Hi to all! Need help w/ cycling Beta tank

:welcome: HI and welcome to ac! you'll love it here there is TONS of information to be had. To the best of my knowledge "aquarium water" isn't going to help. there isnt enough bacteria in them to really do much of anything, the bacteria is contained in filter material and what not.

When you say the ammonia is in the "safe" does this mean your using strips? If so I would recommend going out and getting a liquid test it MUCH more accurate.

Continue to watch the ammonia levels and do good sized water changes to keep them at bay. You dont have to buy bottled water conditioned tap water is basicly what your getting in a bottle anyway

Again:welcome: and post some pics of you bettas!

Welcome to our forum! and don't forget photos are a required necessity around here! hahaha!

i agree, tap water that is conditioned with a good dechlorinator is all you need. I use Aquaplus and it is the best for my tanks, IMO. Prime is a good conditioner too, but there has been discussion of it not being good for bettas in unfiltered tanks/bowls. if you are running a decent filter on each tank, use Prime, as it is the most cost efficient dechlorinator out there.

ditch the test strips and get an API freshwater master kit. test ammonia levels daily and do large volume water changes if you see the ammonia go over 0.25 ppm. bettas can 'survive' in water that has ammonia in it, but it is by no means healthy or good for them.

anything else you need to know about your bettas, don't be afraid to ask! i had 7 of them at one point.......lol.

I sort of do things a little different. I would not feed the fish for 3 days and then just a little. This will introduce ammonia slowly thus giving the good bacteria a chance to start to multiply. I have never lost any fish doing this method. I don't use any type of cycling product, only water and gravel from established tanks.
Remember many fish are killed with 'love', people over feed them. Fish hunt for food all day long so feeding them 5 times a day is better then once a day. I let my fish fast 1 day a week. Also smaller weekly water changes are far better then larger monthly changes, I'm old fashoned I still only use 'Stress Coat'.
Good luck!!

:welcome:

With just one betta in a 3gal. you may never see much of a ammonia or nitrite spike if you have any bacteria going at all from the lfs water if you are not overfeeding.

When testing I would test for ammonia and nitraite with neither to go over .25 ppm without a water change to BettaFishMommys' advice as I have not read about the non-filter conditioner thing so would trust her advice on that one. Gonna have to see what my daughter uses for conditioner cause she has a unfiltered 2.5 gal. for her female betta.

Also test for nitrates every 2 to 3 days to start with. If you do not see much of a spike in ammonia or nitrite with such a light bio load nitrates could start building to higher levels unexpectedly and need to be kept below 40 ppm With water changes also.

Once the tanks are established and feeding is to a set routine and not over done water changes should be able to be set by nitrate levels to be kept below 40 ppm or weekly which ever is the shorter time as it should become very regular timing wise with just the bettas in the tanks.

Good luck with your new hobby and wish the best for the bettas and yes as BettaFishMommy said photos are a great addition.

Your going to want to do water changes if you see the levels spike. They can be dangerous and stressful for your fish.

As for the test kit many of us use API freshwater master kit and its well worth the money.

:welcome: