Betta cycling

Can I put a golden dojo loach in my 5 gal betta tank?
Is next weekend too early for me to add a new fish to my tank?
 
Seachem, I will try that.
I just bought 2 banana plants, 1 for each tank.
These are the ones that I started using yesterday.

fizz.jpg

fizz.jpg
 
When the tank is done cycling, change 30-40% of the water every week. Not sure about the loach, but my guess would be no.

Also, switch back to the 15 watt bulb you had before, the plants would grow faster with more light. You don't have to have fluorescents, but many people here do because its more convenient.
 
I would get the nitrates down to less than 20 and do water ever size water change needed to keep ammonia and nitrites at 0
 
I have been doing 10% water changes with Fin's tank.. and about 50% daily with Gil.
I was reading the instructions that came with my aquarium
and it said to replace the filter every 2-4 weeks?
and vaccum the gravel every 2-4 weeks?
I thought good bacteria lives in both the filter and gravel?
 
When you do your weekly water change you should vaccum the gravel at the same time. You won't kill the bacteria by doing this.

As for changing the filter - it's not neccessary. I dump out the old water from the filter and check the impeller to make sure there's no java moss or anything else twisted around it. I use filter floss and sponge in my filters. Whatever it is you use just rinse it in your old tank water (in the bucket) and put it right back in the filter.
 
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