jc102
Aquarium Advice Activist
Hey guys,
I am still relatively new to the fishkeeping hobby. I think I've done okay for someone who started out with zero knowledge on how to properly care for fish. I started with a 10 gallon tank, and then added a betta tank for my desk, and then my sister decided that she wanted one as well. So they were all setup at different times. I've done a lot of research throughout the 4 months that I've had my fish and I have a few questions about where I should go from here.
I took a hiatus on testing the water of the tanks (about 2-3 weeks) as I was out of town. I had a friend do water changes and feedings while I was away.
Here is my setup:
Tank 1
Tank 2 - Setup 2 weeks after tank 1
Tank 3 - Setup 2 weeks after tank 2
----------------
I setup the 10 gallon (tank 1) aquarium up about 4 months ago. It seems as though it has finally gotten through the nitrogen cycle.
Water test from this morning:
Tank 1
I setup one of the 5 gallon tanks (tank 2) about 2 weeks after setting up tank 1 (10 gallon). It sits on my desk. The last time I tested the water, I had very high ammonia readings and everything else was 0.
The second 5 gallon tank (tank 3) was setup 2 weeks after setting up tank 2. It's ammonia has also been high and everything else has been 0.
Water test from this morning:
Tank 2
Tank 3
So it appears as though the last tank to be setup (tank 3) has cycled. I don't understand why that happened. It has always been a bit dirtier than the other tanks. I assumed the betta in that tank produced more waste. It's like the whole cycle happened in just a week or two, whereas the 10 gallon tank took months to cycle.
----------------
I've included pictures of the three tanks. Tank 1 is under a window that has an air conditioner above it (we don't use it), and there is minimal light that comes through. Tank 2 is on my desk, away from windows. Tank 3 (the one that cycled right under my nose) sits on a small stand next to a window (some light comes through).
Tank 1 has a lot of algae growing. I was advised to do frequent water changes and to leave the light on for only 8 hours a day. I've been doing this, with no luck.
Tank 1
Tank 2
Tank 3
----------------
To the point:
I hope I didn't confuse anyone about the setup. I tried to provide all of the relevant details.
Thanks for taking the time to read my lengthy post!
I am still relatively new to the fishkeeping hobby. I think I've done okay for someone who started out with zero knowledge on how to properly care for fish. I started with a 10 gallon tank, and then added a betta tank for my desk, and then my sister decided that she wanted one as well. So they were all setup at different times. I've done a lot of research throughout the 4 months that I've had my fish and I have a few questions about where I should go from here.
I took a hiatus on testing the water of the tanks (about 2-3 weeks) as I was out of town. I had a friend do water changes and feedings while I was away.
Here is my setup:
Tank 1
- 10 Gallon
- Whisper filter (no flow control)
- Stocked with 5 glo-fish
- Under gravel heater
- Blue and White LED lighting
Tank 2 - Setup 2 weeks after tank 1
- 5 Gallon
- Whisper filter (with flow control)
- Stocked with 1 betta
- Small betta heater
- White LED lighting
Tank 3 - Setup 2 weeks after tank 2
- 5 Gallon
- Whisper filter (with flow control)
- Stocked with 1 betta
- Small betta heater
- White LED lighting
----------------
I setup the 10 gallon (tank 1) aquarium up about 4 months ago. It seems as though it has finally gotten through the nitrogen cycle.
Water test from this morning:
Tank 1
- Ammonia: 0ppm
- Nitrite: 0ppm
- Nitrate: ~10-20ppm
I setup one of the 5 gallon tanks (tank 2) about 2 weeks after setting up tank 1 (10 gallon). It sits on my desk. The last time I tested the water, I had very high ammonia readings and everything else was 0.
The second 5 gallon tank (tank 3) was setup 2 weeks after setting up tank 2. It's ammonia has also been high and everything else has been 0.
Water test from this morning:
Tank 2
- Ammonia: ~2-3ppm
- Nitrite: 0ppm
- Nitrate: 0ppm
Tank 3
- Ammonia: 0ppm
- Nitrite: 0ppm
- Nitrate: 40-50ppm
So it appears as though the last tank to be setup (tank 3) has cycled. I don't understand why that happened. It has always been a bit dirtier than the other tanks. I assumed the betta in that tank produced more waste. It's like the whole cycle happened in just a week or two, whereas the 10 gallon tank took months to cycle.
----------------
I've included pictures of the three tanks. Tank 1 is under a window that has an air conditioner above it (we don't use it), and there is minimal light that comes through. Tank 2 is on my desk, away from windows. Tank 3 (the one that cycled right under my nose) sits on a small stand next to a window (some light comes through).
Tank 1 has a lot of algae growing. I was advised to do frequent water changes and to leave the light on for only 8 hours a day. I've been doing this, with no luck.
Tank 1
Tank 2
Tank 3
----------------
To the point:
I hope I didn't confuse anyone about the setup. I tried to provide all of the relevant details.
- If anyone has any advice on the algae issue with tank 1, I would really appreciate it.
- I'm also still curious as to why tank 3 cycled before tank 2 and why it happened so fast.
- Finally, what can I do to tank 2 to get it to cycle faster? Can I take decor or some filter media from the other tanks to help speed up the process? If I can add filter media, how is this done?
Thanks for taking the time to read my lengthy post!