Cycling Tank: How To Help My Betta Endure?

[Haeun]

My 1 gallon tank is currently starting to cycle right now, I think, with the ammonia levels going up. I've been doing ~50% water change every day, just about, right now. The ammonia is at about .25-.5 (too high, I say ), nitrite is 0-.5 (need to watch), and nitrate at 0-20 (safe). If what I've been reading about cycling applies to my tank, the ammonia is only going to get higher (to maybe 5 ppm?!). Treating that ammonia won't help the bacteria grow, so most websites have been telling me not to treat the ammonia. However, at this rate, my betta would probably be at risk of ammonia poisoning.

What I've been thinking is, should I move him to the 5 gallon tank when the ammonia starts spiking? This would probably save him from the ammonia problem. Don't know what that would do to the cycle though.

Or should I just move all the ammonia-ed water to the 5 gallon tank (cause I want that to start the cycling process right now), and give the 1 gallon a 100% change?

Being a noob is a real pain.

 

[catxx]

anything under 2 gallons does not need to cycle, or be filtered, way too small. especially for a betta that does not like a current.
just do 80-100% water changes with pre-treated water every 3 days or so.

do a 100% water change NOW.

or get a bigger tank.

 

[fishdawg]

you dont need to cycle it. and if i was you i would get atleast a 5 gal.

 

[Haeun]

you dont need to cycle it. and if i was you i would get atleast a 5 gal.

I do have a 5g I'm going to move both my bettas into (tank will have a divider, of course) but I'm going to try to cycle it now.

 

[lisie]

As catxx said, just do 100% water changes on the 1 gallon tank every 2-3 days. The 5 gallon tank will cycle, but you can have a betta in there while it does so. Just do a nice big water change whenever ammonia or nitrites get too high. I've never cycled any of my betta tanks (ranging from 2-5 gallons) and they've always been fine. Just keep up with water changes.