I want to set up a Betta fish tank. Would it be possible to do a fish in cycle? And if so which is the best way to do so. The tank is 5 gallons. Any help appreciated.
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When doing a fish in cycle, you keep feeding down to 2-3 times per week and do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate 4-8 hours after feeding. You also do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate any day you have an ammonia or nitrite reading above 0.
Try to keep the pH 6.9-7.0. If the pH goes above 7.0 then any ammonia becomes very toxic and does major damage to the fish. The higher the pH the more toxic it becomes.
If you have some floating plants like Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides/ cornuta) in the tank, it will help keep the nutrients lower and the fish will be better for it.
Once the filter has cycled (after about 4-6 weeks) you can increase feeding to every day and do water changes once a week.