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| Castiel, Half Moon Tail Betta |
There are several ways to cycle a fish tank. Cycling refers to the nitrogen cycle that will occur, ammonia breaks down into nitrite, nitrite breaks down into nitrate. This is done by the good bacteria growing in the tank, mainly inside the filter. This bacteria is essential in a fish tank, breaking down the ammonia before it reaches high levels of toxicity, putting stress, even killing the fish inhabiting the tank.
You will need an API water testing kit, and a fully set up aquarium. If you have live plants, they will thrive in the high levels of ammonia.
Fish In Cycle - Years ago, the most common way to cycle the tank was with live fish. This was done by setting up the tank, putting hardy fish in, and letting them produce the ammonia, being exposed to toxic levels, until the bacteria grew strong enough in the filter to break it down. Most, if not any of the fish would not survive this process. Fortunately this is now not the only option.
Fish-Less Cycle With Food - Not precise, but it is possible to cycle a tank with fish food. This is done by putting fish food in the tank, to rot and create ammonia. It is difficult to get a steady level. To cycle a betta fish tank you want the ammonia level at 2-3ppm. When it drops to 1ppm, add more until it reaches the needed level. Eventually the good bacteria will begin breaking down the ammonia, until the ammonia recedes to 0ppm within 24 hours. This can take a couple weeks, to a month. To help the process along, get something from an already cycled tank to 'seed' your tank. This can be filter media, or even an ornament, anything that will have good bacteria growing on it's surface. Make sure to keep it wet during transportation. Once the levels are dropping, you have created a good home for bacteria in the filter. Keep adding fish food until you are ready to add fish. Do a 25-50% water change, being sure to pick up all the rotting food the day before you add inhabitants, and the tank is ready for a betta fish.
Fish-less Cycling With Ammonia - Probably the best way to cycle a fish tank, so long as you are careful when working with ammonia. With an eye dropper, put a couple drops of pure ammonia, not cleaning ammonia, that may have detergents or other harmful chemicals, into a gallon of water. Test the water for ammonia. You will want the level at 2-3ppm for a betta tank. If the level is below, add a few more drops of ammonia. Continue until you reach desired level. Multiply that by how many gallons you will be treating in your tank. Test your tank water for ammonia every few days. When it drops to 1ppm, add more ammonia until it reaches the needed level. Eventually the good bacteria will begin breaking down the ammonia, until the ammonia recedes to 0ppm within 24 hours. This can take a couple weeks, to a month. To help the process along, get something from an already cycled tank to 'seed' your tank. This can be filter media, or even an ornament, anything that will have good bacteria growing on it's surface. Make sure to keep it wet during transportation. Once the levels are dropping, you have created a good home for bacteria in the filter. Keep adding ammonia until you are ready to add fish. Do a 25-50% water change the day before you add inhabitants, and the tank is ready for a betta fish.
You will need an API water testing kit, and a fully set up aquarium. If you have live plants, they will thrive in the high levels of ammonia.
Fish In Cycle - Years ago, the most common way to cycle the tank was with live fish. This was done by setting up the tank, putting hardy fish in, and letting them produce the ammonia, being exposed to toxic levels, until the bacteria grew strong enough in the filter to break it down. Most, if not any of the fish would not survive this process. Fortunately this is now not the only option.
Fish-Less Cycle With Food - Not precise, but it is possible to cycle a tank with fish food. This is done by putting fish food in the tank, to rot and create ammonia. It is difficult to get a steady level. To cycle a betta fish tank you want the ammonia level at 2-3ppm. When it drops to 1ppm, add more until it reaches the needed level. Eventually the good bacteria will begin breaking down the ammonia, until the ammonia recedes to 0ppm within 24 hours. This can take a couple weeks, to a month. To help the process along, get something from an already cycled tank to 'seed' your tank. This can be filter media, or even an ornament, anything that will have good bacteria growing on it's surface. Make sure to keep it wet during transportation. Once the levels are dropping, you have created a good home for bacteria in the filter. Keep adding fish food until you are ready to add fish. Do a 25-50% water change, being sure to pick up all the rotting food the day before you add inhabitants, and the tank is ready for a betta fish.
Fish-less Cycling With Ammonia - Probably the best way to cycle a fish tank, so long as you are careful when working with ammonia. With an eye dropper, put a couple drops of pure ammonia, not cleaning ammonia, that may have detergents or other harmful chemicals, into a gallon of water. Test the water for ammonia. You will want the level at 2-3ppm for a betta tank. If the level is below, add a few more drops of ammonia. Continue until you reach desired level. Multiply that by how many gallons you will be treating in your tank. Test your tank water for ammonia every few days. When it drops to 1ppm, add more ammonia until it reaches the needed level. Eventually the good bacteria will begin breaking down the ammonia, until the ammonia recedes to 0ppm within 24 hours. This can take a couple weeks, to a month. To help the process along, get something from an already cycled tank to 'seed' your tank. This can be filter media, or even an ornament, anything that will have good bacteria growing on it's surface. Make sure to keep it wet during transportation. Once the levels are dropping, you have created a good home for bacteria in the filter. Keep adding ammonia until you are ready to add fish. Do a 25-50% water change the day before you add inhabitants, and the tank is ready for a betta fish.
When introducing a betta fish to the new tank, it may take a few days for the bacteria to adjust to the level of ammonia the fish is producing. This will cause ammonia spikes. If the fish is creating less ammonia, some of the bacteria will die, creating ammonia. If the fish is creating more, the bacteria will have to grow to accommodate. Check the water daily to every other day to make sure ammonia is at 0ppm. If you are experiencing ammonia spikes,
do a 25% water change to bring it down. If betta is getting ammonia burns during this spike, add a tablespoon of aquarium salt to promote healing.
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