I Need Help on Betta

[Arethrox]

Originally Posted by dramaqueen

Get an API freshwater master test kit to monitor your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

okat ty, how long should i not vacuum the gravel for? and do i do water change while it cycles?

and also how do i know when the cycle is over?

i plan on getting 5g eclipse Hex, it says it comes with some sort of BIO-wheel (dont know what it does) and im going to keep my beta fish alone for while

how long would it take to cycle that?

[kelly528]

Originally Posted by Arethrox

okat ty, how long should i not vacuum the gravel for? and do i do water change while it cycles?

and also how do i know when the cycle is over?

i plan on getting 5g eclipse Hex, it says it comes with some sort of BIO-wheel (dont know what it does) and im going to keep my beta fish alone for while

how long would it take to cycle that?

I just vacuum until I have vacuumed all the gravel. You see the being sucked out-- VERY satisfying lol! Unlike vacuuming carpets :/

I am not sure whether to do water changes with a fishless cycle, but with a fish-in cycle, definitely.

You'll know by measuring the ammonia, nitratites and nitrates. When everything except nitrAtes is at0 for about a week, you'll know you're all finished. The API kit DQ mentioned is absolutely the best bang for your buck. A very good test kit... it seems like a lot of different chemicals to test (I believe the kit tests 8 different parameters) but you will use all of them in basic fishkeeping.
The Bio-Wheel filter is an awesome filter... it has lots of surface for bacteria to grow on, which = more bacteria, whiich = less ammonia/nitrIte. All the best filters rely heavily on only 2 types of filtration: biological filtration (bacteria in the filter consuming the impurities) and mechanical filtration (sponges, etc to trap debris).

[Arethrox]

Originally Posted by kelly528

I just vacuum until I have vacuumed all the gravel. You see the being sucked out-- VERY satisfying lol! Unlike vacuuming carpets :/

I am not sure whether to do water changes with a fishless cycle, but with a fish-in cycle, definitely.

You'll know by measuring the ammonia, nitratites and nitrates. When everything except nitrAtes is at0 for about a week, you'll know you're all finished. The API kit DQ mentioned is absolutely the best bang for your buck. A very good test kit... it seems like a lot of different chemicals to test (I believe the kit tests 8 different parameters) but you will use all of them in basic fishkeeping.
The Bio-Wheel filter is an awesome filter... it has lots of surface for bacteria to grow on, which = more bacteria, whiich = less ammonia/nitrIte. All the best filters rely heavily on only 2 types of filtration: biological filtration (bacteria in the filter consuming the impurities) and mechanical filtration (sponges, etc to trap debris).

okay how do i initiate the start of Cycling,

while it is cycling am i suppose to graval vacuum one a week?

if im still suppose to gravel vacuum then doesnt that mean that theres no difference in my weekly maintainance during and after cycling? and that i should basically not worry about it and continue with the weekly maintenance?

[dramaqueen]

When you are cycling, I don't think you are supposed to gravel vac the entire tank. I think you are supposed to vaccuum like a third or half.

[Arethrox]

Originally Posted by dramaqueen

When you are cycling, I don't think you are supposed to gravel vac the entire tank. I think you are supposed to vaccuum like a third or half.

okay thank you, so the only difference i do is basically vacuum only 1/3, then i check the water with the API Master kit and if the

Ammonia = 0
Nitrate = 0
Nitrite = under 20ppm

that means it is completely cycled and i can vacuum the whole tank?

[dramaqueen]

I don't think you are ever supposed to vaccuum the entire thing. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[vaygirl]

I'm not by any means an expert but I don't vacuum the whole thing and my tank params are 0/0/10 or sometimes 0/0/5. I vacuum the front one week and the back the next week and so on....