would still see nitrite by adding ammonia to the tank. I've never used it. All I do is use filter pads from another tank of mine when cycling. Or just dip one into the filter, so that's why I say to test for nitrate.