Cycling A 1 Gallon Tank?

[Aleydis]

Apparently my sister bought a 1 gallon tank for her 2 HUGE goldfish. Heck, one couldn't even fit into the top... So I was like "GET A BIGGER ONE!" And stole the 1 gallon for a future male Betta.

Muhahaha!

So how do I cycle a 1 gallon tank? I don't even know if Betta fish need cycled tanks, but I want to be on the safe side. I'm not going to be putting in any medication or treatment to help with the cycling.

I want to get this over with before I go to China for a month, so then when I come back the tank will be nice and ready for fish? But does that work? Would I have to do water changes anyways?

 

[xmurdererx]

well get some air pump for it and try to get a small fluval1 filter and put it in it will fit and let it recycle for a week or 2

 

[Truck]

for it to cycle you need amonia, an airpump is not neccesary, unless you use an airdriven filter

 

[Aleydis]

There's no ammonia, since there's no fish...

Can I just put the water in there and have it sit there for like a month? Would that work?

I'm not going to be getting any air pumps, filters or heaters until further notice (After I get my Betta).

 

[Truck]

buy the ammonia

 

[P&J]

I would wait until you get back from your trip. I don't know for sure, but I think you would lose all of your progress with nothing happening for a month. You need to be feeding the bacteria with ammonia to build it up and retain it, so if it sat for a month, the bacteria would die off.

Letting it sit and run for 2 weeks won't do anything unless there is a food source to build up the bacteria.

-P

 

[Aleydis]

Well if I just put a fish in there without cycling it... The ammonia of the fish will feed the bacteria... But then wouldn't the fish get sick really easily? Fin rot? What if I changed the water once a day? O_O

 

[P&J]

I'm not sure about one fish in a small tank, but I think you should be fine if you are checking the ammonia levels and changing the water as necessary.

My earlier comment was about leaving it sit while you are gone for a month.. nothing will be happening during that time.

Read up on some of the fish-in cycling threads, they should be very helpful.

-P

 

[Truck]

im doing fish in cycleing with a 3 gallon i add a guppy every 2 weeks there is now 2 in there, and once another 2 weeks has passed my betta! can come home!

 

[carrera]

*see lower post*

 

[Truck]

good point

 

[Nick16]

i suggest you read up on the cycling process mate. DO NOT put the fish in if the tank is not cycled, (IMO the tank is to small for anything really, maybe an ant?) you will need to add amonia once the filter is going.

 

[carrera]

There's no ammonia, since there's no fish...

Can I just put the water in there and have it sit there for like a month? Would that work?

I'm not going to be getting any air pumps, filters or heaters until further notice (After I get my Betta).

If you aren't getting a filter, there is nothing to cycle.

I don't mean any offence, but it shocks me sometimes how people can be in this hobby and know so little of the science behind any of it.

If you leave the water and do nothing with it, nothing will happen no matter how long you leave it.

Well if I just put a fish in there without cycling it... The ammonia of the fish will feed the bacteria... But then wouldn't the fish get sick really easily? Fin rot? What if I changed the water once a day? O_O

It's always better to have a cycled filter for a betta, but some opt to not use one and rely on water changes alone, so you can get away with it, but it means there will always be a presence of ammonia and nitrite in your tank which will harm your fish over the long term.

 

[Phoenixbaby]

Actually with any tank, you can cycle while the fish is in it, BUT water changes must be done EVERYDAY!

With a 1gallon I wouldnt recommend it though, too little water for ammonia to build up in, why not buy a bigger home for the betta?

 

[AJ Tudor]

To echo some of the thoughts on here 1 gallon is too small for a Betta, and I recommend you read a few books etc. to learn about some of the basics of fishkeeping. 'The perfect aquarium' By Jeremy Gay is really good and isn't too expensive