Hi everyone,
First time poster here. I found this site while researching betta care for my 8 year old and we ended up doing a fishless cycle using these instructions:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...guide-and-faq-to-fishless-cycling-148283.html
I *think* the tank is cycled but wanted to make sure we did everything correctly. My daughter has been very patient waiting to get a betta (a b-day gift) and the last thing I want is for the fish to go belly up in the first few days!
Our gear:
Top Fin 5.5 Gallon Aquarium Starter Kit - PetSmart
Top Fin betta water conditioner
gravel, 1 moss ball, 1 anubias plant, 2 ornaments
Eheim Jager 50w heater
The cycle:
2/3/13: started cycling using ammonia from Ace
2/26/13: ammonia readings started zeroing out after 24 hrs
3/7/13: white fuzz on ornaments (think I added too much ground up fish food). PH dropping. Did pwc.
3/11/13: first time nitrites were at zero, 24 hrs after adding ammonia. Nitrates: 80ppm. Dosed ammonia to 4ppm.
3/12/13: Ammonia and nitrites 0 after 24 hrs. Nitrates: 40-80ppm. Did large wc (4 gallons). Dosed ammonia to 1ppm.
3/13/13: Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates all at 0. PH: 7.2.
OK to purchase the betta now or should I continue to dose the tank for a couple more days (to 4ppm?) and watch the levels?
For whatever reason, I can't get the heater to keep the water below 80 degrees. It's set at 74 now but the water is at 80 (unless my thermometer strip is inaccurate). But 80 degrees is fine for a betta fish, correct?
Think that's about it for now.
Any advice is much appreciated! Already this forum has been so helpful. I was about to put a fish into our tank without doing ANY cycling -- until I found this site. Thank goodness I did!
First time poster here. I found this site while researching betta care for my 8 year old and we ended up doing a fishless cycle using these instructions:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...guide-and-faq-to-fishless-cycling-148283.html
I *think* the tank is cycled but wanted to make sure we did everything correctly. My daughter has been very patient waiting to get a betta (a b-day gift) and the last thing I want is for the fish to go belly up in the first few days!
Our gear:
Top Fin 5.5 Gallon Aquarium Starter Kit - PetSmart
Top Fin betta water conditioner
gravel, 1 moss ball, 1 anubias plant, 2 ornaments
Eheim Jager 50w heater
The cycle:
2/3/13: started cycling using ammonia from Ace
2/26/13: ammonia readings started zeroing out after 24 hrs
3/7/13: white fuzz on ornaments (think I added too much ground up fish food). PH dropping. Did pwc.
3/11/13: first time nitrites were at zero, 24 hrs after adding ammonia. Nitrates: 80ppm. Dosed ammonia to 4ppm.
3/12/13: Ammonia and nitrites 0 after 24 hrs. Nitrates: 40-80ppm. Did large wc (4 gallons). Dosed ammonia to 1ppm.
3/13/13: Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates all at 0. PH: 7.2.
OK to purchase the betta now or should I continue to dose the tank for a couple more days (to 4ppm?) and watch the levels?
For whatever reason, I can't get the heater to keep the water below 80 degrees. It's set at 74 now but the water is at 80 (unless my thermometer strip is inaccurate). But 80 degrees is fine for a betta fish, correct?
Think that's about it for now.
Any advice is much appreciated! Already this forum has been so helpful. I was about to put a fish into our tank without doing ANY cycling -- until I found this site. Thank goodness I did!
