Necessary Cycling Equipment?

[emilyjessica]

I'm planning to get a betta sometime in the next month of so (around my birthday) and since I have to wait a wile anyways I thought I would get a head start by cycling my tank. However, I don't have a lot of money right now (same reason why I', only getting the fish and everything later) so I was wondering what I really need to cycle. I"ve read the sticky about it, but I have a few questions.

I've already got a tank (5G) and decorations aren't a problem for me to get. I know you need a filter, so that's on my list. BUT. Do I need to have a heater while it's cycling? And does the water need to be conditioned? Anything else that is strictly necessary aside from the tank and the filter?

[Freyja]

Per Hallyx

Bacteria like food, air, warmth and darkness. So.....

----Feed them 3.0/4.0 ppm ammonia

----Run a bubbler or get air into the flow somehow.

----Turn your heater all the way up. 90* is not too hot.

---Cover it.

Do your daiy water test

[emilyjessica]

When you say to run a bubbler, is that something other than the filter?

[Oldfishlady]

If you are doing the Fishless cycle...you need water test products on hand since you need to maintain the ammonia level.

You can safely establish the nitrogen cycle in a 5gal filtered tank with a healthy Betta....with or without testing products on hand.....provided that you make the needed water changes....

You can get a head start since you have the tank and filter-but have to wait to get the Betta-I would set the tank up and add some live plants or even a snail-Both are organic that produce byproducts that can start the cycling process-Make weekly water changes and then a 50% with vacuum before you properly acclimate the Betta once you get it....

The BB you are colonizing are self limiting

You may or may not need a heater-but its a good idea to have one on hand....Your goal is to maintain a somewhat stable temp in the 76-80F range for the Betta and for the Fishless cycle you can raise the temp a bit more to encourage the BB to colonize faster.

You do need a thermometer to monitor both the tank water temp and the temp of the replacement water used for water changes once you add the Betta.

Dechlorinator-you need this for both the Betta and the beneficial bacteria for the nitrogen cycle......The BB that you are colonizing are somewhat like fish-if it will kill the fish it will most likely kill the BB (beneficial bacteria)

[emilyjessica]

OKay thanks, that's rally helpful. Any estimates on how long it could take?