Haiku
Fishaholic
I've posted a bit about my efforts to cycle my two small betta tanks in the betta forum but after some thought, this is probably the more appropriate area for me right now with this subject. I'm attempting to cycle a 3 gallon Eclipse tank and a 2.5 gallon Mini Bow. I'm one of those people who didn't realize about the cycling world until I got my bettas set up already. I know they don't necessarily HAVE to have cycled tanks, they can just be given frequent water changes, but after much thought and weighing the pros and cons, I've decided it would be best to cycle them so that I'm assured their water conditions remain fairly stable and because my tap water already tests positive for some ammonia (between 0.25 and 0.5). I figure if the tanks are cycled then when I do the partial water changes, the bacteria can take care of the ammonia that's already in the tap water instead of always having to add something like Amquel or Ammo-Lock.
At first, I was so worried about the harmful effects of ammonia that I added Ammo-Lock to offset the ammonia already in my tap water, but after a almost month and zero progress at all on cycling, I stopped putting it in. My 3 gallon Eclipse has finally begun the cycling process. Today the ammonia tests lower than it did yesterday and there are nitrites and nitrates. My Mini Bow however is still not budging. I've got higher ammonia readings in it, 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates. I'm guessing perhaps the Eclipse is cycling faster because it has a Bio Wheel? I kind of wish I had gotten an Eclipse for my second tank instead of the Mini Bow as it seems a better system, and it was only $10 more. I had the Whisper filter on the Mini Bow set to the lowest setting to reduce current because Draco hates much of any current, so I'm wondering too if there just was not enough oxygen being produced. I went ahead and turned it up a notch so it is producing more water movement now, but I'm not sure how much a difference that will make.
I don't have any established tanks or friends with established tanks to take filter media or substrate from to help me with this. The only pet stores around here are PetCo and PetsMart and I'm not all that confident I could get seeded gravel from those places.
Does anyone more experienced in all of this have any further suggestions for me to speed this along with? Neither of them are showing any ill effects from the spikes but I've been doing partial water changes every other day to reduce stress on them when the ammonia levels were higher. I'm confident that I'm getting there now with my 3 gallon but I'm a bit discouraged by the lack of anything happening in my 2.5. Oh and I forgot to mention I do have live plants in both as I read that helps (moneywort). I also have a bit of algae growth in both tanks, more so in the 2.5 than the 3. I haven't messed with trying to get rid of it other than turning out their hood lights earlier in the day.
Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice.
At first, I was so worried about the harmful effects of ammonia that I added Ammo-Lock to offset the ammonia already in my tap water, but after a almost month and zero progress at all on cycling, I stopped putting it in. My 3 gallon Eclipse has finally begun the cycling process. Today the ammonia tests lower than it did yesterday and there are nitrites and nitrates. My Mini Bow however is still not budging. I've got higher ammonia readings in it, 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates. I'm guessing perhaps the Eclipse is cycling faster because it has a Bio Wheel? I kind of wish I had gotten an Eclipse for my second tank instead of the Mini Bow as it seems a better system, and it was only $10 more. I had the Whisper filter on the Mini Bow set to the lowest setting to reduce current because Draco hates much of any current, so I'm wondering too if there just was not enough oxygen being produced. I went ahead and turned it up a notch so it is producing more water movement now, but I'm not sure how much a difference that will make.
I don't have any established tanks or friends with established tanks to take filter media or substrate from to help me with this. The only pet stores around here are PetCo and PetsMart and I'm not all that confident I could get seeded gravel from those places.
Does anyone more experienced in all of this have any further suggestions for me to speed this along with? Neither of them are showing any ill effects from the spikes but I've been doing partial water changes every other day to reduce stress on them when the ammonia levels were higher. I'm confident that I'm getting there now with my 3 gallon but I'm a bit discouraged by the lack of anything happening in my 2.5. Oh and I forgot to mention I do have live plants in both as I read that helps (moneywort). I also have a bit of algae growth in both tanks, more so in the 2.5 than the 3. I haven't messed with trying to get rid of it other than turning out their hood lights earlier in the day.
Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice.
. I should have mentioned I actually did do a 100% change in both tanks when I realized what was happening, probably a week or so ago. Perhaps the Eclipse is just going faster because of the Bio Wheel. I just hope I start to see some progress in the second tank soon. I just hope I'm doing everything right now!
