Cycling Issue

[GDM9]

Hello All,

I seem to be having (I think) a cycling issue with my tank. First let me start by saying I now realize that fishless cycling is probably the way to go, but unfortunatly I kind of jumped into the hobby head first. I was given a Make Betta as a gift by a co-worker in a tiny little bowl. Just looking at the little fellow in that tiny thing seemed kinds sad so I went to a local pet store and bought a 10G (complete set up kit). I ignorantly followed the included directions and set up the tank and treated the water (aquasafe) and 48 hours later my little blue buddy was swimming around I what I hoped would be a much happier/comfortable enviroment. Only after the fact did I learn about the nitrogen cycle etc and ended up going out and picking up a testing kit (API).

At this point the die was cast and I was committed to cycling the tank with the fish present. I am now in week 6 and even with the test kit it has been difficult to determine the cycling progress of the tank. For the first three weeks the ammonia levels stayed at zero (PH 7.2). I week 4 I finally started getting some ammonia readings around .25. At this point (perhaps mistakenly) I added a live plant to the tank (to relace a plastic one which was damaging Ares' fins). I started doing partial water changes (aged water treated with aquasafe) approximatly 10-15% twice a week Nitrite levels remained at zero. In week 5 the ammonia levels seemed to fluctuate between .25 and .5 and I finally started to see some nitrites 0.2 to be exact. This lasted for about a week and I continued the partial changes. Now in week 6 I still have ammonia reading around .25 and just today the nitrite levels have dropped to0.1. I am worried that I am still seeing the same amount of ammonia but the nitrites have dropped. Any advice or feedback would be great because at this point i can only assume I am doing something wrong but I'm just not sure what. I hope to add a couple corys to the tank at some point but now I am wondering if the thing is ever going to completely cycle or if my understanding of the process is just way off base.

Thanks,

-GM

 

[simonmac2]

Hi GM,

please let me welcome you to this happy little group.

Don't worry

I was in the same situation as you (am still going through my cycle BTW) and the fish i got at the beginning are in a temp small tank (MUCH easier to do the water changes)

So...I am on day 29 (have screwed up a couple of times - read my posts ) but know that if i screw up, it is on the big fishless tank. I can live with the zebra danios being in the small tank knowing that when the cycle is complete, they have a great environment to go to.

I am doing the fishless method in the big tank i.e. feeding the bacteria with the ammonia) and keeping the live tank clean, it means there is no pressure to do constant big water changes on my 180 litre tank, which would break me. The big tank and the small one with fish in get tested together and all is good.

i would put your betta back in the small tank while you sort out the permenant home - but that is just me.

Welcome again

Simon

 

[doresy]

Hi, I see some good advice offered already

I can only agree....As I see it you have a 10 gallon set up ie tank, heater and filter. You are now attempting to cycle the tank WITH fish, that being a Betta? Not ideal

As suggested I would pop the betta back in the bowl and providing it's not minute he will be ok in there (for the time being) providing it has a heater and you do partial water change every 1-2 days.

Meanwhile I would follow THIS and do a fishless cycle

With regard to your 10 galloner, are you intending to just keep the betta in there? (they really do prefer being alone or in some cases kept with cory or african dwarf frogs)

Keeping a betta is great fun (for most) and as I said they do prefer to be alone and in a smaller tank (2 gallon minimum IMO) So you might think about getting a smaller tank for him and use your 10 gall for a mixed community set up once cycled.

Just my thoughts (ramblings ) in this case

 

[GDM9]

Thanks for the responses. Regarding adding other fish, once the cycle is complete I do intend to introduce a couple Cory Cats. Being botom feeders with several hiding spots, I expect Ares will leave them alone.
In a moment of desperation I went out this afternoon and bought a small bottle of API StressZyme+ biological filtration booster which I hope will help along my tank's floundering cycle. I'm crossing my fingers that there will be a noticable improvement next week.

So getting back to my post could the live plant be somehow contributing to the problem? If for example it was slowly dying from inadequate light (I don't believe it is but...) would this produce ammonia?

 

[doresy]

Anything that decays will produce ammonia. Excess food, rotting plants etc. While cycling keep feeding to a minimum to combat this.
Bettas are greedy if you feed them something that they particularily like. Froozen larve for instantance. Just feed 1-3 individual larve daily at this time. If over fed they suffer swim bladder problems.

 

[GDM9]

Well I am happy to report that thanks to some help with identifying an improper plant and perhaps also the StressZyme+ the tank finally turned around and normalized last week.

I finally added 2 Corys (Corydoras acutus) yesterday and they are doing great so far.

As an amusing side note Ares the betta really loves hakkari algae wafers and is convinced he is a bottom feeder now, while the corys seem to prefer the bloodworms lol.

There was a slight reading of both ammonia and nitrites this morning after adding the cats yesterday but both readings were super low. After I fed them this morning I vac'd the gravel to get the leftovers and did 15% water change.

I am hoping in another week or two that I will be able safely add two more corys for a total of 4. Will this be too many fish for a 10g tank? Do I need to get an airstone to accomodate two more corys eventually?