Hi Alivymar,
Yes, it's hard when the ammonia level is .25 and you have till Friday to leave the medicine in. Like you said, changing the water will dilute the medicine. I just hope the ammonia levels don't go up.
I have no idea why the tank cycled so fast! But it really does seem to have cycled though. I did put 2 silk plants in the tank that were in their bowls. But I didn't transfer them directly from bowl to tank -- the plants were removed from the bowl for 4 days while I put a dose of Jungle Fungus Eliminator in each bowl, in preparation for the bettas going in the same tank. I do feel like I over medicate, but I just can't ignore his stringy tail either. (and
btw, the other betta is totally fine.) The one with constant fin and tail rot -- he gets it every few months. I medicate, it goes away, then it comes back. When I medicate, I can see his tail healing. But it is nowhere near its original length anymore.
The pet store that I went to for all my tank stuff is a good one, mostly fish, but they do have dogs, cats, birds...all the stuff I'm allergic to!! Actually my mom ran back in that next week for the Bio-Spira. So I'm glad I have it. The guy at that store said that maybe that betta has a genetic defect or something. Of course, he was my first betta, so I felt like a fishy mom failure!
My ammonia test kit is a salicyclate (sp?) test, so it's the right one, but it's a little over a year old, so I got another one. But in my haste to get out of there quickly, I picked up a Nessler test. I got the same brand, and the box looks the same as my old one, so how was I to know? But now I have to go back to the store and return it -- yuck. Will the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate tests give a false reading due to the medication?
I never really read too much on the WWM site -- just clicked "ask the crew a question". (I'll have to go back to it!) I read that Anthony is from Pittsburgh too, so I asked him for a fish-only shop, and I went to the one he suggested. It was so great! What a joy to look at the nice fish and not worry about reaching for my inhaler every 5 minutes! But unfortunately, that shop closed. It was too good to be true!
My heater is set for 80 degrees, but actually the thermometer reads 82. When I set it for 82, the thermometer said 84, which is too warm. I think the thermometer is ok becuase the water felt too warm when it said 84.
The Bio-Spira package says that you can use it at each water change, but if the readings are ok, you wouldn't need to? I'll use it on Friday, though. In the future, if I medicate (and I'm sure I will), should I remove the sponge filter? The med. would kill the bacteria in the gravel bed, but the remaining bacteria in the sponge would resume the cycle again, right?
Thanks so much! (and
btw, what happened to your other account and all your kudos??)