cycling 10gal

[bettaluver14]

I'm planning on buying my male VT betta a 10gal to put him and 4-5 neon tetras in and i'm wondering how long to cycle it and how....

Thanks!!!

[bettaluver14]

pleeease help!

[bettaluver14]

need to know for when i actually have the tank!

[aemaki09]

There is a cycling sticky in the betta tanks and accessories section
http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=47838 <<<the link

[bettaluver14]

thank you so much!!! wow so i can't know exactly how long it'll take... i just have to wait for the right amount of levels?

[aemaki09]

Haha! yes, basically, you want to buy a bottle of pure ammonia (like ace hardware's seems to be prefered) and dose like 2-4ppm of that daily I think?
youre going to need a liquid test kit though if you dont already have one. I mean you could buy strip tests but that'd be a lot more expensive in the long run than a kit would be

[bettaluver14]

ohhh i was gunna do the "shrimp cycle"... and won't the shrimp smell up my room/house from it rotting?

[SolomonFinch]

Oh...I am planning on using gravel from my cycled 10 gallon. Already running the filter in it to switch to new 10 gallon tank later. Will this work for bettas? They seem more sensitive than goldfish.
Also, should I leave the media in the new filter, or just the bio filter?
Thanks!

[DragonFish]

I wouldn't suggest the shrimp/fish food method to cycle. I've been reading lately that leaving that stuff to rot in your tank can introduce all kinds of fungal/parasitic stuff. Not worth the potential risk, IMHO.

I would just pick up some pure ammonia from the hardware store. Best and easiest way to go about a fishless cycle if you ask me.

Originally Posted by SolomonFinch

Oh...I am planning on using gravel from my cycled 10 gallon. Already running the filter in it to switch to new 10 gallon tank later. Will this work for bettas? They seem more sensitive than goldfish.
Also, should I leave the media in the new filter, or just the bio filter?
Thanks!

Yes, that should work just fine. ;)
As for media....I'd ditch anything with carbon and floss before bacteria colonizes on it and instead replace it with a nice wad of some plain ol' filter sponge. Carbon isn't necessary unless you're removing medications from your tank, and isn't active all that long anyway, and the floss on those cartridges breaks down and falls apart eventually where as sponge doesn't. Plus, sponge will provide you with a little more surface area for the BBs to grow and colonize.

[bettaluver14]

Dragonfish:

Can you buy pure ammonia at Petsmart? And yeah i bought the liquid test kit and am planning on buying a 10gal tank BY New Year's!!