Newbie Questions

[Sorrell]

In a small tank like that, I'd just get a little algae scraper sponge and clean the glass and decorations.

 

[f250fisherman]

oops.. Thx sorrel for correcting me. I meant ammonia..It usually takes about 4 days to show signs of ammonia present in a gal tank. Even a small reading of ammonia can do damage over a period of time, so I keep my tanks very clean. Clean as in fresh water, not sterile clean. Like I said before, you can keep a 1.5 gal clean with gravel in it..it just takes more work. If you go a week before changing water..check the ammonia reading before you change next time. If it does not show up..then you tank is probably cycling. I do cycle 1 gal tanks sometimes, but it takes a weekly water change after it cycles to keep it that way..Getting it to cycle is the hard part, because it can have ammonia build up pretty quickly after 3-4 weeks.