matthewjensen3
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2023
- Messages
- 3
Hello everyone,
I have a 10 gallon tank with a heater, filter, and various decor/silk plants (not real). I have had my betta in the tank for ~2 weeks (yes, I made the mistake of doing a fish-in cycle before doing my research!).
Since I introduced the fish ~2 weeks ago, my readings haven't changed much. They are as follows:
Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
I conditioned my tank with Prime when I set it up to ensure the safety of my betta and then have monitored the parameters twice/day (before and after work) to make sure my baby is safe. I have never seen anything more than the 0.25 ammonia mentioned above.
I made the mistake of adding the TSS+ in full after setting up the tank and using the Prime (from what I've read, you should wait 24 hours before adding the TSS if you used Prime). So, to be safe, I waited 48 hours and then added a full bottle of the TSS+ again. Nothing has really changed, and my numbers remain the same.
My betta seems very happy and active, and I've had no concerns. I feed him daily using pellets (and I feed him one by one to ensure he's eating them all). I haven't done a water change since I put in the TSS+ because that was the recommendation.
Any suggestions? Could my bioload be 'too low?' I would think at .25 ammonia, the bacteria wouldn't take long to convert that. I also realized my filter (Aqueon Quietflow 10) had an 'ammonia reducing pad' as the last stage of filtration before the water re-entered the tank. I removed that pad and rigged the filter a bit to add a piece of foam at the beginning (for mechanical) and ceramic bio rings following that (for biological) and then my carbon filter it came with last. I realize now that carbon filters aren't the best as they need to be replaced every 4 weeks (and I've read mixed reviews about keeping it in the tank for too long after expiring), but I also don't want to ruin my cycle by removing it now...so I'm planning to 'cut out' the activated carbon once it expires but keeping the pouch/filter floss there to prevent the loss of all of my BB.
Sorry for the long-winded post but I'm at a loss. Again, my betta seems very happy, but I am constantly worried about her!
I have a 10 gallon tank with a heater, filter, and various decor/silk plants (not real). I have had my betta in the tank for ~2 weeks (yes, I made the mistake of doing a fish-in cycle before doing my research!).
Since I introduced the fish ~2 weeks ago, my readings haven't changed much. They are as follows:
Ammonia: 0.25
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
I conditioned my tank with Prime when I set it up to ensure the safety of my betta and then have monitored the parameters twice/day (before and after work) to make sure my baby is safe. I have never seen anything more than the 0.25 ammonia mentioned above.
I made the mistake of adding the TSS+ in full after setting up the tank and using the Prime (from what I've read, you should wait 24 hours before adding the TSS if you used Prime). So, to be safe, I waited 48 hours and then added a full bottle of the TSS+ again. Nothing has really changed, and my numbers remain the same.
My betta seems very happy and active, and I've had no concerns. I feed him daily using pellets (and I feed him one by one to ensure he's eating them all). I haven't done a water change since I put in the TSS+ because that was the recommendation.
Any suggestions? Could my bioload be 'too low?' I would think at .25 ammonia, the bacteria wouldn't take long to convert that. I also realized my filter (Aqueon Quietflow 10) had an 'ammonia reducing pad' as the last stage of filtration before the water re-entered the tank. I removed that pad and rigged the filter a bit to add a piece of foam at the beginning (for mechanical) and ceramic bio rings following that (for biological) and then my carbon filter it came with last. I realize now that carbon filters aren't the best as they need to be replaced every 4 weeks (and I've read mixed reviews about keeping it in the tank for too long after expiring), but I also don't want to ruin my cycle by removing it now...so I'm planning to 'cut out' the activated carbon once it expires but keeping the pouch/filter floss there to prevent the loss of all of my BB.
Sorry for the long-winded post but I'm at a loss. Again, my betta seems very happy, but I am constantly worried about her!