What am I doing wrong?

[Retired Viking]

Love how the hornwort looks! I'm not entirely sure yet... I really have wanted to try a betta sorority with 9 bettas and then harlequin rasboras as dither fish but I'm aware it's a controversial set up.

I like rasboras, but I would avoid mixing any fish in with a betta sorority but you do have a lot of room in a 55 gallon tank.

 

[Fishiemang]

I guess I'm of a.strange school....all these theories on tank cycling and stuff...fascinating really.

I grab a tank, rinse me some gravel, get that in the tank, start filling that pool up. As that pool.is filling, I add a few little plants scarfed from here and there, and once the tank is full, I get the filter spinning. Once all that is good, I dump in whatever amount of "beneficial bacteria" or "quick start" whatever (mostly a feel good measure) then take my happy butt to the local petsmart and grab a couple hardy fish and toss them in the tank. After 2 or 3 days, I get the massive cloudy bacteria bloom. A week later, tank clears up, parameters are beautiful, and everyone is happy happy happy. Then after a couple few weeks, I start adding whatever fish tickles my fancy at the time.

Call me crazy....but it works....

 

[Ellie Potts]

I guess I'm of a.strange school....all these theories on tank cycling and stuff...fascinating really.

I grab a tank, rinse me some gravel, get that in the tank, start filling that pool up. As that pool.is filling, I add a few little plants scarfed from here and there, and once the tank is full, I get the filter spinning. Once all that is good, I dump in whatever amount of "beneficial bacteria" or "quick start" whatever (mostly a feel good measure) then take my happy butt to the local petsmart and grab a couple hardy fish and toss them in the tank. After 2 or 3 days, I get the massive cloudy bacteria bloom. A week later, tank clears up, parameters are beautiful, and everyone is happy happy happy. Then after a couple few weeks, I start adding whatever fish tickles my fancy at the time.

Call me crazy....but it works....

Yeah that's what my dad does. It's kind of controversial but it does work

 

[Ellie Potts]

I like rasboras, but I would avoid mixing any fish in with a betta sorority but you do have a lot of room in a 55 gallon tank.

Yeah that's been an ongoing problem in my tank plans. Dither fish can help with aggression and stress but make feeding difficult. I'll have to see

 

[Retired Viking]

Using Tetra Safe Start is one way to jump start your tank, I used it on helping out a friend who had a 20 tall and needed it done fast. It also works if your cycle breaks down due to things like medication. I just prefer the planted/silent cycle. It is a natural way to "cycle" your tank. I suppose it you are in a hurry you could just buy and bunch of quick growing floating plants and throw them in with some fish right away without waiting to see plant growth.

 

[Ellie Potts]

Using Tetra Safe Start is one way to jump start your tank, I used it on helping out a friend who had a 20 tall and needed it done fast. It also works if your cycle breaks down due to things like medication. I just prefer the planted/silent cycle. It is a natural way to "cycle" your tank. I suppose it you are in a hurry you could just buy and bunch of quick growing floating plants and throw them in with some fish right away without waiting to see plant growth.

I used quickstart and waited for my plants to grow out some... should be all good