A few questions

[OrkyBetta]

Ok, it's official that all of my fish are healthy (knock on bogwood) Merlin was treated for ich for a week, whatever was on him (i think it was a fungus) is gone, all acting normal. Jenga's split fins are healing. Everyone is in the divided 30 gallon. It looks great!

Now for the problems and questions. Merlin and Jenga are flaring like mad. Sky honestly couldn't give a care. Is there anything I can do to reduce the flaring? Is background paper really safe to use in tanks?

Also, with 3 fish in a 30 gallon, how often shoud I do water changes and how much?

Also, is it possible to cycle the 30 gal tank? It has no filter. Or should I just let the bacteria build up on the gravel on it's own?

I am trying to set up a female community tank, or possibly dvide it and keep Dory and a new male in it (a CT that really needs rescuing, skin and bones!) My mom is making me pick between one and the other.

I want to cycle this tank. Does Bio Spira really work, as I was told it does?

 

[OrkyBetta]

*bump*

 

[OrkyBetta]

does anyone have any advice?

 

[sandig]

I am not sure about most of your questions but I can answer about Bio Spira. It does work....IF it was handled properly in transit to your lfs and at your lfs. I bought 1 pkt (treats 30 gal) and it must not have been kept properly (I am guessing) and it did not work. My fish were traumatized. I bought a second treatment from a different lfs (I watched them remove it from the refrigerator) and it worked really fast.

Good luck
Sandi

 

[OrkyBetta]

thanks sandi. Could you tell me more about bio spira? How do you use it? how does it work? Can you use it with fish in the tank?

 

[sandig]

Hi

Bio Spira needs to be kept cold, not frozen. Many fish stores are not educated about it. If it is not cold when you buy it, don't get it. It has live bacteria that break down the nitrites and jump start your cycle. You are supposed to add it when you add your fish, or soon after. I added my girl bettas 12 hrs later but when I did the second attempt, I added it with the fish. The pkg treats a 30 gal tank but I used 1/3 (or as close as I could get) in my tank. I resealed it and put it in my refrigerator. They say you can not overdose on Bio Spira and it can't hurt your fish so if you put in too much it is okay.

Sandi

 

[Saucy]

You CAN use it with fish in the tank. It's very pricy... like $12.99 for the 1oz packet (at least for me). All you do is dump it into your water and in 24-48 hours, voila! It is cycled. I used some of my package for my 5-gallon dwarf puffer tank (seeing as it's really not possible to overdose on it).

You do need a filter. That's what cycling is. Getting the good bacteria onto the filter. So no, you can't cycle without a filter.

Do NOT cycle your tank with your bettas in it. Yes, they're hardy, but you don't want the ammonia levels to stress out your fishies.

Hmmm... how often to clean a 30?? I'd get an ammonia gauge (about $7 at Petco) and watch your levels. Then clean. Or when it's getting really disgusting. Algae will probably start building up before you'll have to clean it. Honestly, I'd get a filter for it. It'll be worth your time and money... and muscle pain from cleaning that big of a tank (I know, I have one for my leopard geckos... it's a beast).

Yeah, I'd do a sorority. I LOVE mine... girls are so cute!!

 

[Tempestuousfury]

How have you divided the tank? If water can flow through the dividers, then you could add a small filter without too much stress on the fish that gets stuck with the filter on its side.

As for cycling, a tank can cycle without a filter. There is bacteria in the gravel, though, of course, not to the same extent. Otherwise cycling would not occur in lakes, and nitrosomous and bacter bacteria would not be present in lakes, but only in roots of terrestrial plants.

IMO, bettas go through so much in bowls and survive without problems. Weekly water changes once a week should be enough to cycle the tank with three bettas. This is a 30 gallon tank, not a 10 gallon, so the ammonia will not shoot through the roof...

However you do this, I wish you luck. And if everything I have aid is outright wrong, someone please chide me for it.

 

[OrkyBetta]

You guys rock. Thanks for the tips. Bio spira sounds like amazing stuff. So should I not add the bio spira to the unfiltered tank then? And DO add it to the one with the filter when I get the other 5 girls?

 

[OrkyBetta]

bump

 

[Tempestuousfury]

:shakes fist in anger: Don't bump and be patient.

Yes, that makes sense. The biospira is to get a starter culture for bacteria, and the spot in the tank that one most wants to culture bacteria is the filter, since the bacteria there has the highest contact with water (per volume unit). Also helps to populate the rest of the tank, it does.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Sorry about bumping. I was almost on the third page, so I thought I'd help it out. People post a LOT on the betta section!

Thanks for the informaton! Maybe when I cycle the 10 gal I can add some cycled gravel to the unfiltered tank?