tank advice please

[basia]

I am a complete beginner I have never had a betta but have wanted one for a long time. My husband did not want one in the large tropical tank but bought me a small 30 litre tank which I have now set up and am waiting for it to cycle. What I didn't think about until I had set it up is that the back of the tank is a mirror. Does this mean I won't be able to keep my fish in it? Advice please!

 

[Raechal]

30 litres would be a little under 8 US gallons wouldn't it be? Is there a way you could cover up the mirror in the back with a background or a piece of paper at all? Or you could just buy a few tall plants and cover the back wall with the mirror in it with the plants.
How are you cycling your tank by the way?

 

[BettaMomma]

Raechel had a good idea - places like PetSmart have these background plant walls that cover the whole background of the tank. That might work - then he could hang out in it, too

Let us know what you decide to do!

 

[LoachLover]

Raechel had a good idea - places like PetSmart have these background plant walls that cover the whole background of the tank. That might work - then he could hang out in it, too

Let us know what you decide to do!

I agree, just cover it with something like a tank background.

 

[basia]

Hi - thank you for taking the time to reply and your good advice. I will have to look for something waterproof and put in front of the mirror. I have already put a mixture of tall plastic and real plants in front of it but he would be able to see himself here and there.
The tank is about 7 UK gallons. I am of an age where I still think in imperial but Britain has been metric for a long time now and I can never remember the conversation ratios!
As for cycling - I am following the instructions as given with the tank. I have put a filter booster in the water and have a water testing kit to check levels at weekly intervals. It says not to put a fish in it for 3 weeks. Also I have put a dechlorinator and a pinch of fish food in it because it told me to. Is there anything else I can do? Having waited so long I want my fish to be happy when he comes.
Many thanks. Also - I was intending to keep my fish completely on his own with no tank mates.

 

[Sorrell]

He will be one happy guy in that tank Sounds like you're really getting it set up nice for him

 

[betta_CT]

u could keep him on his own if you like he wil have a mazzive tank all to him self betta heaven or you could add nice fish that wont bother your betta.
i think corys are one, coolie loach there are others but as i dont mix mine i dont realy know

 

[Raechal]

It is okay if they can see their reflection once in awhile in a few spots. It will get them alert and stuff like that. Just monitor him and make sure he is not stressing out over the "other betta"

 

[newfishies]

As for cycling - I am following the instructions as given with the tank. I have put a filter booster in the water and have a water testing kit to check levels at weekly intervals. It says not to put a fish in it for 3 weeks. Also I have put a dechlorinator and a pinch of fish food in it because it told me to. Is there anything else I can do?

have you read the pinned topics int the beginner's sectionm about cycling? what are you testing for and are you adding the fish food daily to feed the bacteria?

edit: here is the link!
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73365

 

[basia]

I have read them now, thanks for the link. I have a full testing kit which has little bottles which test for everything.
I didn't know I needed to add fishfood every day - thanks for that.
Can I ask though, are Bettas fairly robust to amonia, etc., as it seems that lots of people keep them in unfiltered tanks? As I only intend to keep one male fish in my tank he will have to cycle it and I don't want to kill him.
I also have to confess I have bought a bottle of Cycle today thining it would help!

 

[Sorrell]

A lot of people believe that cycle is crap, but personally I love it and have had good results Also if you know someone who has an established tank, you can get some media from them to help kick start your process

 

[BettaMomma]

Sorrell - can you tell us how you went about using the cycle - how long it took, how the fish were, etc? Did you even use it with fish?

I just kicked off a cycle process with Harvey and Archie in their 10G tank and I dumped in a scoop of gravel from my girly tank so that should help, but I definitely want to make it as painless as possible for them.