Heating a bowl? O.o

[BettaMiah]

A very good idea. If it is cycled THAT with kick start the cycle. Also if you could get any used filter media that was in a cycled tank. Don't rinse the gravel out unless one of the fish is or was sick and it wasn't already cleaned.

[valleyankee]

Go to a Home Goods store. They have lots of big glass vases that you can use. I found one that is about 2 gallons that is perfect. You can get one for about $12.99. I added a heater from Petco called the 7.5 watt Hydor heater. It's only about $10. Petsmart has one like it from Zoo Med for $15.

Here it is - http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=84774

Add a bag of gravel, a small ornamet and a bushy plant. If you want to get fancy get a bag of large rocks and add a few.

You can do all this for under $50.

[Mikkisaur]

Is there a way to cycle without a test kit? I'm very broke and my mom is not exactly *ahem* willing to donate to my cause. I only start working in March, so I'm getting a teensy bit desperate. I just want Comet to be happy.

[BettaMiah]

Cute name. Comet. Lol.

Well, you could try it, but its risky. I used to get free ones from Petsmart. They will also test your water for free. So if you have a PetSmart or PetCo, just go there and it gets tested for free! They also usually give you some to take home if you tell them that you have none.

[jman828]

Originally Posted by BettaMiah

:3 Kritter keepers are awesome. You can get very spacious cheap ones that are 3 gallons. Easy to heat. Honestly I think it could be heated with a lamp if the lamp got hot enough and you left it on all day.
+1

Haha, really? That's probably because the lazy pet store employees get sick of testing your water lol!!

I agree with all that's been said so far. Hopefully you can get a better tank soon :)

[BettaMiah]

True. True. Lol.

[jman828]

Just a guess. :P

[BettaMiah]

Wouldn't be surprised.

[Mikkisaur]

Thanks guys ^w^ So a recap of what happened on my end:

- Old 10 gal gerbil tank is getting Comet put in it.
Which means there's a lot of cleaning ahead.
- I am broke but my brother, who has been into fish longer than I have, can pull momma's strings because she trusts his judgement more than her crazy vegetarian teenage daughter.
- My mom thinks the nitrogen cycle is pretty much made up -______-" but petsmart people are yay! Too bad we don't go often enough...

[BettaMiah]

So you can't cycle it?

Nitrogen cycle is the life source of a thriving tank!