Consider the biggest tank you can afford. Please remember that water conditions are harder to control in smaller tanks so the fish may just encounter fluctuating conditions. Besides, small tanks pretty much limit your options. You can't go wrong with a trio of sparkling gouramis though if you want a 5g.
Dorm Tank
- Thread starter kj fishy-finn
- Start date
Make sure you check with the dorm and what they allow. My friend is only allowed a ten at max in his dorm room . . . he went with 5 white clouds and 4 cory cats, in a nice planted tank. Lots of crypts.
When I do set up whatever tank, can I cycle it using water siphoned out of my 20 gallon at home? Is there a way to do that?
im sorry, but did you see the PRICES of those tiny things? haha.. good god. For a dorm, i would get a 20 gallon and an iron stand-check craigslist in your area, you can get a good used one for less than half of what that petstore wants.. those are rip offs..
get a used 20 gallon, a little aquaclear filter that hangs on the back, a heater and then whatever you want to stock it with.. it will look much better, you will have more variety that you can put in there.. and you'll be happier..
i wouldnt buy any of those tanks-sorry.. the sticker price shocks me.
get a used 20 gallon, a little aquaclear filter that hangs on the back, a heater and then whatever you want to stock it with.. it will look much better, you will have more variety that you can put in there.. and you'll be happier..
i wouldnt buy any of those tanks-sorry.. the sticker price shocks me.
Using the water is basically a waste of time, but using some filter media or substrate will help the cycle along greatly.kj fishy-finn;2176733; said:
I had a dorm tank last year. It was a really heavily planted 20 gallon SE Asian biotope, but I didn't pay enough attention to it and the tank crashed. This year, I went with a baby bearded dragon
i agree with andy-great advice. it would be a waste of time just using other tank water. your beneficial bacteria is stored in youre filters, sponges, gravel and on rocks and ornaments.. not much is kept in the water column.
it sounds gross, but i always establish a tank by taking a sponge (or filter) from an established tank and squeeze it out in the water (dont put it IN the water) and the tank will turn a cloudy mess-but thats ok! that waste and bacteria will get sucked up in your filter and establish itself there and start multiplying.. also if you can move some rocks or ornaments over for a few weeks that would help establish BB..
it sounds gross, but i always establish a tank by taking a sponge (or filter) from an established tank and squeeze it out in the water (dont put it IN the water) and the tank will turn a cloudy mess-but thats ok! that waste and bacteria will get sucked up in your filter and establish itself there and start multiplying.. also if you can move some rocks or ornaments over for a few weeks that would help establish BB..
I realize they are pricey, but it is more convenient to just be able to go to the store and pick one of these up than look around to put a tank together. I have $100 from Xmas I can use too. All I would need to do is buy a flourescent light to be able to grow plants in it. I will have plenty of time to do maintenance once a week at least. This tank will be set up as long as I can keep it up from the time I do set it up. I have every intention to keep it around. Not just to use as a dorm tank.
So I should go with the 6 gallon one then?
So I should go with the 6 gallon one then?
go with the third option. the Marineland Integrated system 6. its really easy to use and maintain and is the largest of the your options which obviously is the best choice.... and i just really like Marineland products for smaller tanks.
I'm currently in my last year of college, and here's my two cents...
At home, I have a 29, 54, 75, 125, and 180 gal tanks, which I come home to on the weekends. When I first started college, I thought, "I'm gonna need a fish tank at school, otherwise I'm gonna miss fish too much during the week." So I brought my 10 gal glass set-up. BAD IDEA!!!!
1) you're already gonna have a lot of other crap that you have to worry about when you're moving in, that you don't want the extra burden of a glass 10 gal tank.
2) carrying 10 gallons of water from the nearest water source to fill the thing is a **tch.
3) doing water changes at school when your busy with school work and when you have to carry dirty water to the nearest draining facility is even more of a **tch...
4) the water at colleges will instantly kill fish unless you use lots of water conditioner. They tend to load their water with chemicals, so that nobody gets sick from drinking it...
So, now I just have a 2.5 gal tank. It's glass, so I still have to worry about transporting it and all, but it is sooooo much easier in terms of water and changes and upkeep and what not. Plus, at college, you're gonna have so much other things going on that you're not really going to have time to stare at your fish and enjoy them, and you're not really gonna miss them... My 2.5 gal is a planted tank with ghost shrimp, a mystery snail, and cherry barbs... At one time, I did have a little African dwarf frog in there.
At home, I have a 29, 54, 75, 125, and 180 gal tanks, which I come home to on the weekends. When I first started college, I thought, "I'm gonna need a fish tank at school, otherwise I'm gonna miss fish too much during the week." So I brought my 10 gal glass set-up. BAD IDEA!!!!
1) you're already gonna have a lot of other crap that you have to worry about when you're moving in, that you don't want the extra burden of a glass 10 gal tank.
2) carrying 10 gallons of water from the nearest water source to fill the thing is a **tch.
3) doing water changes at school when your busy with school work and when you have to carry dirty water to the nearest draining facility is even more of a **tch...
4) the water at colleges will instantly kill fish unless you use lots of water conditioner. They tend to load their water with chemicals, so that nobody gets sick from drinking it...
So, now I just have a 2.5 gal tank. It's glass, so I still have to worry about transporting it and all, but it is sooooo much easier in terms of water and changes and upkeep and what not. Plus, at college, you're gonna have so much other things going on that you're not really going to have time to stare at your fish and enjoy them, and you're not really gonna miss them... My 2.5 gal is a planted tank with ghost shrimp, a mystery snail, and cherry barbs... At one time, I did have a little African dwarf frog in there.
To buy those tanks sounds like two things: dumb and spoiled. If you have a hundred dollars (which is NOT a lot of money), you ought to perhaps try and save as much of it as possible. Be frugal, listen to navygirl, look up craigslist, be patient and pick up a 10 gallon tank for 10 dollars of less. I got a 25 gallon and a 20 gallon long both for free. I've also seen a bunch of aquaclear filter products that are really half the price you'd find at your LFS or petco (look up drfostersmith.com or bigalsonline.com, heck even amazon.com--just please don't buy anything from walmart).
10 gallon tank = 10 dollars (at most)
aquaclear HOB filter (probably 20 series) = less than 22 bucks w/o shipping (online)
and a 50 some odd watt heater (depending on temp of room and desired fish) for like another 16 bucks without shipping (online)
and that would all maybe equal your quaint little 6 gallon tank.
do the right thing
10 gallon tank = 10 dollars (at most)
aquaclear HOB filter (probably 20 series) = less than 22 bucks w/o shipping (online)
and a 50 some odd watt heater (depending on temp of room and desired fish) for like another 16 bucks without shipping (online)
and that would all maybe equal your quaint little 6 gallon tank.
do the right thing
