Everyone starts things as beginners, and betta fish keeping is a long and entertaining journey to embark on, unlike a boring hobby. Most of us begin our betta fish-keeping journey with a small-volume tank, such as a 5-gallon tank. Of course, some people will say that bettas cannot live happily in a 5-gallon tank. However, for a beginner looking to dive into the hobby of betta fish keeping, starting with a 5-gallon tank is perfectly fine, and they can always upgrade as they learn more about the hobby.
As the saying goes, ‘This could be the start of something big.’ Remember, maintenance for tanks differs based on their volume. So, in this blog post, we will guide you through setting up a 5-gallon betta fish tank.
Let’s get started!
What are the things to set up in a 5-gallon betta tank?
Once you start, many things come to mind, like what are the things to set up in a betta tank? The key importance should be given to betta fish enrichment.
When you look at your 5-gallon betta fish tank, you should feel happy and complete. So, giving your betta fish a happy and healthy environment should be the priority goal when setting up the tank.
The simple 5-step betta tank setup for a 5-gallon tank is given below, starting from choosing the tank to releasing your betta into the beautiful 5 gallon tank
1. Choosing the right 5-gallon betta tank
So, the first step is choosing your 5-gallon tank for your betta fish. Keep in mind that bettas are small fish, unlike sharks or koi fish that grow to be several inches long. Choose a tank that fits your theme. If you prefer a simple and minimalistic tank, go for the typical rectangular glass tank.
If you want a desktop tank or have a betta bowl in mind, that works too, just ensure it has a capacity of 5 gallons.
Once you’ve chosen the tank, make sure to check for any water leakage. If you find any leaks, replace the tank. Also, make sure to get a table for the tank to be placed on. If you already have one, great! Otherwise, you’ll need to get one. If you have other pets like dogs or cats, it’s recommended to choose a slightly higher tank table to prevent them from disturbing the betta tank
2. Placing the betta tank in the perfect environment
Next, find the best place in your home to position the tank. Betta fish prefer calm and peaceful surroundings, so it’s best to place the tank in your bedroom or living room. You can place the tank by a window to provide some natural sunlight for your betta.
If the room doesn’t have sufficient lighting, consider getting aquarium lights to brighten up the tank.
Do not keep the tank in direct sunlight
Be cautious about leaving your betta tank in direct sunlight, as it can raise the tank’s temperature to potentially risky levels for your betta. Avoid placing the tank where direct sunlight can shine on your betta tank
3. Setting up decorations for your 5-gallon betta tank
Next up is decorations, and it’s important to remember that everyone has their taste when it comes to decor. So, this part is completely up to your personal preferences. However, we do have some key points to guide you through the process.
Adding driftwood or stones can elevate your 5-gallon betta tank to the next level. Just be cautious not to include any sharp-edged decorations inside the tank, as betta fish are quite active and could injure themselves while playing.
Also, ensure that any decorations you add to the tank are properly cleaned with both regular and aquarium water. Slowly place them inside the tank, and make sure the tank can handle the weight of the decorations you’ve chosen.
Live plants are another great addition you can include inside your 5-gallon tank. They help regulate nitrate levels and create a suitable environment for your betta fish.
There are plenty of betta fish plants available in the market, so be sure to choose the best option for your tank.
Our recommendation is to opt for low-maintenance betta plants, especially if you’re new to plant care. Easy-to-handle plants like money plants or anubias are excellent choices if you don’t have much experience with plant tanks or else you can try plants on top of a betta tank setup
Avoid Plastic plant decors:
In most cases, aquarium salespersons will try to sell you some unworthy or bad decorations, such as plastic plants.
While plastic plants might seem cool and offer low maintenance, considering the health of your betta, they may release chemicals like BPA or other harmful substances over time, which will be a threat to you and your beloved betta boy. Our recommendation is to avoid plastic plant decorations altogether.
4. Accessories for your 5-gallon betta tank
Next is the accessories part. It’s one of the key ingredients in keeping your betta fish happy and ensuring a smooth journey in caring for them.
These accessories serve as the backbone of your betta tank, helping to keep it clean, and tidy, and providing a suitable environment for your fish 24/7/365. So, remember to choose the correct and suitable accessories for your betta fish tank.
Get a sponge filter for your 5-gallon tank, which will help in the growth of beneficial bacteria and clean waste particles from your betta.
Get in a filtration system for your betta tank to ensure clean water every day. We recommend opting for low-flow filters so your betta can swim happily around the tank.
Avoid placing internal filters as they create high turbulence in the water, which can make your betta feel uncomfortable throughout the run.
Do betta fish need an air pump on the 5-gallon tank?
Betta fish don’t require an air pump in a 5-gallon tank. Additionally, having an air pump may cause the water to become turbulent, making it uncomfortable for the betta fish to swim. However, in larger betta tank capacities, you can consider using an air pump to enhance the quantity of dissolved oxygen in the water
5. Acclimating and releasing your betta
Once you’ve added conditioned and aged water to the tank, it’s time to release your betta. But before that, you must give your betta a sneak peek of its new environment to prevent any stress or sickness from sudden shock
- Add conditioned and aged water to the tank.
- Allow the betta container to sit in the tank for 30 minutes to adjust to the temperature.
- Slowly add some of the new water from the tank into the betta container to introduce a small water change.
- Carefully release your betta into the new 5-gallon aquarium tank
Checklist Setting up a 5-gallon betta tank
Once you’ve completed the setup, follow the checklist to ensure that you don’t miss anything:
- Choosing the Right Betta Tank
- Creating the Perfect Environment
- Decorating Your Betta Tank
- Selecting Accessories
- Use aged and conditioned water
- Acclimating and Releasing Your Betta
- Monitor betta activities
Wrapping Up:
So, keeping your betta fish in a 5-gallon tank can be a good experience with low maintenance and attractive decor. We hope this setup guide for your 5-gallon betta fish tank helps you with your setup. Keep in mind that this is just the beginning of something big.
Share your aquarium setup on our social media – AngryFishes. Thank you so much for reading! Feel free to comment if you have any doubts or need clarification on choosing things for your betta tank. See you in the next post!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I breed betta fish in a 5-gallon tank?
Yes, betta fish can be bred within a 5-gallon tank. Five gallons of water is suitable for betta breeding, but make sure that water cycling or filtration is effectively maintaining water quality.