Is it possible to cycle a 1 gallon

[OrkyBetta]

Like, could you siphon out half of the water 2ce a week? or is this a bad idea? I just thought it would be better for the fish if some of the bacteria was kept in there.

 

[OrkyBetta]

without any filter is it still ok to do partial water changes?

 

[red_fish_blue_fish]

I do total change outs on anything less than ten gallons without a filter. This is how i do it...I take a used empty milk jug, add the appropriate amount of declor to the jug, sometimes a pinch of salt, sometimes some melafix or betta fix...depending ont he condition of my fish...and I fill it to the brim with water. I let the jug sit for at least 48 hours, and store it in the area where my fish are kept. Then, when I am ready to change the water, vuala' - cycled declored water. Just shake the jug to mix the solution, and it is clean - the correct temp - + declored already to go. I put my fish in after I have cleaned out the tank and put the jug water in with no worries of them going into shock. I have never had a problem with this method. Now I keep multiple jugs of already prepared water, to ensure that I have fresh ready water at all times for tank changes on all of my tanks (even the larger ones). Just make shure the jug is cleaned out with hot water, leaving no milk residue behind.

 

[newfishies]

small tanks are very hard to keep the water paramenters stable. i find it much easier to do 100% changes on my 1 gal. if you only ever change 50% of the water, you will always be leaving some ammonia in a pretty small tank.

 

[cutechic]

I've cycled 1 gallon tanks before, but I agree with the others, it's generally best to do 100% water changes.

However, if you still want to cycle your tank, this is what I did:

Add 5 drops of ammonia every day until nitrites spiked.
After nitrites spiked, reduce amount of ammonia to 2-3 drops a day.
Wait until ammonia and nitrite readings are both 0.
Do a LARGE water change to reduce nitrates.
Now you can add fish.

NOTES: You need to have either substrate (gravel or sand) or a filter for both to work. To speed the cycle up (it usually takes 2 weeks), add established material (ie. substrate or filter media) from another tank.

Remember, you'll still need to do water changes every couple of days.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Ok thanks. I think it will be better for me to just keep doing my 100% changes, I just wanted to know what was better for my fish