Newbie Here!

[Berberry08]

Hello all! First post here after reading for a couple months. Wanted to get some advice/comments on my first tanks since I was 16 (now 27). I have experience but am rusty.

I am currently trying my hand at breeding guppies. I'm fascinated with genetics/playing god and criss crossing breeds etc.

I am in desperate need to upgrade my system here but, as a broke college student, I'm saving up but need advice on what I should do next. I know I need multiple tanks.

Here's what I got:
My "breeding/fry/labor" tank is a 5 gallon freshwater, gravel bottomed with 1 hybrid aponogeton live plant (that's the name from the box).

Currently I'm sitting at these levels:
7.2 PH
80 KH alkalinity
We have hard water here, doesn't seem to be a issue - not sure though. Please advise.
.5 nitrite
20 nitrate

I have the following in the tank:
1 green Cory catfish
4 fry (born today in a breeder box)
1 silver/yellow guppy female about to drop
2 mystery snails

I am in need of room, as I said. I also am behind on the water change ( I work at a local zoo and has lots of babies born this week... I know I know excuses excuses)

My separate tank is my "community" tank. It's a 10 gallon freshwater with a moss ball and a dwarf Lilly.

Currently at these levels:
7.2 pH
120 KH alkalinity
Hard water
Safe (0) nitrite
Safe (10) nitrate

I have the following in my tank:
1 sunrise female ( had her 4 months, no gravita (spelling?) spot she might be a dud.
1 clear/yellow female
2 black/yellow leopard females ( I just dropped and 1 is close, waiting for the female in the 5 gallon to drop first since she's due)
1 clear/black female
1 clear/yellow/black hue female
2 purple/blue/red males (young mutts)
1 panda cross male with red side spots (pictures attached)
1 orange leopard male (mutt)
1 juvenile male from my first batch
1 juvenile female from my first batch
2 small mystery snails
1 green Cory catfish

Just wanted to get opinions on what I should upgrade too and praise for how well or not I'm doing!!!! Pictures attached!

 

[jrskater1999]

Not to be a downer but a 5 gallon is way to small for a Cory and it is not a good breeding tank. When females are pregnant they need to have a lot of room as they can be territorial and they like to hide. Breeding takes a lot of time out of your day so I would consider what your getting into.

 

[Samzter]

I really like your guppies! Umm I would personally
LEt them do their stuff in the main tanks. Wait for the symptoms of pregnancy, then when their about to "drop" then move them into the 5 g but wait until last minute. Yeh I sorta have to agree about the thing of the 5 g to small for the cory. it is probably be alright for the moment. In the end their your tanks so you can decide weather you want to agree with my advise . Hope I helped

 

[butterfly_koi]

IMO I think you should upgrade to a 30 gallon or larger, your guppies will be much happier and you will get good drops from your females if they have a clean, roomy, stress free environment. I don't know anything about corys so I can't give helpful advice on it. Sorry! And also your male female ratio is a little off, its suggested to have two females to every male guppy. Otherwise the males will pester the females to death. I usually keep three to four females per male so he can have a variety of honeys.