can they

[Flashygrrl]

Problem is, there's no "set time" where a tank cycles. That's where the liquid test kit comes in handy. You sit and wait (a beautiful chance to develop patience) until that day comes where you have 0 ammonia and nitrites and a low level of nitrates (if you're not having fish at all in the tank during cycling throw a couple flakes of food in every couple days to decay and produce ammonia). Hope this helps a bit....

[key_555]

yes it dose but i didnt know that i need to let it cycle and i dont want my bettas to die my son would be heart broken if that happen i know that is life but he is just two

[Flashygrrl]

Well...don't panic. Just do everything that you've been advised to do, it should help, in the meantime partially change the tank water every other day and don't forget the dechlorinator. You're at least trying and that's a good thing.

And yeah...cycling is something they don't tell you about when you buy a fish or a tank so it's up to us to do the research. A good (but unfortunately sometimes hard) lesson to learn.

[crazy4fish]

do you have an API testing kit? if you dont you can either get one or bring a small sample of water to you lfs and they will test it for you.

[Oldman47]

Forget the water from your mother's tank. If you can get filter material or gravel from that tank it will give you seed material to quickly do a fishless cycle. Use ammonia to build the bacterial population from that seed quickly. You should be able to get there in only a few days.

[key_555]

ok how much gravle should i get from them

[Flashygrrl]

If you aren't using that specific color in your tank just get enough to fill the foot area of a pair of pantyhose (yes, that means you will have to go BUY some pantyhose, or see if anyone's got an old pair and cut one of the legs off at around where the knee would start), tie it off and either drop it in your tank or hang it from something.

[crazy4fish]

it sounds a little weird but it will work.