Tropical Or Not?

[miltiadis_s]

yes

 

[soritan]

that's just over 3 gallons of water. while it's difficult to cycle (a small volume of water has radical changes in water chemistry quite quickly), it's not impossible. most of the people on this particular fourm don't bother cycling tanks under 5 gallons (19l or so), because of the big swooshes in water chemistry, they just do one or two 100% water changes per week.

i seem to remember you saying that there were... quite a few inappropriate fish in this 15l tank. are they now back at the pet shop, or in a larger home?

*edit: i didn't look back in your posts, so forgive me if i seem out of line, i may have confused you for someone else.

 

[miltiadis_s]

nah its ok... um the other smaller fish is in a different tank now. im thinking of getting rid of both these fish and buying a new betta i saw at the pet shop on of those kool looking ones not VT another one..

 

[miltiadis_s]

so i can add as many female fish as i want yeh?

 

[Captain Retardo]

no, your tank is 3 gallons, it can hold 2 bettas tops, female groups need to be 3 or more females

 

[miltiadis_s]

ok.. so this is what im going to do to cycle.. please correct me if im wrong..

fill the tank with water.

dechlorinate the water.

add one hardy fish for cycling while having a live plant in the tank as well.

do 25-30% water changes every 3 days.

monitor the chemistry levels.

when the water goes cloudy it means the cycling is over.


??

captain retardo.. do you have msn?

 

[Captain Retardo]

A better way to cycle is to fishless cycle:

You need some household ammonia though.

Everyday you must put ammonia in the tank (i dont know how much, maybe someone with more experience could help you) to simulate fish waste.

Monitor the Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate Levels.

First the Ammonia will spike.

Then the Nitrite will spike.

Then the Nitrate will spike. After this do a large water change, and you are ready to put fish in!


Sorry, I dont have msn

 

[miltiadis_s]

will the water go cloudy or anything?

 

[Captain Retardo]

Usually when doing a cycle the water will always go cloudy, but it will clear up in a few days. (this is WAY before you get fish)

 

[ezrock]

hey. is there any reason you want to cycle a 3-4 gallon tank? It's already been mentioned that most people wouldn't bother cycling this size of a tank.

Even if it's cycled, you'd still have to do water changes every week...and it doesn't take much more work to change 3 gallons than it does to change 1 gallon...

Just a thought.

-Ian

 

[Captain Retardo]

hey. is there any reason you want to cycle a 3-4 gallon tank? It's already been mentioned that most people wouldn't bother cycling this size of a tank.

I am going to cycle my 5 gallon divided (for 2 bettas of course). I am also going to make the DIY Sponge Filter for it! Less water changes is better (on a human standpoint)

 

[miltiadis_s]

at the LFS they told me you can have 1 male with 3 females. Is this correct?

 

[catxx]

NO.

it's not correct.

 

[miltiadis_s]

then what is correct lol

 

[soritan]

Have you read any of the lovely FAQs written up for bettas?

Correct answer: bettas are only safely kept alone.

Before you ask: it is possible for bettas to have tankmates, but it all depends on the betta, as they have wildly different personalities, some fish are possibly compatible, and some fish ought to be avoided at all cost. All these fish are listed in the FAQ, and on several of the threads in this forum, easily found with the 'search' function.