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I understand your desire to keep some natives. I have some friends who have done so successfully. I would release the fish for now and finish the cycle instead of torturing them with ammonia. Then return to the lake later and catch the smallest fish you can. If you get the conditions healthy...

10G is a decent solution for now with some tank maintenance. You'll have to revisit it later and it may not be tool long. As you say a lot better than jammed in an LFS tank, or living in an unfiltered bowl like most goldfish for the past 100 years.

A med measuring syringe is a good investment. They cost about a buck at the pharmacy. I agree about 3ml. But hit it with two the first time and check ammonia level about an hour later.

Back in the day we believed a significant percentage of BB was in the substrate, and the reason undergravel filters were very popular. The best anecdotal evidence I have that the filter contains most of it is during cycling. Cycle with everything new and 21 days. Use an old filter and...

No salt or Meds added to the tank right? They aren't fond of either in my experience. Are you confident in your fish source? My list is getting shorter every week around here.

10G is a good option for most of us for QT. I use a very thin layer of substrate because I and the fish think it is more natural. Correct answer is bare painted bottom so you can clean up the critters trying to hide in substrate. I sometimes use a couple plants to give the fish some refuge...

You'll be safe from ammonia poisoning for the next two nights while you sleep. :)

It's outstanding, and I am hard to sell chemicals to. Protects against ammonia and nitrite spikes up to 1.0 ppm. And a chlorine remover as well of course. I used it during cycling with fish to protect them. I don't intend to do that anymore but it did protect them. About 95% survived and...

The Topfin 10 HOB filter is the best small tank filter I own. Way better than my Whispers. I have one on a 5.5G.

Sand is better for corys, but many of us here have raised them for decades in fine gravel and they still thrive. The fear of gravel is a bit overstated IME. Half my tanks are still fine gravel and the cory are quite fine.

Petsmart has a 5.5G kit with LED light and a real decent HOB filter for $29.99. I use one for QT. Added a 50W heater of course.

I have one of those that needs a cinder block to sink. Temporarily attach something huge to sink it. When it waterlogs some you can attach a reasonable sized piece of slate.

Simple water changes are by far the best removal product. You can't buy a magic chemical that is better. I do use Seachem Prime to neutralize reasonable levels of ammonia and nitrites (up to 1PPM). Higher than that you have some work to do. WCs are worth the trouble. I know large ones are a...

My neighbors raised guppies in a pond/pool outside during summer months in Iowa. The only this that raised an alarm with your plan is the above ground part. Will you be able to maintain a proper temperature? Guppies can definitely take a wide range but there is some limit for healthy fish...

That are several that have an excellent reputation. Wet Spot Tropical Fish is one. The shipping will make a one fish purchase pretty expensive. I've also had some bad luck with disease from some of the LFS.

The hard part comes now. You have to be patient. :) Check your ammonia after about 24hrs. They'll tell you how much ammonia to dose and when based on your test results. You'll continue to dose ammonia to feed the bacteria. Over time it will consume it faster. Log what you are doing as you...

Yes, they will get along fine. Over a month apart is extremely safe.

PM me as well Joe for my email. I am starting on a halfblack blue strain now but would be interested in trying something else if you have stock muchg better than LFS. I really want some German Halfblack reds but have not seen anything available like I had long ago. That is my favorite variation.

$50 a trio is price for 3 month old fish from a truly top notch breeder. A price I would pay for something I really like, but I won't be buying anything I don't love at that price just to play around with breeding. Overnight shipping screws up the deal even worse. It took some searching but I...

I am curious as well. My LFS mostly sell junk. True show quality about $50 a breeding trio. There must be a middle ground.

Install some hiding places like weeds and some will survive. Maybe even a lot of them.

The turtles will probably like that idea a lot. :) If your tank isn't large I think the turtles will hunt them down.

Do nothing halfazzed. If being wrong is your talent in life, then I say do it right. :)

I know the restaurant and beer brewing industry use a tiny fraction of that to sanitize. A capful in a five gallon bucket will kill cooties. That was why I asked. Are all your plants white? Just kidding. :)

It will take some time for nitrites to drop. I've had good luck using Seachem Prime when doing a cycle with fish. It will bind the ammonia and nitrite ions for 24-48 hours. It will still show up on your water tests but makes them harmless to fish. With reasonable levels anyway. My nitrites...