We have a 13 gallon Aqueon Aquarium with QuietFlow LED filter (carbon) with a cobalt neo-therm heater. We have a few java ferns but everything else is artificial. I have one male*betta*and keep the temp right at 80 degrees. He eats 4 pellets in the morning and 4 in the evening.*
We got him February 28. At that time, our ammonia level was .50 with 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates. I did 20% water changes once/week. Ph 8.0 consistently.*
I kept reading up on various forums about cycling and started on 3/15 with Seachem Stability daily and holding off on water changes for 2 weeks. Started adding Prime in too on 3/19
Finally, on 3/22, our ammonia dropped to .25 - nitrites and nitrates are still 0 though. I test daily with API master kit.
Its been almost 2 weeks and I don't know if I should do water change, keep adding Prime and/or Stability.*
There's so much information and things I could be adding, I just don't know where to go from here. If ammonia is dropping, shouldn't I be seeing some nitrates or nitrites?
What is best to do at this point?
P.S. the tank*cycle*was started with ammonia from our previous misguided attempt following chain pet store advice and killing 2*goldfish*and 5*Otos. We got our betta when the ammonia level was down to .50
Thank yout for any advice you have!
We got him February 28. At that time, our ammonia level was .50 with 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates. I did 20% water changes once/week. Ph 8.0 consistently.*
I kept reading up on various forums about cycling and started on 3/15 with Seachem Stability daily and holding off on water changes for 2 weeks. Started adding Prime in too on 3/19
Finally, on 3/22, our ammonia dropped to .25 - nitrites and nitrates are still 0 though. I test daily with API master kit.
Its been almost 2 weeks and I don't know if I should do water change, keep adding Prime and/or Stability.*
There's so much information and things I could be adding, I just don't know where to go from here. If ammonia is dropping, shouldn't I be seeing some nitrates or nitrites?
What is best to do at this point?
P.S. the tank*cycle*was started with ammonia from our previous misguided attempt following chain pet store advice and killing 2*goldfish*and 5*Otos. We got our betta when the ammonia level was down to .50
Thank yout for any advice you have!