Hi everyone! :)

[LadySara]

Hey fellow fish people!

My name is Sara and I live in the north eastern part of Washington state with my wonderful husband. Recently we got permission from our landlord to have a fish tank in the house and I quickly dug out my tiny 5.5 gallon cheapie tank that I had years ago. I set it up with a new brighter light bulb, plant Substrate, lots of low light plants, and tossed in a start zyme tablet and waited. And waited. And waited. Haha it felt like forever but this was the first time I actually let a tank cycle... silly high school me just threw the fish in when I had the tak initially. Anyways, I jut put in three male guppies and a nerite snail (the algea wad out of control) and now I am totally second guessing myself on everything. Aquavisor says I am grossly overstocked but everyone appears to be happy and lively. Mr. Snail is currently cleaning the brown algea off of my java fern.... so what I am lookingfor is opinions on this set up. Currently I have my ten gallon cycling with a handful of plants and any tips would be welcome.

Thanks so much everyone! Sorry it wasnt so much an introduction but a bunch of unsure nonsense.

 

[venymae]

Hello LadySara! Welcome to AA. This place is great and chocked full of advice (most good, some bad ) First off are you adding an ammonia source while you are cycling? If not, read the article (link below) on starting a freshwater aquarium.
Yes, I would say you were a bit overstocked, mostly becasue guppies like to swim a lot and there is not a lot of space in a 5.5 gallon. That being said if you stay on top of water changes (I'm thinking at least 50% weekly) and regular vacuums your guppies should be healthy, but cramped. It will be very easy for the water to become toxic so I would move them to your 10 gallon as soon as it finishes cycling and look for a more appropriate fish (or shrimps!) for your 5.5
I currently have a 10 gal and 5.5 and love them a lot (small apartment!) Hope you have lots of fun with your renewed hobby and good luck!

 

[LadySara]

Thanks for the reply. I was thinking I might just move the guppies over once the tank is ready but then I am left with a really pretty tank that seems kinda useless. I really should have thought it out better but I might put a male betta in it oncethe5.5 gallon is empty. Honestly i am not sure about shrimp. They seem interesting but im not sure that is what I want to wake up to in my bedroom tank lol. Oh and I am putying a small pinch of fish food in the tank every few days (or when I remember lol) for ammonia. I read somewhere on here that fish food would work. Haha hopefully that is true!

 

[venymae]

yep, that will work. It's an unknown amount, but will still make ammonia

 

[xwing]

Thanks for the reply. I was thinking I might just move the guppies over once the tank is ready but then I am left with a really pretty tank that seems kinda useless. I really should have thought it out better but I might put a male betta in it oncethe5.5 gallon is empty. Honestly i am not sure about shrimp. They seem interesting but im not sure that is what I want to wake up to in my bedroom tank lol. Oh and I am putying a small pinch of fish food in the tank every few days (or when I remember lol) for ammonia. I read somewhere on here that fish food would work. Haha hopefully that is true!

That's a prefect beta tank and nothing else

 

[Brookster123]

That's a prefect beta tank and nothing else

rescue a betta! Sounds perfect, betta and snail/shrimp tank

 

[xwing]

I don't know enough about invertebrates to comment but you can add a thread on the invertebrates section you will have a better response

But I think it would either be a shrimp tank and snail or just a beta tank still think it's too small