Help with 5 gallon tank

[Masterbetta]

I'm considering getting a 5 gallon fluval chi, with 1 betta, 1 ghost shrimp to help clean up all the crap, amazon swords, and some rocks.

1) Does anyone know what kind of rocks these are or where you can buy them? Or did she just find them in her backyard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDwfk7gxxsQ

2) To plant an Amazon swords, it will eventually grow big. Am I supposed to trim the edges of the leaves to keep them small?

[jeremyTR]

I've never witnessed a ghost shrimp eat a turd, unless you mean algae or something. If you mean the latter then I'd say get an Amano shrimp, they do a much better job at cleaning up.

[Masterbetta]

What about cherry shrimp, do they clean?

[GMYukonon24s]

Welcome to the forum. What do you mean by clean? algae or something else?

[Masterbetta]

Originally Posted by GMYukonon24s

Welcome to the forum. What do you mean by clean? algae or something else?

Thanks. I'm aware ghost shrimps eat leftover food, but I'll feed my Betta 3 or 4 pellets a day- there won't be any leftovers, unless the shrimp gets to it before the fish. I'm assuming ghost shrimps don't produce much waste? By cleaning I mean clearing anything that settles at the bottom and help make the water clearer. Will it eat the Betta's poop?

What kind of shrimp was the one in Finding Nemo? When Nemo was thrown into the fish tank by that girl and a tiny shrimp came and made Nemo clean and shiny in no time.

[Aben314]

Originally Posted by Masterbetta

What kind of shrimp was the one in Finding Nemo? When Nemo was thrown into the fish tank by that girl and a tiny shrimp came and made Nemo clean and shiny in no time.

Not sure but that was a saltwater tank regardless. Also, it was a movie.

[LB79]

I'd get three ghost shrimp just for the fun of watching them.

[Masterbetta]

Originally Posted by LB79

I'd get three ghost shrimp just for the fun of watching them.

I'm thinking of getting 1 ghost shrimp because they are small and are clear, I don't want to see it. I really don't care for shrimp, I just want my Betta to have his own little slave to help clean the tank- assuming they are effective cleaners.

The more shrimp the more waste, correct? Plus I don't want to end up with them mating and having a bunch of eggs.

[jeremyTR]

Well, let me be more clear. In the hours I've watched my shrimp, none of them ever eat poop. They pick it up and put it in their mouth but then promptly spit it out. So no, they won't eat your betta's poop at all.

[foogie]

as for the rocks- they're just river rocks. Probably the ones that come with the fluval chi. It comes with a little sack of pebbles to use with the clear tray that sits on top of the filter, in the video you linked she isn't using the tray, so most likely she took the pebbles and put them in the tank and maybe added a few more to it to fill it out.

If you want some more, I would just go out at night and walk down your street till you find someone that has some gravel in their yard (it's called drainage rock, its the same thing) and steal a handful...

[jeremyTR]

But you should get a few ghost shrimp, they aren't going to add a big bio-load and they'll graze on certain algae or food that manages to get past your betta. You'll probably become more hooked on shrimp once you start watching them in your tank a bit.

[OVT]

If you figure out how to put any regular sword in a 5g, please let me know

And no, you do not cut the edges of the leaves: you peel the entire leaf from the tuber.

[Masterbetta]

Originally Posted by OVT

If you figure out how to put any regular sword in a 5g, please let me know

And no, you do not cut the edges of the leaves: you peel the entire leaf from the tuber.

Peeling off the entire leaf? The others would still grow longer and bigger- so peel that off as well and they'll grow back? I want a good looking live plant that won't grow and completely take over my tank!

Originally Posted by jeremyTR

But you should get a few ghost shrimp, they aren't going to add a big bio-load and they'll graze on certain algae or food that manages to get past your betta. You'll probably become more hooked on shrimp once you start watching them in your tank a bit.

Actually you know what, screw the shrimp. My Betta will probably eat him anyways. I've discovered this thing called a Mosimo and it absorbs fish crap and ammonia and cleans your tank. It lives forever and is a biological filter pretty much. Now if I can somehow get my hands on one...

[VivaDaWolf]

Baby swords are tiny. And as time grows, the leaves grow bigger and bigger.. you peel the big leaves off, and new incoming leaves will be small.

You probably mean a marimo ball, which is a little algae poofball. They'd act like any other plant I think, but they aren't going to 'absorb' the fish poop. They are about 6-10$ Floating plants are great for sucking up the bad stuff- might work on a chi.
I have an amano shrimp in with my betta right now. Hes just kinda living off whatever is in the tank, if I try giving him food, my betta steals it

[wendyjo]

It sounds like you are trying to find a way to neglect your tank!

Get a java fern and tie or glue it to a rock or some driftwood. It grows slowly and doesn't get too big. Another option would be anubias nana. You could also get some floaters like duck weed. But no plant is going to "clean" your tank - they will help with water quality a bit but will not replace regular water changes.

Shrimp or a nerite snail will help with algae - I prefer the nerite snail as it won't reproduce and your fish will probably leave it alone. They'll also eat any food that the fish doesn't eat. They are not gonna eat poop tho.

If you want a low maintenance tank then cycle your filter, keep your bio load low, and do weekly partial water changes. Water changes on a 5g tank takes about 5 minutes, so no excuse to be lazy about it.